EURO BITES: Serie A - Fiorentina hit top spot, Juventus problems go on with third defeat and Frosinone’s spectactor problems

A look at the last week in Serie A as Fiorentina head to the top of the table, Juventus slip to a third defeat of the campaign and the best way to watch Frosinone play for free.

INTER SKIDS TO A HALT AT SAN SIRO AS FIORENTINA GO TOP

After a five-match winning streak, Inter Milan was brought to its knees by Fiorentina on Sunday night at San Siro. The match was completely dominated by a powerful Fiorentina, whose midfield (led by Borja Valero, Matias Vecino and Milan Badelj) controlled the game from start to finish. The 4-1 victory included a hat-trick for Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic. Inter started out on the wrong foot when goalkeeper Samir Handanovic made a grave error controlling the ball which led to a foul and penalty kick. In the first half hour, Fiorentina scored three times as Inter were left with 10 players after the dismissal of defender Joao Miranda. Inter was not helped by Roberto Mancini’s weak 3-5-2 formation, or by the fact that striker Stefan Jovetic was injured in warm up. Fiorentina replaced Inter at the top of the standings and sit top for the first time since the 1998/99 season. Inter coach Mancini reminded critics that “it was a bad night, that’s all”.

NAPOLI REJOICES OVER JUVENTUS VICTORY

The emotionally charged Napoli-Juventus head-to-head at the San Paolo Stadium on Saturday night finished with a 2-1 victory for Napoli. The match was a must-win for both sides following disappointing draws in midweek where Juventus stumbled against Frosinone and Napoli did no better against the other fledgling team, Carpi. But Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli on Saturday were both aggressive and fast, the 4-3-3 formation proving decisive. Gonzalo Higuain produced a man of the match display, setting up a Lorenzo Insigne strike and scoring the second goal himself. Bianconeri coach Massimiliano Allegri played the eighth different formation in as many matches, destabilising further a team that changed notably this summer following last year’s Scudetto. Mario Lemina reduced the deficit at 2-0 with his first goal in Serie A, but Juve failed to create any more opportunities to score. Last season, Juve lost a total of three matches in the entire Serie A season. This year they have already lost as many in just six games.

FIVE-STAR ROMA DEMOLISH CARPI

For the first time in two years, Roma scored five goals in one match. After defeat to Sampdoria in midweek, the atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium was not serene for the Roma players. They made amends, however, against a disappointing Carpi side with the match over almost before it began. From the 24th to the 31st minute of the first-half, Roma sealed victory with three goals, and the second half saw two more goals by Mohamed Salah and Lucas Digne. Coach Rudi Garcia was particularly satisfied with the break through of Gervinho, who scored his first goal in almost a year. While there is reason to celebrate the victory, there is concern over numerous injuries. Both Roma captain Francesco Totti and newcomer Edin Dzeko will be out for one month, while Seydou Keita will be sidelined for two weeks, missing Roma’s Champions League match against Bate Borisov.

GENOA TOO MUCH FOR AC MILAN

After Milan’s 3-2 victory against Udinese on Tuesday, which included Mario Balotelli’s first goal since his return to the Rossoneri, hopes were high that the team had finally hit its stride this year. But against Genoa on Sunday, Milan once again suffered defeat and demonstrated a lack of consistency. Genoa knew how to approach the game, with impressive determination and aggressive pressing particularly in the first half. Milan was under attack from the start, and conceded a goal 10 minutes in as Blerim Dzemaili struck home a free-kick. The only positive note for the Rossoneri, who had Alessio Romagnoli sent off, was the solid performance of Balotelli. Milan had greater drive and various chances to score after the break, including a scandalous miss by Juraj Kucka four minutes from time.

THE “TORO” IS BACK IN THE GAME

After a disappointing loss midweek against Chievo, Torino picked up speed again on Sunday, beating Palermo 2-1 in Turin. The match was not one for the neutral with Palermo focusing exclusively on defence after two consecutive losses. An own goal by Palermo’s Giancarlo Gonzalez closed the first half, while the second half will be remembered for the most spectacular goal this year in Serie A - a Marco Benassi half-volley from the corner of the box. The team from Turin, used to playing second fiddle to Juventus, now ranks third place in the championship: a full eight points ahead of the Bianconeri.

WHEREFORE ART THOU, FROSINONE?

Balconies in some Italian apartment buildings become particularly attractive on Serie A matchdays. In a country where football stadiums are often in the centre of the city, the palazzi surrounding them can provide extra viewing area for home matches. In Frosinone, for example, where the stadium is not closed in on all sides, there are balconies where as many as forty people pack in to watch the first matches of the Serie A season. Family members, friends, as well as “ticketed”, paying spectators wave team flags from a balcony with a bird’s eye view of the stadium. But the Frosinone chief of police has had enough, and for safety reasons wants to set limits on how many people can stand on terraces and balconies. “I hope he does,” said a Frosinone resident with one such balcony. “All my family and friends want to come over, and it is hard to say no.”