Like all of Europe's "Big Five" leagues, Serie A also got back underway this weekend, and it certainly did not disappoint. There were plenty of goals all around, and some results certainly will have fans happier than others, that's for certain.
Here's all you need to know following this weekend's Serie A action.
Top five teams in Serie A up to October 19
Here's how the table looks after last round's matches
Who are top three goalscorers in Serie A?
Top Serie A headlines, stats, and other facts
Napoli's perfect run continues: Now under the leadership of Luciano Spalletti, Napoli have truly had an excellent start so far to the season. The Partenopei are on an eight game winning streak and are the only team who have yet to drop points in this early stage of the current campaign. With a two point lead over the chasing pack, they still will be very aware of Milan breathing down their necks, but their win over Torino means they've matched an impressive club record.
Back during the 2017/18 term, Napoli also won eight on the trot. Unfortuantely, they didn't win the Scudetto, but who knows what will happen this time around?
Juventus continue to steadily climb: After a horrible start, it seems that Juventus have put their dark days behind them once and for all. The Bianconeri took on Roma in this weekend's highly anticipated game, and emerged as victors following a tough match, with Moise Kean sealing all three points for his side. In doing so, Juventus also set a club milestone. Their win over the Giallorossi on Sunday was their tenth at the Allianz Stadium, and it marks the first time they've won ten matches there against the same opponent.
Duvan Zapata hits a personal milestone...: Zapata might not be a household name for many casual football fans, but he's a big name for both Atalanta followers and serious Serie A observers. The Colombian international has been a mainstay for La Dea for the past few seasons and has played his part in why the small club continue to be able to hold their own against Italy's biggest sides. On Sunday, he scored the fourth goal as Atalanta cruised to a comfortable 4-1 road win over Empoli, and now has 100 goals in Italy's top flight to his name. That makes him the first Colombian to achieve this impressive metric.
...and so does his Atalanta teammate Josip Ilicic: Not to be outdone, Slovenian international Josip Ilicic also got in on the scoring, with a quick-fire brace in the first half. In addition, he would have had a hat-trick had his goal in the second half not been cancelled. All in all, Ilicic now has written his name in the historic books as the first foreign player to score in every single season since the 2010/2011 term. That's over a decade and counting.
Top Serie A matches: October 22 - October 24, 2021
Here are some crunch clashes you won't want to miss in the upcoming round:
Bologna vs Milan: With four wins on the spin, Milan will be fancying their chances when they travel to face a Bologna side who've won just one of their last five games. Will this be a straightforward win for Stefano Pioli's side, or will the Rossoblu prove to be a stumbling block?
Roma vs Napoli: It's back to the drawing board for Jose Mourinho and Roma after another disappointing result, and they'll be welcoming a Napoli side who have been soaring under Spaletti. This game will also be an interesting one for the Partenopei manager as he used to manage Roma years ago, and all eyes will be on whether Mourinho will be able to lead his side to become the first team to nick points off the league leaders this season.
Inter vs Juventus: The Derby d'Italia (Derby of Italy) is always a huge match, and this weekend's latest installment certainly won't be any exception. Especially considering that it will feature the reigning Scudetto champs versus the team they pipped to the coveted prize. Both sides have had mixed campaigns so far, but it's Juventus who lately are on the ascendancy. Will the Nerazzurri halt La Vecchia Signora's climb in the table?
Make sure you don't miss out on these key games and stay on top of all the action by checking out our bespoke Serie A matchday page.
