Serie A Power Rankings: Round 2

Once again, it was an interesting week in the Italian Serie A.

Only one game finished scoreless, contenders made roaring statements, champions lost ground and surprises continued to shine.

With another round gone, we come to my latest power rankings based on play through Rounds 1 and 2.

Normally, these assessments will come after each round, but they will be published every Monday or Tuesday depending on my schedule and next week's will assess Rounds 3 and 4.

So after an exciting round, here are the power rankings through Round 2.

*Have an opinion or a comment about the rankings or any of my other work? Leave a comment here or follow me on Twitter @TimFontenault, I would love to hear from you.

20) Bologna

Last Week: 17th

Round 2: Lost vs. Lecce 2-0 (H)

Bologna were not expected to do well at all this year anyway, but their reputation took a hit this week when it fell to the team I constantly bash as the cellar dweller in Serie A.

Lecce walked away from their trip to the Ranata Dell'Ara with an unexpected three points that left Bologna thinking "what happened?"

Guillermo Giacomazzi and Carlos Grossmuller were able to put Lecce in the ascension as the hosts failed to make the most of their opportunities.

Things aren't looking good for Bologna who need to recover and work on their finishing if they want to keep their chances at survival alive through at least the Christmas break.

To make matters worse, the side who have failed to score all year now face a tough week with both Juventus and Inter to look ahead to followed by Udinese to start October.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Juventus (A)

9/24 vs. Inter Milan (H)

19) Siena

Last Week: 18th

Round 2: Lost vs. Juventus 1-0 (H)

Not really much chance for Siena last week against Juventus. The Turin club are looking like a serious title contender while Siena are still trying to return to life as it was in Serie A before relegation.

Juventus dominated the game all across the board and there was nothing the visitors could do about that.

Tough times lie in wait for the minnows, but it could be worse.

This Week: 9/22 vs. Roma (A)

9/25 vs. Lecce (H)

18) Lecce

Last Week: 20th

Round 2: Won 2-0 vs. Bologna (A)

Wow. I didn't think they had it in them but Lecce won. They won on the road. They won by two goals. They won while holding a clean sheet. How about that!

Guillermo Giacomazzi and Carlos Grossmuller were able to score about a half hour apart and that would be all Lecce would need as they held struggling Bologna, who have failed to score in their first two matches.

Lecce looked good, but can they build off this? They have a favorable schedule to try and steal some points in the coming matches.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Bologna (H)

9/25 vs. Siena (A)

17) Novara

Last Week: 15th

Round 2: Lost vs. Cagliari 2-1 (A)

Novara could get nothing going offensively despite finding the net through Takayuki Morimoto.

Cagliari followed a great opening round with a solid performance in Round 2. For the Serie B Playoff champions, things did not go as well as they would have liked.

After a tough midweek game this week, there will be an easy chance at some upcoming points.

This Week: 9/20 vs. Inter Milan (H)

9/25 vs. Atalanta (A)

16) Atalanta

Last Week: 19th

Round 2: Won vs. Palermo 1-0 (H)

Atalanta moved closer to zero points with their success this weekend against Palermo.

Coming off a high profile win against Inter Milan, Palermo stumbled on the road and allowed the Serie B champions to take the three points, moving them to -2 on the season.

German Denis put the hosts up early and were able to hold their lead despite being out-possessed and out-shot (though Palermo did not have a shot on goal).

This week could greatly help Atalanta's cause as they look to snag some easy points.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Lecce (A)

9/25 vs. Novara (H)

15) Chievo Verona

Last Week: 14th

Round 2: Lost vs. Parma 2-1 (A)

Despite a late goal from Milan's loaned out starlet Alberto Paloschi, Chievo Verona were unable to put Parma in a huge hole to start the year.

Parma were coming off a humiliating opener against Juventus, but of course they have Sebastian Giovinco.

The former Juventus man put Parma up in the 24th and then cancelled out Paloschi's strike with a stoppage time winner for the hosts.

