AC Milan
The summer turnover for both Milan clubs alike has been overwhelming, but AC Milan’s reinvestment has been an elaborate medley of versatility and exceptional talent, for ordinary fees. The loss of Sandro Tonali, fan favourite, aptly addressed with Yunus Musah, Tijjani Reijnders and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, while Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze offer thrilling pace and dynamism down the wings. The shock dismissal of Ricky Massara and Paolo Maldini; inconsequential, and the Rossoneri have moulded a squad worthy of a silent title charge.
Rafael Leao has been Milan’s talisman for two seasons, singlehandedly dragging the Rossoneri through games, though Milan’s patterns of play often became predictable. This season, with a summer splurge on fluid attackers, Milan’s overreliance on their Portuguese superstar has diminished. Christian Pulisic, skipper of the US Men’s national team, looks every bit a steal, with a thundering strike on his Milan debut, before scoring the opener in a 4-1 victory against Torino. The high-energy midfield acquisitions of Tijjani Reijnders and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have hit the ground running, grabbing an assist each in Milan’s opening two fixtures. With Olivier Giroud still firing, scoring the second against Bologna before converting twice from the spot against Torino, and the exquisite Rafael Leao – Theo Hernandez mechanism down the exciting left flank still producing, the foundations are set for AC Milan’s return to the summit of the Italian topflight.
This weekend, Milan continued their perfect start to the season with a 2-1 win away at the Stadio Olimpico against Roma. Olivier Giroud scored from the spot again when Rui Patricio brought down Ruben Loftus-Cheek before Rafael Leao’s incredible acrobatic effort doubled Milan’s lead. Patricio’s great reflexes denied the ever-impressive Christian Pulisic, before Fikayo Tomori was sent off for a second yellow. Jose Mourinho’s triple substation failed to capitalize on their man advantage, and a late Leonardo Spinazzola goal in stoppage time was simply a consolation.
Roma
Roma, reeling from a Europa League final loss, have once again impressed in the transfer window with limited funds, with Evan Ndicka and Houssem Aouar significant free signings. Jose Mourinho has bolstered his midfield with Leandro Paredes and Renato Sanches, while the star signing of Romelu Lukaku has already evoked adulation from the home crowd.
However, the start to the season has seen the Giallorossi languish in the relegation zone, and Mourinho’s problems are mounting up. AC Milan was indeed a challenge, but games against Salernitana and Verona should have been far from strenuous. An Andrea Belotti brace showcased signs of the striker’s proficiency in Italy, but two wonder goals from Antonio Candreva resulted in a lacklustre 2-2 draw at home. Against Verona, Rui Patricio and Chris Smalling’s mistakes were punished by Ondrej Duda and then Cyril Ngonge, with Houssem Aouar’s goal in the 56th minute just another consolation. Jose Mourinho and Roma must still aim for a top four finish, but this largely depends on keeping their creative spark, Paulo Dybala fit. A potential Dybala-Lukaku partnership could spearhead Roma’s season, but their defensive fragility, so uncharacteristic of a Mourinho setup, could be a hinderance. The Mourinho era could just as likely end in a whimper as a bang.
Inter Milan
Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan, Champions League finalists in May, have encountered a tremendous squad overhaul but remain a fierce title contender. However, with Samir Handanovic and Andre Onana no longer between the sticks, the defensive leadership of Milan Skriniar and Marcelo Brozovic, along with the firepower of Romelu Lukaku and Edin Dzeko missing, the gradual dismantling of the spine that achieved their Scudetto triumph is daunting. The impressive captures of Yann Sommer and Marcus Thuram, alongside promising Serie A regulars in Carlos Augusto and Davide Fratessi comprise a satisfactory, but perhaps not exceptional window. The late addition of Bayern Munich regular and World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard alongside Allesandro Bastoni has the makings of a formidable defensive partnership. The additions of experienced professionals in Acerbi, Cuadrado and Sanchez are entirely unremarkable, while Marko Arnautovic represents a stark downgrade from the rumoured targets of Balogun, Scamacca and of course, Romelu Lukaku.
Inter Milan have nevertheless begun the season in impressive fashion with successive 2-0 victories, spearheaded by newly appointed skipper and World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez. A valuable brace against Monza before a composed finish against Caligari illustrate his importance to the Nerazzuri. With Marcus Thuram and Martinez kindling a strike partnership and the wingbacks flying forward, Inter seem to be exploiting the makings of Antonio Conte’s success from seasons past. Inter dominated two toothless teams to start the season, but seem slick, clinical and industrious already.
This weekend, however, clearly represented the makings of a formidable title charge. A 4-0 thrashing of European contenders Fiorentina was surprising. A Federico Dimarco cross. A first goal in Italy for Marcus Thuram and Inter were up and running. Inter were exceptional throughout, and the chances mounted up. Marcus Thuram was central to Inter’s success, setting up Lautaro Martinez perfectly, before winning the spot-kick so cooly dispatched by Hakan Calhanoglu. The Thuram-Martinez partnership has the makings of a deadly duo to rival the famous Lukaku-Martinez partnership, and with the Argentine World Cup winner firing on all cylinders, Inter, alongside their city neighbours, have established themselves as the standout challengers just three weekends in.
Atalanta
The last of the fiercest contenders at the pinnacle of the Italian top-flight come in the form of Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta. The replacement of Rasmus Hojlund with El Bilal Toure and Gianluca Scamacca, alongside the loan signing of Charles De Ketelaere, is intriguing. With the structure and innovative tactics of Gasperini, Atalanta are not to be taken lightly. A 2-0 victory over Sassuolo on the opening matchday, impressive. Charles De Ketelaere, the hugely talented Belgian, finally claimed his first goal in Serie A, before substitute Nadir Zortea rifled the ball home from the edge of the box. A 2-1 defeat to newly promoted Frosinone dampened the atmosphere, with Abdou Harroui and Ilario Monterisi’s early goals stunning Atalanta. Nevertheless, a thumping 3-0 win against Monza was full of promise. Ederson scrambled the ball in before Gianluca Scamacca displayed his qualities on his return to Serie A with an unforgettable brace. A powerhouse performance and Atalanta have their new number 9. A first home game of the season, and the signs from Atalanta, and Scamacca especially were thrilling for La Dea.
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