Five talking points from Italy's Serie A

Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't found the net in three Serie A outings, but Juventus hasn't been affected by its star striker's lack of goals and sits atop the table after three fixtures.

Published : Sep 03, 2018 18:14 IST , Milan

In another underwhelming display from Cristiano Ronaldo, he was unable to open his Serie A account after three games.
In another underwhelming display from Cristiano Ronaldo, he was unable to open his Serie A account after three games.
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In another underwhelming display from Cristiano Ronaldo, he was unable to open his Serie A account after three games.

Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to score but Italian champion Juventus pulled clear at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 win at Parma as Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli suffered its first setback with a 3-0 defeat at Sampdoria.

Massimiliano Allegri's seven-time reigning title-holder now sits top the table with nine points after three matches and is oozing confidence going into the two-week international break.

Here are five talking points from Serie A this weekend:

Ronaldo: Will he or won't he?

Cristiano Ronaldo's drought has kept Juventus fans on tenterhooks with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner having 23 shots at goals in three games without success.

But the Italian press urged fans to take heart as the 33-year-old former Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United and Real Madrid star has often had slow starts.

Read: Juventus has a lot more work to do - Allegri

And the Gazzetta Dello Sport pointed out that September has been golden for the Portuguese striker in his nine seasons at Real Madrid reaping 57 goals -- over one per game -- in league and cup games.

Real Madrid's all-time record goalscorer scored for 450 goals in 438 games for the Spaniards, including 44 last season.

“It takes time. We'll all be fresher after the break and that's when the real season starts,” said Allegri, with its next game against Sassuolo on September 16.

Ancelotti struggling to find Sarri magic

Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti is struggling to reproduce the solid defence of his predecessor Maurizio Sarri with the Serie A runners-up conceding six goals in three games.

“Six goals in three games - that's a lot,” said the former Real Madrid and Chelsea boss whose side has fallen behind in all three of its opening games.

“Once it can happen, twice maybe but the third time no. The problem is the general attitude and I must work to change that,” said Ancelotti of his first defeat ahead of tough upcoming Champions League fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool.

Napoli, along with the two other Italian Champions League teams that should be challenging Juventus for the Scudetto -- Roma and Inter Milan -- have all lost once in three games.

Former legends fire AC Milan

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma likened the arrival of former club legends Paolo Maldini, Leonardo and Kaka as providing an electric shock as AC Milan beat Roma 2-1 for its first win of the season.

“The presence of Kaka, Maldini and Leonardo gives us a boost,” Donnarumma told Sky Sports Italia . “In Milan, in recent weeks, you breathe a different air. Around the team there are some champions of the past, who are working to build the Milan of the future. From Leonardo to Maldini, to the recent arrival of Kaka who was also present during the game against Roma.

“It was really exciting, their presence leaves us in awe, but it pushes you to give everything you have.”

Quagliarella stunner

Coach Marco Giampaolo hailed veteran Fabio Quagliarella's back-heel kick in Sampdoria's 3-0 win over Napoli as worthy of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.

“If Cristiano Ronaldo had scored Quagliarella's goal, everyone would talk about it,” said Giampaolo.

Read: Juve will help Ronaldo break Serie A duck - Matuidi

The 35-year-old striker helped the Genoa side beat his hometown club where he previously played.

“It was a great performance, I'm just sad that I always end up scoring beautiful goals against my Napoli. They know I'm cheering them on, though,” said Quagliarella.

Piatek flying high in Italy

Polish forward Krzysztof Piatek is flying high since his arrival in Italy, with three goals in three games including a brace in his team Genoa's 5-3 loss to Sassuolo. The 23-year-old, who joined the northwestern Italy side last June from KS Cracovia in his native Poland on a four million euro deal, is joint top of the Serie A scorers going into the international break along with Fiorentina's Marco Benassi.

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