We have arrived at the November international break and with 12 rounds of games now played (you can catch all the Serie A action on Paramount+), Napoli and AC Milan continue to lead the way on 32 points from a possible 36.
That puts Luciano Spalletti and Stefano Pioli’s men seven points clear of closest rivals Inter Milan in third which is a comfortable cushion over Simone Inzaghi’s Italian champions especially given that the Milanese rivals just played to a draw, depriving Inter of a prime opportunity to claw back some points.
Roma under Jose Mourinho have started to fall back after consecutive defeats while Juventus are still struggling to get going in terms of breaking into the UEFA Champions League places.
At the other end of the table, rock bottom Cagliari and listless Sampdoria will be particularly concerned while Genoa hope that new coach will jolt them up the table.
We revisit the power rankings after at the 12-match mark.
1 – Napoli (-)
After a 1-0 win over lowly Salernitana and a 1-1 draw with upwardly mobile Hellas Verona, the Partenopei remain top due to their superior goal difference over title rivals Milan. However after the international break, the side faces Inter, Lazio and Atalanta ove their next five Serie A matches which will be a stern test of those credentials.
2 – Milan (-)
It’s a historic start for Milan, who have picked up more points from their first 12 matches than ever before. A 2-1 win over Roma and a 1-1 draw with fierce foes Inter has the Rossoneri knocking on the door of undisputed top spot and the next five games in the Italian top-flight represent a massive chance to overtake Napoli as seventh place Fiorentina are the only side currently in the top 12 of the table they’ll face
3 – Inter (-)
The 2-0 win over Udinese was to be expected but the Nerazzurri will be ruing Ciprian Tatarusanu’s penalty save against Lautaro Martinez at San Siro last weekend which ensured a 1-1 draw. Napoli next up is a huge chance for Inzaghi’s men to claw back some ground on the top two.
4 – Atalanta (+1)
A 2-2 draw with Lazio and a 2-1 win over basement boys Cagliari has Gian Piero Gasperini’s men eyeing the top three given that there are just three points in it. Juventus, Napoli, and Verona — all away — in their next five will not be easy for La Dea, though.
5 – Lazio (+1)
Maurizio Sarri’s side held Atalanta to a draw before breezing past Salernitana and the Biancocelesti are now looking at breaking into the top three albeit from one point further back than the Bergamo-based outfit. Juve and Napoli in their next two Serie A games could have big consequences.
6 – Roma (-2)
Mourinho’s Giallorossi are in freefall at present with just one win from their last seven outings across all competitions and four defeats in that time. Three losses in their last five in Serie A has the Portuguese already on the hot seat. Though, in theory, there should be time for him to right the ship with matches against Genoa, Torino and Bologna on the horizon before Inter come to town.
7 – Fiorentina (+1)
A 3-0 thumping of Spezia was balanced out by a narrow loss to Juve and it is enough to keep Vincenzo Italiano’s side in a healthy position considering where they were last season. Milan next will be challenging but things ease up from there for Viola.
8 – Juventus (-1)
A 2-1 loss to Verona meant that Fiorentina became a must-win for Massimiliano Allegri’s men and although it was tight, they just about got it done. However, with Lazio and Atalanta up next, there can be no let up for the Bianconeri or it could be curtains for Allegri.
9 – Bologna (+5)
Wins over struggling pair Cagliari and Sampdoria have vaulted Sinisa Mihajlovic’s troops into the top half and the Rossoblu will be confident of building on that against Venezia and Spezia next.
10 – Verona (-)
Verona might be the surprise of the season with a win over Juve and a draw with Napoli, Igor Tudor’s men continue to rise in impressive fashion and Giovanni Simeone is suddenly one of the form strikers in Italy with nine goals after netting seven in his last four appearances. The Veneto-based outfit will feel their next four are winnable too.
11 – Empoli (+1)
A 2-1 win over Sassuolo and a 2-2 draw with Genoa keeps Gli Azzurri on the rise and just outside of the top half of the table. However, Fiorentina and Napoli are on the horizon.
12 – Torino (+1)
A 3-0 win over Sampdoria seemed like a corner-turn moment for Toro but a 1-0 loss to Spezia puts them straight back into midtable mediocrity with no real consistency at present.
13 – Sassuolo (-4)
Back-to-back defeats to Empoli and then Udinese have undone the good work done in victories over Venezia and Juve so back to the drawing board.
14 – Udinese (-3)
A logical 2-0 loss to Inter has been balanced out by a 3-2 win over Sassuolo but it is still not quite the stubborn early season form they were showing.
15 – Venezia (-)
A disappointing goalless draw with fellow strugglers Genoa CFC was followed up by a massive 3-2 win over Roma which hopefully now gives Paolo Zanetti’s men fresh momentum after a patchy run.
16 – Spezia (+1)
Thiago Motta’s men responded to their 3-0 loss to Fiorentina with a 1-0 win over Torino and right now, it is just about enough to keep their heads above water. Atalanta, Inter and Roma will be challenging, though.
17 – Genoa (+2)
Andriy Shevchenko has replaced Davide Ballardini as coach after draws with Venezia and Empoli with the Ukrainian returning to Italy where he made his name with Milan. Winless in nine with three losses, he has his work cut out for him with the Grifone.
18 – Sampdoria (-2)
The probability that Roberto D’Aversa’s time with Blucerchiati is over must be high after a 3-0 loss to Torino and a 2-1 defeat to Bologna — they are going nowhere fast.
19 – Salernitana (-1)
A narrow 1-0 loss to Napoli was respectable but a 3-0 defeat to Lazio was another heavy blow and the next two games against Sampdoria and Cagliari are absolute must-win affairs.
20 – Cagliari (-)
A 2-0 loss to Bologna and then a 2-1 defeat to Atalanta, it feels like a matter of time before the Sardinians move on from Walter Mazzarri who has now overseen four straight losses.
