After an interesting weekend of Serie A football that was hit by heavy storms, Dave Taylor selects his top XI from Week 3.
Federico Marchetti [Lazio]
In the driving rain, the 32-year-old needed all his concentration, and was completely up to it. Anticipating trouble in advance all afternoon he was especially alert on two superb attempts from Panagiotis Kone. Attentive.
Nicolas Frey [Chievo]
After an interesting weekend of Serie A football that was hit by heavy storms, Dave Taylor selects his top XI from Week 3.
Federico Marchetti [Lazio]
In the driving rain, the 32-year-old needed all his concentration, and was completely up to it. Anticipating trouble in advance all afternoon he was especially alert on two superb attempts from Panagiotis Kone. Attentive.
Nicolas Frey [Chievo]
Did some sterling work in both halves while mostly managing to close down Juve’s left flank, which saw both Alvaro Morata and Stefano Sturaro subbed. Pushed forward at times and also intercepted a fabulous Paul Pogba effort. Solid.
Cristian Zaccardo [Carpi]
Up against his former teammates, the veteran took no prisoners and commanded his own colleagues with a correctness that blunted the hosts’ attack. A complete rock and as immovable as a pair of copulating loggerhead turtles. Unyielding.
Jeison Murillo [Inter]
With his interceptions, blocks and forward runs it seemed that the Colombian 23-year-old had been in Serie A for three seasons, not just three games. A thoroughly tidy performance, that also saw him deny the dangerous Luiz Adriano with a sliding tackle. Organised.
Lucas Digne [Roma]
The on-loan French left-back went almost immediately on the attack, creating chances, worrying the opposition defence, winning corners and making runs as well producing the assist for the opening goal. Comprehensive.
Borja Valero [Fiorentina]
Tested the visitors’ goalkeeper several times while also stretching defenders with passes that were not exploited. However, he could not be stopped and eventually helped break the deadlock as Khouma Babacar headed his cross home. Influential.
Riccardo Saponara [Empoli]
Showed his intelligence with his passing and pace, which saw him score three minutes in and later produce an assist. For his goal he left Raul Albiol and another defender behind with his sheer speed before slipping the ball home. Substantial.
Freddy Guarin [Inter]
Always on the hunt he sealed the win with a brilliant strike that curled into the goal. Picking the ball up in midfield, he exploded into action, leaving defenders looking like addled centipedes in a toilet bowl, before blasting home. Significant.
Juanito Gomez [Verona]
The Argentinean was in top form and had several attempts before realizing his goal. After narrowly missing with a header from one Fredrick Viviani free kick in the first half, he managed to head home from another in the second. Determined.
Mauricio Pinilla [Atalanta]
A man-of-the-match performance with a deserved brace but spoilt by his sending off. Before that his skill and alertness was evident in both goals, a fabulous overhead kick and an interception on a back-pass. Sublime.
Alessandro Matri [Lazio]
Scored a double on his debut being in the right place at the right time. His first saw him sweep the ball home from a Felipe Anderson pull back while his second saw him first to react from a rebound. Integral.
Special Mentions: Iago Falque [Roma], Perparim Hetemaj [Chievo], Lorenzo Insigne [Napoli], Allan [Napoli], Juan Iturbe [Roma], Marcos Alonso [Fiorentina], Mauricio [Lazio] Roberto Soriano [Sampdoria].