Not a fairly easy schedule upcoming for the Flying Donkeys, but they have a chance to take a few points in the coming matches.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Napoli (H)

9/25 vs. Genoa (H)

14) Catania

Last Week: 16th

Round 2: Won 1-0 vs. Cesena (H)

Catania pulled off a win against a usually feisty Cesena side.

Cesena dominated the possession, but a Maxi Lopez penalty conversion on the stroke of halftime was all Catania would need. Their defense did the rest, only allowing Cesena four shots.

The Elephants are another victim of a tough schedule this week. It might be a drop in the rankings for them next week.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Genoa (A)

9/25 vs. Juventus (H)

13) Cesena

Last Week: 12th

Round 2: Lost vs. Catania 1-0 (A)

Cesena will not be happy that they let at least a point slip away through a penalty.

The Seahorses controlled 62 percent of the possession, but Marco Parolo's foul just before the half left Cesena in a bad spot and they could not recover in the chippy affair.

A tough week awaits the still youngsters of Serie A as they face two of the beasts.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Lazio (H)

9/24 vs. Milan (A)

12) Parma

Last Week: 13th

Round 2: Won vs. Chievo Verona 2-1 (A)

Parma bounced back from a horrifying result in their opening match with Juventus to get on the winning side of things in Serie A.

Sebastian Giovnico had both goals, including the winner in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win for Parma against the Flying Donkeys.

It was a much needed win as Parma now look ahead to a challenging week where even one point would be a plus.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Fiorentina (A)

9/25 vs. Roma (H)

11) Roma

Last Week: 10th

Round 2: Draw 0-0 vs. Inter Milan (A)

Roma have got nothing going for them right now.

After being eliminated from the Europa League in August, the club got off to a terrible start by losing to Cagliari on the opening day of Serie A. They went into this weekend's encounter with both coming off losses and neither got anything out of the match as they played to a 0-0 stalemate, the only scoreless match of the round.

Roma need to take advantage of this gift of a week as they need to climb back up the standings quick.

This Week: 9/22 vs. Siena (H)

9/25 vs. Parma (A)

10) Genoa

Last Week: 11th

This Week: Won 2-1 vs. Lazio (A)

Genoa got one of the surprises of the round by holding Lazio at the Olimpico.

The hosts were coming off a big draw with champions Milan, but Rodrigo Palacio and Juraj Kucka used second half goals to cancel out Guiseppe Sculli's opener 11 minutes in and silence the crowd in the capital.

A week of opportunity awaits Genoa. They should look to make their position in the league even better.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Catania (H)

9/25 vs. Chievo (A)

9) Lazio

Last Week: sixth

Round 2: Lost vs. Genoa 2-1

Lazio blew an early lead to give up all three points to Genoa at the Olimpico this weekend.

Genoa have looked good thus far, but Lazio also impressed in their opener with Milan and will need to do better in weeks to come.

They have a great chance to grab six points before getting back into Europa League action next week.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Cesena (A)

9/25 vs. Palermo (H)

8) Fiorentina

Last Week: fifth

Round 2: Lost 2-0 vs. Udinese (A)

Double whammy for La Viola in their loss at the hands of Udinese: Not only was Alberto Gilardino stretchered off, but Fiorentina failed to capitalize after out-shooting and out-possessing the hosts.

Following such a strong start to the season, this is not what Fiorentina were looking for. The quality in front of goal was shameful.

The Florence club faces an interesting week, playing against both a mid-table and a giant. It should be a trying week for the club.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Parma (H)

9/24 vs. Napoli (A)

7) Inter Milan

Last Week: eighth

Round 2: Draw 0-0 vs. Roma (H)

You might be curious why I move Roma down but Inter up after their draw.

Well, Inter absolutely needed some sort of result.

In the Giam Piero Gasperini era at Inter, the blue and black had yet to claim any sort of positive result. In three official matches, the club lost to rivals Milan in the Super Cup, fell in their opener in Serie A to Palermo, and were shocked at home by Trabzonspor in the Champions League.

