Serie-A Football: 5 Things We Learnt from Serie A This Weekend

Here are five things we learnt from Serie A this weekend.

Running order:

1. Napoli, Cavani take off!

2. Lotito, Lazio already in crisis?

3. Conte the savior for the Old Lady?

4. Giovinco amazes and frustrates in equal measures.

5. Udinese, Guidolin continue to defy logic.

There were plenty of talking points, so feel free to discuss anything that has not made the big five talking points—perhaps Lecce with a remarkable victory away to Bologna, Atalanta surviving torrential rain to conquer Palermo or Inter's continuing struggles.

Cavani Firing Mazzarri's Napoli to Scudetto Assault!

Napoli dispatched Milan on Sunday evening with a 3-1 victory that confirmed what some, I included, thought all along. The Partenopei are genuine challengers for the Scudetto. Many critics have written off their chances due to the demand of juggling Champions League matches midweek with their domestic campaign.

The difference this season is that Napoli has a squad that can compete—to an extent. Of course, if they were to lose Edinson Cavani for a sustained period then problems would arise, but the same can be said for the other candidates in Serie A.

Milan, for example, without Zlatan Ibrahimovic lack any cutting edge at the moment and are already five points off the pace.

Napoli’s slick counterattacking cut the Rossoneri to pieces, which proves they can catch any defence off guard, including the meanest defence in Serie A last season by a distance (just 24 goals conceded in 2010-11 with Lazio; Napoli was the next best with 39) and the sturdiest that Europe has to offer in Manchester City.

To be legitimate candidates, Walter Mazzarri knows that his side must close matches out. On this evidence, they can certainly do so. Undone by some magic from Aleksandar Kolarov midweek, Mazzarri has a tremendous balance to his side, which is flexible enough to adapt to different situations.

Once Cavani added the third, the victory was never in doubt; Napoli stunted any threat Milan posed. The three central defenders—Hugo Campagnaro, Paolo Cannavaro and Salvatore Aronica—were commanding and received fine support in the full-back areas with Christian Maggio and Daniele Dossena’s tireless work rates.

Furthermore, the tenacious Walter Gargano stifles any danger through the middle before handing matters over to Gokhan Inler, who exquisitely distributes to allow the team a breather.

With adequate cover in Salvatore Aronica (stepping in for the injured Miguel Britos), Blerim Dzemaili, Juan Camilo Zuniga and Goran Pandev, Mazzarri can shuffle the pack in all areas to ensure that Napoli stand a real chance of winning the title for the first time in over 20 years.

Reja's Lazio Already Feeling the Heat from Above as Lotito Lays Down the Law

Many people predicted Lazio to make a run at the Champions League once more with the impressive acquisitions of Djibril Cisse and Miroslav Klose added to an already solid defensive unit. Despite an Opening Day draw at the Giuseppe Meazza against one-dimensional Milan, Lazio came unstuck this weekend against visiting Genoa.

Genoa presented a challenge that will become the norm for the Biancocelesti when hosting opponents at the Stadio Olimpico and away days to the league’s smaller sides.

By being organised and compact, Lazio were asked to break down the Rossoblu. They found the going tough after initially taking the lead through Giuseppe Sculli. The Ligurian side bounced back though, Rodrigo Palacio sweeping home before Juraj Kucka nipped in to steal all three points.

In the closing stages, Genoa were happy to let Lazio spread the ball into the wide areas, with Felipe Seymour, Kucka and Miguel Veloso closing out any route to the goal down the middle.

With the mercurial Brazilian Hernanes frustrated it was left to Cisse, predominantly, to break the lock. Genoa had few problems; the Frenchman found little space behind a deep lying Genoa defence and failed to deliver any service for the aerially lethal Klose.

Lazio need a second plan or things could deteriorate fast.

Lotito has already lambasted the team for their recent performance that prompted Edy Reja to tender his resignation, but the president is loath to lose him so early in the season and hopes the dressing down will prompt a reaction.

Conte Has the Character To Deliver Success for Juventus...Eventually

Juventus have entered an optimistic new era, with the nightmarish aftermath of Calciopoli gradually vacating the Juventini memories as excitement builds for Antonio Conte’s new-look Bianconeri.

The new era has the new stadium, Juventus Arena (for now), to generate some vociferous home support, creating a fortress in the process that can intimidate the visitors in a way that the Stadio Delle Apli never quite did.

