Serie A Team of the Week: Juventus Flex Their Muscles
Roma and Juventus continue to streak away at the top of the Serie A ladder following the international break.
Both recorded wins, though it was the Bianconeri, who top the table, who were most impressive, dishing out a 3-0 hammering to Lazio.
Roma got up 2-1 over Atalanta to stay within three points of the leaders, while Empoli, Fiorentina and Sassuolo were the other sides to gain victories.
Here is the best XI of the week's action, set up in a 4-3-3 formation.
Goalkeeper: Nicola Leali
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Cesena's goalkeeper can take most credit for his team hanging on for a 1-1 draw in the face of much Sampdoria pressure.
The Italian youngster was magnificent as the last line of defence as Samp launched wave after wave of attack.
In the second half especially, the 21-year-old was called on to make a number of spectacular saves to secure a hard-earned point for Cesena.
Defender: Giorgio Chiellini
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Arguably the best Italian defender of the current generation, Giorgio Chiellini rarely lets his side down whether playing in club or national team colours.
Against Lazio in the Stadio Olimpico he was his typically bruising self.
Chiellini was clean in his challenges on the Biancoceleste attackers and was dominant in the air against one of the great headers of the ball in the history of football, in Miroslav Klose.
A vintage performance from the big centre-back.
Defender: Stefano Lucchini
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Defender Stefano Lucchini put in an all-action display for Cesena in the Sampdoria draw.
He was always present when Samp threatened and did particularly well to marshal the dangerous Stefano Okaka.
Lucchini also contributed down the other end, sneaking in to score against his old club from a rebound.
Defender: Daniele Rugani
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Promising young defender Daniele Rugani had one of the best games of his career for Empoli in the 2-0 win over Parma.
The lanky 20-year-old has a natural ability to read the game and be in the right place at the right time to short-circuit opposition attacks.
He showed against Parma why he is considered a future Italian international and is already on the fringes of Antonio Conte's Azzurri side.
Defender: Sime Vrsaljko
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Sassuolo right-back Sime Vrsaljko offers his side an abundance of energy down the flank.
Against Torino in Sassulo's 1-0 away win, the 22-year-old Croatian international provided much of the team's drive going forward.
Aside from providing the assist for Antonio Floro Flores' goal, Vrsaljko was also up to the task as far as his defensive duties were concerned and can be very pleased with his outing.
Midfield: Paul Pogba
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The rise and rise of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba continues unabated.
The French international was brilliant for the Italian champions as they crushed Lazio.
He did everything you would want from a midfielder, controlling the centre of the pitch with power and skill, and scoring two fine goals.
The 21-year-old is in line to become one of the greats.
Midfield: Matias Vecino
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Uruguayan Matias Vecino was superb in orchestrating Empoli's attacking play in the win over Parma.
The attacking midfielder pulled the strings in a clever display, scoring the first goal and setting up the second with a gorgeous lobbed pass for Francesco Tavano.
Midfield: Radja Nainggolan
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While Juventus were punishing Lazio, the other Rome club was battling to a narrower victory over Atalanta.
Many of the Roma players did not perform to their usual high standards, but fortunately a few, such as Radja Nainggolan, were good enough to ensure the team has remained in touch with Juve.
Though it would be unfair to label him as just a box-to-box midfielder, Nainggolan does get up and down the field with great energy and helps out considerably in both attack and defence.
He scored the winner against Atalanta to cap an overall superb display.
Forward: Adem Ljajic
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The other stand-out player for Roma was forward Adem Ljajic.
He does not often get a chance to start a game for the Giallorossi, but he took his opportunity in Bergamo with both hands.
The Serb's direct attacking approach caused all sorts of dramas for the Atalanta defence, and he finished the game with a goal and an assist.
Forward: Carlos Tevez
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Formerly troubled Argentine star Carlos Tevez continues to enjoy life in Italian football.
The striker has thrived since joining Juventus and impresses week after week on the pitch.
He was once again masterful against Lazio, producing many of the skills that made him such a coveted player for so long.
He combined brilliantly with Pogba, setting up the Frenchman for one goal and also scoring one of his own.
Forward: Antonio Di Natale
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A regular entrant in the team of the week, Antonio Di Natale once again defied his age to star for Udinese in the 1-1 draw with Chievo.
The 37-year-old was as dynamic as ever as he led the line for the Zebras, and managed to notch the 200th goal of his magnificent Serie A career in the process.
