With Week 2 of Serie A having come and gone, Dave Taylor is on hand to select his XI of standout performers.
Christian Puggioni [Sampdoria]
A solid away win for the visitors thanks to some excellent saves from the veteran ‘keeper. Amongst several superb blocks, his save from Gil Dias proved important as did the one-handed save on a Khouma Babacar daisy-cutter. Vital.
Lorenzo De Silvestri [Torino]
With Week 2 of Serie A having come and gone, Dave Taylor is on hand to select his XI of standout performers.
Christian Puggioni [Sampdoria]
A solid away win for the visitors thanks to some excellent saves from the veteran ‘keeper. Amongst several superb blocks, his save from Gil Dias proved important as did the one-handed save on a Khouma Babacar daisy-cutter. Vital.
Lorenzo De Silvestri [Torino]
The Italian had a storming game, putting in several key passes including the assist for the opener. Following a terrific move, the 29-year-old’s accurate right footer was perfect for Andrea Belotti to finish off with a sublime scissor kick. Precise.
Leonardo Bonucci [Milan]
The leader of the backline kept Cagliari at bay and was unafraid to push forward at times. At the very death he showed his alertness when in the 99th minute he made a crucial block on Marco Sau. Uncompromising.
Arlind Ajeti [Crotone]
The on-loan Torino defender was on top of his game, held his defence tight and almost scored twice into the bargain. Unyielding.
Faouzi Ghoulam [Napoli]
The best of the defenders and possibly of the whole team. Sent over several decent crosses which his forwards failed to exploit and was always pushing forward. Essential.
Sergej Milinkovic- Savic [Lazio]
It may have taken him a while to wake up, but suddenly he stood out like a Bishop at the morning call to prayer and started to see a lot of the ball. Produced the long range winner in the last moments with an Exocet into the top corner. Resolute.
Ivan Perisic [Inter]
Always on the mark, his decisiveness in midfield saw him produce two superb assists. His first a perfect pass for Icardi while his second saw him leave a defender in the dust before pulling the ball back for Matias Vecino to slot home. Determined.
Piotr Zielinski [Napoli]
At times he was in and out of the match but deserves recognition for his jewel of the vital equaliser. From a corner the Polish international controlled the ball then let loose with an absolute flying gem into the top corner of the net. Elemental.
Suso [Milan]
After giving Cagliari more warnings than on a cigarette packet, the young Spaniard produced the goods with a sublime assist for Patrick Cutrone, before curling a perfect free-kick into the top corner for Milan’s winner. Decisive.
Paulo Dybala [Juventus]
Juve’s hat trick hero blew open the hosts’ defence with two superb goals and a penalty. The Argentinian led the charge back from 2-0 down with a neat touch for goal number one while next up converting the penalty and rounding off a superb game with a clever left-footer. Crucial.
Mauro Icardi [Inter]
Another top-notch performance from the wily Argentinean, who after several dangerous shots on goal was rewarded with a fine brace. His first saw the start of Inter’s comeback after his super neat turn in the area saw him slot home into the bottom corner. His second was almost a carbon copy. Fundamental.
Special mentions: Ivan Perisic [Inter], Andrea Belotti [Torino], Lorenzo Insigne [Napoli], Dries Mertens [Napoli], Lucas di Pascua Torreira [Sampdoria], Joel Obi [Torino] Luca Mora [Spal], Patrick Cutrone [Milan]