Optimism also has routes from the manager, who is a club legend, but the last time that type of candidate held the reins (Ciro Ferrara) it ended sourly.

No, it is not the personal connection that the Juve faithful feel that will bring you found success, but his strong personality.

Conte is a man that is capable of delivering when high expectations are asked of him. Last season he guided Tuscan side Siena to promotion into Serie A, which showed great character after a dismal spell in charge of Atalanta, where he was hounded out by the Ultras.

Conte is also able to manage egos—something that may have been in question, having not managed one of the very biggest clubs in his managerial career.

Juventus presents him with this challenge and there are early indications that he can deliver. He is his own man. Already big signings, such as Eljero Elia, Mirko Vucinic and Arturo Vidal, have had to deal with the fact that they will have to earn a place in his starting XI. Further visual evidence that Conte cares for no reputations was the public dressing down of Milos Krasic.

The Serbian was at one stage being prepared to come on as a substitute against Siena, but took so long to prepare himself, before failing to understand tactical instructions, that Conte remonstrated with him before storming back to the bench.

Yes, it is early days, but Juventus look like they have a manager with character that will be able to ride the rough spells that await Juventus.

The side is still a work in progress and a tilt at the Scudetto may still be too ambitious, but under Conte they are going to be in the running sooner or later.

Parma's Sebastian Giovinco Must Sort His Attitude out Fast

Parma won a close encounter with Chievo Verona at the Ennio Tardini this weekend. The visitors looked well worth a point when Alberto Paloschi scrambled home from close range after Cyril Thereau caused enough panic for the Gialloblu defence to inadvertently divert the ball through to the Italy Under-21 striker. He finished from close range into an empty net as Antonio Mirante got caught in no man’s land.

Parma scrambled a victory in the dying embers as Sebastian Giovinco claimed his second goal of the game. His first goal was a delightful little dink over Stefano Sorrentino before applying the formalities of popping the ball into an empty net.

It was injury time when the player known as the Atomic Ant found space in between Marco Andreolli and Bostjan Cesar and clinically dispatched Jonathan Biabiany’s cross into the bottom corner from the penalty spot.

That is the brilliance of Giovinco, who many considered an Azzurri legend when coming through the ranks at Juventus. His potential is belatedly being realised away from the high pressures of the Old Lady.

Game time is key and he receives it in abundance with Franco Colomba, who lines his team up to get the best out of Giovinco. Already he has three goals in Parma’s opening two matches since a co-ownership deal was ratified this summer with Juventus. The only thing preventing the diminutive tre-quartista from becoming one of Serie A’s great players is his attitude.

Giovinco stupidly got himself sent off for two ridiculous yellow cards on Sunday. The first was following a blatant dive and the second came moments after scoring an injury time winner for his team, when the referee signalled for a free kick and Giovinco decided to shoot despite a clear whistle.

Giovinco turns 25 next January and should be entering the prime of his career; without disrespecting his current club, it should be for a Scudetto challenging side. If he can sort out his attitude in the way that Antonio Cassano has, to some extent, belatedly achieved, then Giovinco can finally fulfil his extraordinary potential.

Guidolin's Udinese Live on Without Zapata, Inler and Sanchez

The Friuli-based side claimed an impressive victory against a Stevan Jovetic-inspired Fiorentina on Sunday with goals from Antonio Di Natale—who else?—before the superb Mauricio Isla, deputising in a new central midfield role, sealed the game on the half-hour mark.

It is quite remarkable that the Zebrette continue to defy the logic that once you lose a collection of your best players—Gokhan Inler, Christian Zapata and Alexis Sanchez—you suffer a blip in rebuilding the following season.

Francesco Guidolin does not do transition and has expertly identified the Brazilian Danilo to command his defence. Emannuel Agyemand-Badu has been marshaling the back four (Thierry Doubai is also challenging for a start) next to the excellent Kwadwo Asamoah, and now the superb right-sided Isla has further strengthened the central midfield by seamlessly adapting to a new role.

Lastly, Di Natale has found a new mate, who looks to be on the same wave length that Sanchez was tuned in to with Toto for so many magnificent moments last season. This is Gabriel Torje, known as the Romanian Messi; the 21-year-old is not taking long to settle.

Wednesday night will see an absorbing clash at the Giuseppe Meazza. Milan will provide a stern measure of how quickly Guidolin has manufactured yet another fantastic team with modest investment.

Follow me on Twitter: World Football views @jackalexandros and Serie A thoughts @FRcalcioJack.