Serie A is again this weekend after the second worldwide break of the season and there are some huge matches this week that might outline the following few weeks of motion, beginning with Saturday’s key sport on the Stadio Olimpico between AS Roma and Inter. Even when that is solely the seventh matchday of the 2025-26 season, we are able to already make some early statements on what we have learnt so removed from the large groups and past. Let’s check out among the winners and losers:
Methods to watch Serie A on Paramount+, stay stream: AS Roma face Inter in large conflict; Milan welcome Fiorentina
Francesco Porzio
Allegri and Pulisic new function
Regardless of the damage that USMNT star Christian Pulisic suffered in the course of the worldwide break in opposition to Australia which may compelled him to be out for round one month, the beginning of the season for the American worldwide underneath Massimiliano Allegri’s administration has been phenomenal. Throughout the first eight matches of the season between Serie A and Coppa Italia, Pulisic scored six targets and offered two assists to his teammates, main AC Milan to 5 Serie A wins and topping the Serie A standings as of now. Allegri’s tactical determination to maneuver him additional up the pitch in a 3-5-2 system, pairing him with the central striker, has confirmed to be one of many Italian supervisor’s smartest strikes, considerably boosting Pulisic’s performances. The one concern now could be that his damage would not have an effect on his momentum. Grade: A+
Fiorentina’s horrible begin to the season
If we had been capable of predict nearly all of the groups and their potential earlier than the beginning of the season, we could not think about such a sluggish begin for the staff coached by Stefano Pioli, who will likely be again on Sunday at San Siro dealing with his former membership, AC Milan. Fiorentina are nonetheless ready for his or her first win of the season, with three attracts and three defeats within the opening six matches of the Serie A season. Pioli’s aspect can even have to deal with the lack of their key striker, Moise Kean, who sustained a muscle damage in the course of the worldwide break whereas taking part in for Italy in opposition to Estonia. Grade: F
Pio Esposito’s affect for Inter
Talking of Italian strikers, Francesco Pio Esposito’s affect in his Serie A debut season has been excellent. The 20-year previous already scored his first Serie A aim with Inter in opposition to Cagliari and he is one of many greatest surprises of the brand new season as he was instantly capable of be a part of the rotation for the brand new Inter coach, Cristian Chivu. With an damage to Marcus Thuram, he is now anticipated to be much more a part of the staff’s plans, as Inter will likely be taking part in seven matches within the subsequent 24 days and gamers like Yann Bonny and Esposito will likely be known as to deal with the absence of the French striker, alongside Inter captain Lautaro Martinez. Grade: B+
Who’s Francesco Pio Esposito? Inter younger star, potential way forward for Italian soccer, shines in UCL debut
Francesco Porzio
Rasmus Hojlund at Napoli
When Napoli signed Rasmus Hojlund from Manchester United this summer time, not even of their finest desires might they’ve imagined the affect he would make. The Danish participant already scored 4 targets within the opening six matches he performed for Napoli, and was capable of make Antonio Conte and the followers overlook about injured striker Romelu Lukaku, who will not be anticipated to be again earlier than the following 12 months. Hojlund has had an unimaginable affect at Napoli, exhibiting that most likely his disappointing Manchester United stint when he could not rating and ship wasn’t right down to his means, however relatively the circumstances. Grade: A+
McKennie’s relationship with Tudor
Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie is as soon as once more totally a part of the rotation of the staff coached by Igor Tudor, regardless of the same old summer time rumors and a contract expiring in the summertime of 2026, when he’ll signify the USMNT on the 2026 World Cup. Chatting with TNT, the American worldwide underlined his relationship with the Croatian supervisor. “I had an extended preseason and I had a dialogue with Tudor, who actually put me underneath strain. He mentioned, ‘Hey, you are getting older and your physique will not be capable of get better from matches such as you used to. It’s good to lose some weight. That is the one means you will be concerned on this staff.’ I put my head down, labored out as ordinary, and went on a eating regimen. I do not snack as a lot anymore, and if I do, they’re wholesome snacks. No extra dangerous snacks. I am additionally coaching extra typically. And I am working loads. This summer time is the primary summer time I did not thoughts taking my shirt off on the pool!” To date it is working and that is simply nice information for the USMNT and Mauricio Pochettino heading to a key season. Grade: B
