Serie A weekend round-up: Napoli show champions pedigree and Vardy opens account

The Serie A title race took another huge twist this weekend, with the champions putting in a statement performance against last season's runners-up. 

Elsewhere, there was almost a shock at the San Siro, Roma got back on track, but there still remains four winless teams at the bottom of the league. 

Here are the big talking points from Matchday eight.  

Napoli get the win they needed...but at what cost? 

It was just the result Antonio Conte needed, just as questions were starting to be asked about Napoli's title defence. 

The current champions had yet to show if they were ready to retain their crown so far this season and went into the showdown with Inter having lost at Torino and suffered a nightmare result away to PSV in the Champions League. Their opponents, however, were flying, with seven wins on the bounce. 

Yet, for the first time this campaign, Napoli showed their championship credentials. After weathering early Inter pressure, they got themselves in front with a controversial penalty and then finished the job in a much more commanding second half to win the game 3-1. 

It's a victory that sees Napoli back on top of the league and back as the team to beat - especially if they can continue to perform like they did on Saturday. 

However, they'll have to do it - at least in the short term - without Kevin De Bruyne, who hobbled off during the match and is set for a spell on the sidelines. 

Ciao, Jamie 

It was the moment Serie A fans had been waiting for since Jamie Vardy arrived in Italy on deadline day, as the former England striker netted his first goal for Cremonese. 

Having suffered a stuttering start to his exciting new chapter thanks to a lack of preseason and niggling injuries, the striker opened his account in the 1-1 draw with Atalanta. 

Vardy showed the predatory instincts that saw him reach the very top of the game in England, but following up Alessio Zerbin's shot, to fire into the top corner and get off the mark for his new club. 

To make the occasion, the 35-year-old even pulled off a somersault during his celebration. Is there anything he can't do? 

 

 

Dybala does the business 

Roma got over their small wobble this week, thanks to a goal from 'La Joya' as Paulo Dybala put his side back level on points with league leaders Napoli. 

The Argentine was deployed in a false nine position by boss Gian Piero Gasperini and the tactical gamble paid off, as Roma saw off Sassuolo with the only goal of the game. 

It's still early in the season, and despite the defeat to Inter last weekend, Roma still look like they could have a real say in title proceedings this season, as long as they sort their home form out. 

They are yet to lose away from the Stadio Olimpico in 2025-26, so if they can stop dropping points at home, they'll be right in the championship conversation. 

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Rafa to Milan's rescue again 

Just when everyone was starting to talk up Milan's title aspirations after a run a form that had seen them hardly put a foot wrong since the opening day of the season, they almost...almost succumbed to the weekend's biggest surprise. 

Faced with the prospect of overcoming winless Pisa to strengthen their lead at the top of Serie A, most expected another routine win for Max Allegri's side. But as we're seeing this season, you can never rule out a shock in Serie A. 

M'Bala Nzola's late goal looked to have won the game for Alberto Gilardino's men, but it after Rafeal Leao, who once again opened the scoring for the Rossoneri, it needed a Zachary Athekame equaliser three minutes into added time. 

The Portuguese, who scored twice last weekend to see Milan beat Fiorentina, was once again the main man as the game finished 2-2.

However, it shows Milan still has work to do, and they'll be disappointed to have dropped two points in a title race that is proving as tight as everyone expected it to be. 

 

Results from Serie A matchday eight 

Friday, October 24

• Milan 2-2 Pisa 

Saturday, October 25

• Parma 0-0 Como
• Udinese 3-2 Lecce
• Napoli 3-1 Inter 
• Cremonese 1-1 Atalanta 

Sunday, October 26

• Torino 1-2 Genoa 
• Hellas Verona 2-2 Cagliari 
• Sassuolo 0-1 Roma 
• Fiorentina 2-2 Bologna 
• Lazio 1-0 Juventus 

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