Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to score but Italian champions Juventus pulled clear at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 win at Parma as Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli suffered their first setback with a 3-0 defeat at Sampdoria.
Massimiliano Allegri’s seven-time reigning title-holders now sit top the table with nine points after three matches and are oozing confidence going into the two-week international break.
Here are five talking points from Serie A this weekend:
– Ronaldo: Will he or won’t he? –
Cristiano Ronaldo’s drought has kept Juventus fans on tenterhooks with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner having 23 shots at goals in three games without success.
But the Italian press urged fans to take heart as the 33-year-old former Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United and Real Madrid star has often had slow starts.
And the Gazzetta Dello Sport pointed out that September has been golden for the Portuguese striker in his nine seasons at Real Madrid reaping 57 goals — over one per game — in league and cup games.
Real Madrid’s all-time record goalscorer scored for 450 goals in 438 games for the Spaniards, including 44 last season.
“It takes time. We’ll all be fresher after the break and that’s when the real season starts,” said Allegri, with their next game against Sassuolo on September 16.
– Ancelotti struggling to find Sarri magic –
Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti is struggling to reproduce the solid defence of his predecessor Maurizio Sarri with the Serie A runners-up conceding six goals in three games.
“Six goals in three games – that’s a lot,” said the former Real Madrid and Chelsea boss whose side have fallen behind in all three of their opening games.
“Once it can happen, twice maybe but the third time no. The problem is the general attitude and I must work to change that,” said Ancelotti of his first defeat ahead of tough upcoming Champions League fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool.
Napoli, along with the two other Italian Champions League teams that should be challenging Juventus for the Scudetto — Roma and Inter Milan — have all lost once in three games.
– Former legends fire AC Milan –
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma likened the arrival of former club legends Paolo Maldini, Leonardo and Kaka as providing an electric shock as AC Milan beat Roma 2-1 for their first win of the season.
“The presence of Kaka, Maldini and Leonardo gives us a boost,” Donnarumma told Sky Sports Italia. “In Milan, in recent weeks, you breathe a different air. Around the team there are some champions of the past, who are working to build the Milan of the future. From Leonardo to Maldini, to the recent arrival of Kaka who was also present during the game against Roma.
from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2wE7csP
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