Cristiano Ronaldo arrives in Italy and closes the group as the best scorer and leads Juventus to records with 17 wins and 2 draws. Napoli finds a new leader in Ancelotti and continues the monstrous growth of some of its players like Allan, Koulibaly, Insigne, Milik, Mertens and especially the newcomer Fabian Ruiz.
Inter, with the explosive growth of Skriniar and the purchase of parameter 0 of the phenomenon De Vrij, is found with Miranda on the bench, three among the strongest central defenders in the world and in fact, the ranking says 19 games played and only 14 goals suffered. The only flaw of this team remains the midfield with a Borja Valero, not at the levels of Fiorentina, a Naingollan - which is the other super purchase of this season - which plays few games due to injuries and wrong disciplinary behavior, and a Brozovic who it's too discontinuous. The attack among the best in Italy with Icardi that improves more and more and is becoming even more leading and altruistic.
At the end of the transfer market, Milan had acquired Caldara, Higuain, and Castillejo, but above all, they had not sold Suso and Donnarumma, two of its top players. The new players should have gone to fill those departments where last year the Milan deficit: attack and defense. Unfortunately, it was not so or at least was partially so given that Caldara has played very little for injuries, Castillejo plays but not much because it is a duplicate of Suso and Higuain is far from the levels when he was in Naples or with Juventus. The Argentine champion seems to have psychological problems. At the end of this first leg, however, Milan finds himself at 31 points with a 1 point away from the fourth place occupied by Lazio, last position useful for the qualification in the Champions League.
Roma is the team with the worst transfer of this season, has sold almost all of its midfield last year selling Naingollan, who was the strongest midfielder in the Serie A in Rome and the always excellent Strootman, but above all sold Allison goalkeeper which brought many points last year to the Giallorossi and an immense talent. A good Nzonzi has come from the side of the pack since Sevilla, who is not disfiguring, and Pastore from PSG, who is playing very little. It is a Roma that however has bought younger and is focusing on those - we talk about Kluivert, Cristante, and Zaniolo in addition to the confirmation of Ünder and Schick. A mix between young people and experts, but it is not giving the desired results with a Roma able to go ahead in the Champions League and to make good games against the big ones in Serie A, but also able to lose many points with low ranking teams.
The other two of the "seven sisters" Lazio and Fiorentina have made a fairly anonymous transfer market but at least they managed to retain their top players Immobile, Milinkovic-Savic, and Chiesa. Lazio, however, is playing well and ends this group in fourth place in the Champions League area, Immobile has confirmed among the best strikers in circulation and Milinkovic-Savic slowly is regaining its shape. Among the other teams must report Sampdoria and Atalanta, authors of a great first round. Sampdoria has a mix of experience and fantasy in attack with a super Quagliarella and Defrel - Caprari alternating, while Atalanta has found in former Napoli Duvan Zapata, a bomber capable of hurting anyone who, combined with the talent of Gomez, they become very dangerous.
Since I see almost all the games of Napoli I would like to report players who impressed me by playing against us. First of all two Empoli midfielder: Traorè class 2000 and Bennacer class 1997, that looks to me an Allan with good feet, impressive. Impressed even by the former Duvan Zapata, seems matured: sniper under the door, but physical exaggeration, no one can take away the ball physically. And last but not least, Barella of Cagliari, a central midfielder able to build the game with formidable feet and a lot of running. It is already worth a lot but who will buy it will make a deal. I also loved Quagliarella in Samp and a special mention goes to Zaniolo, a Roma midfielder who is doing very well. The best of this Serie A till now so far for me was Icardi, a formidable striker, who since this year is also able to support his teammates with frequent and precise assistance.
I want to spend two more paragraphs on Juventus and Napoli which I mentioned in the subtitle. The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus has strengthened even more this team that was already a war machine, complete in every department. CR7 in addition to bringing his talent and his goals has brought an even stronger awareness and a desire to challenge each other every day that is also improving the Juventus champions, making them overcome their limits. They were impressive in Serie A, and in my opinion in the Champions League too, the Utd won by luck. They aim to win everything, and for me, they are among the strongest in the world.
Napoli came from the traumatic loss of Jorginho and Sarri, two of the amazing Naples leaders of the last few years. However, Mr. Carlo Ancelotti arrived, bringing awareness and serenity to an already consolidated and strong group. Ancelotti has managed to make play and enhance even those players who were relegated to Sarri on the bench or in the stands and even changing form has managed to give an identity and a game to this team. The group seems more united than ever, and if Juventus this year loses shots because of the Champions League can really aim to win the Serie A. They have not disfigured in the Champions League group by coming out on equal terms against the Liverpool, but proving to be able to play with anyone. Impressed by these guys, their work, their union and the serenity and awareness brought by Ancelotti.
Final Leaderboard Serie A 2018/2019 First Round
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