At least with the draw they got some sort of result, even if their supposedly high profile attack failed to convert any chances.

If Gasperini remains winless through this next week, then the club are certainly in trouble and he may last even shorter than Rafael Benitez.

This Week: 9/20 vs. Novara (A)

9/24 vs. Bologna (A)

6) Cagliari

Last Week: ninth

Round 2: Won vs. Novara 2-1 (H)

Following their impressive opening win over Roma, Cagliari continued their winning ways by collecting all three points against Novara.

Thiago Ribeiro put the hosts up in the first half and Joaquin Larrivey scored four minutes from time, and not a moment too soon as Cagliari did allow a consolation goal to Takayuki Morimoto in the 88th.

Cagliari are in a good spot through two rounds. They are one of four teams to have six points, but unlike the other three sides (Juventus, Napoli and Udinese) the Sardinians only boast a +2 goal difference. Of course, this doesn't matter too much except for positioning at the end of the season.

Cagliari will get to test just how good they are this week with two very challenging opponents.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Palermo (A)

9/25 vs. Udinese (H)

5) Palermo

Last Week: fourth

Round 2: Lost vs. Atalanta 1-0 (A)

Not a great result for any team, but because of the action lower in the rankings, Palermo only lose one spot this week.

With a full season to go, the result is not detrimental, but a chance to get to four points in the first two games presented itself and Palermo simply could not take advantage of it.

On paper, this week would seem pretty easy, but it will be anything but that. A tricky week lays in wait for the men in pink.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Cagliari (H)

9/25 vs. Lazio (A)

4) AC Milan

Last Week: third

Round 2: Lost vs. Napoli 3-1 (A)

Milan looked good at the start, but then Edinson Cavani found his rhythm and the Serie A champions fell in Naples 3-1.

Milan get some sort of benefit with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Massimo Ambrosini, Philippe Mexes, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Mathieu Flamini all hurt and Taye Taiwo on the bench, but not ready to start. However, veteran leaders Clarence Seedorf and Mark Van Bommel showed no motivation and little influence throughout.

The Rossoneri face a tough test on Wednesday, but should be able to get six points from their two matches this week if they put in the effort. It will be difficult though.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Udinese (H)

9/25 vs. Cesena (H)

3) Udinese

Last Week: seventh

Round 2: Won vs. Fiorentina 2-0 (H)

Udinese were out-shot and out-possessed at the Friuli, but showed quality in front of goal with a 2-0 win over Fiorentina.

The win makes them one of four sides to win both their matches thus far and they have looked solid doing it. Of course Antonio Di Natale is the man in front of net, but he was aided in attack this weekend by Mauricio Isla.

The champions await on Wednesday and then a tough test with Cagliari before the Europa League and an interesting clash with Celtic kicks off. The Zebras may be tested this week.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Milan (A)

9/25 vs. Cagliari (A)

2) Juventus

Last Week: first

Round 2: Won vs. Siena 1-0 (A)

If it weren't for Napoli's dominating show in Naples, Juve would still be top dog.

Alessandro Matri netted the goal for the comeback kids and the Turin club got a routine win, but it wasn't dominant.

This week should be six more points for Juventus. It would take a big slip up to prevent that.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Bologna (H)

9/25 vs. Catania (A)

1) Napoli

Last Week: second

Round 2: Won vs. Milan 3-1 (H)

Napoli were the dominant side in Round 2 and Edinson Cavani stole the show.

After Alberto Aquilani opened his Milan scoring account, the Azzurri blew the crippled champions out of the water and made a huge statement about their intentions.

When all three are healthy, Napoli, Juventus and Milan look to be the title threats and Napoli made a big case for making people think this could be the year they go back to the glory of the Maradona days.

A team that just six years ago was in the third division has a chance at reclaiming the Scudetto. Football is an incredible and unpredictable game to say the least.

Should be a straightforward week for Napoli before going head to head with Villareal next week in the Champions League group of death.

This Week: 9/21 vs. Chievo (A)

9/24 vs. Fiorentina (H)