Matchday 5, time for the first assessments: the international break looms

The final spin. There is still one token left to activate Matchday 5 of Serie A, before the long international break. Leaving a positive impression is often the best way to enjoy a few weeks of apparent calm, and in most cases it helps teams assess their objectives from a more positive perspective. The three-week break will be used primarily to recover injured players and fine-tune team concepts around the new arrivals from the transfer market, despite several departures for international duty. Matchday 5 is therefore one to not get wrong, bringing the first month of the season to a close after a run of games that have already carried significant weight in the standings. The weekend will be spread across three days, from Friday to Sunday, and with several potentially decisive clashes, we could already get the first real answers from the pitch.

MONZA VS. SASSUOLO (FRIDAY, 20:45 CEST)

The opening chapter of Matchday 5 belongs to the clash between Jurić and Aquilani. Victory is imperative for the Brianza side, who have often been involved in fiercely contested finishes so far, as at Lecce in their most recent narrow defeat, but have been unable to make significant progress in the standings. At the Brianteo, the Biancorossi are hoping to build their survival bid, perhaps by taking Sassuolo by surprise with courage and intensity. The Neroverdi, meanwhile, arrive at the game strong and revitalised by their win over Juventus, a night that also highlighted the depth of a talented squad capable of getting long term results. Now comes the interesting part: a win next time would give Aquilani the chance to broaden his horizons, with a lighter touch while encouraging the group to climb as high as possible.

BOLOGNA VS. TORINO (SATURDAY, 15:00 CEST)

There is a new coach at Casteldebole, as Raffaele Palladino takes over from Domenico Tedesco in the Rossoblù dugout. The Italian-German coach's spell in Bologna did not work out, with Tedesco dismissed after the defeat in Naples and just one point collected from four games. Palladino's arrival is intended to provide an emotional boost in Emilia-Romagna: while they await Orsolini's return after the break, putting points on the board is the absolute priority, starting with Saturday afternoon's game at the Dall'Ara. Torino are also in urgent need of points, however. After their home defeat to Roma, Ignazio Abate could set his side up along similar lines to the win they secured in Florence two weeks ago. The loss of Che Adams for around a month means Simeone will have to shoulder an even greater workload: the Cholito, still without a goal, put in a good performance last Monday, and finding the net would give him an extra boost of confidence as he looks to re-establish himself as the team's charismatic leader.

UDINESE VS. CAGLIARI (SATURDAY, 15:00 CEST)

So close, yet so far. The missed win at San Siro is a double-edged sword for Udinese's morale. The Bianconeri have shown that they have the weapons and numbers to make an impact from midfield onwards, but they have also exposed too many defensive problems, with the five goals conceded against Inter serving as a warning sign. The test against the Sardinians is one not to underestimate, as shown by the points haul collected so far by Pisacane's side. Results at Cagliari have often come in the exact opposite manner to Udinese's: narrow wins built on focused and effective work without the ball. The Friuliani need a win to correct course, while a prestigious result could see the Islanders enjoy a place in the sun at a very high position in the standings during the long international break.

ROMA VS. INTER (SATURDAY, 18:00 CEST)

Only wins, often accompanied by eye-catching performances. Roma and Inter, both on maximum points, are the undisputed leaders of this opening phase of the season. What stands out most is both teams' ability to take control of games even when faced with difficult, at times unexpected, circumstances. The Giallorossi relied on solidity and efficiency at the Olimpico Grande Torino, repeatedly neutralising Torino's attacking bursts with their usual rock-solid defence. Malen has reached six goals, Dybala continues to dazzle and there have also been encouraging signs on the physical front. Inter needed another spectacular comeback to recover against Udinese, their second after their fight back against Napoli on the previous matchday. Chivu has several selection decisions to make in different areas of the pitch, and having given Lautaro a rest, will allow him to have the Argentine captain at his best. The first attempt to break away is at stake at the Olimpico: a message to all the teams competing for the Scudetto.

VENEZIA VS. LAZIO (SATURDAY, 20:45 CEST)

A trip to the lagoon for Rino Gattuso, the assured leader of his team in these opening games. The meeting at the Penzo is particularly delicate for Giovanni Stroppa, who sits bottom of the table with zero points. Stopping this Lazio side will be far from easy, but the current situation demands an immediate response. Venezia still looked to be finding their rhythm against Fiorentina, and balance and compactness are elements they need to acquire ahead of such a demanding test. As for the Biancocelesti, the big game against AC Milan had a mixed ending: a superb first half in terms of running and attacking quality, followed by a flat second half with the reserve light on. The Calabrian coach is looking to improve his team's physical condition across the full 90 minutes; the path they have taken is encouraging and the squad appears aware of their ability to compete with the best in the league.

FIORENTINA VS. NAPOLI (SUNDAY, 12:30 CEST)

The first lunchtime kick-off of the season. Fiorentina return to the Franchi with Paolo Vanoli at the helm; the new coach has turned things around in Venice and the support of the home crowd could now push the Viola to another level. The spotlight is on Mastantuono's hat-trick, as he finally managed to unleash his full talent and help the team to their first win. There is no room for distraction: Napoli took an important step forward with their 1-0 win over Bologna at the Maradona, and the head-to-head clash could unfold in several different ways. Max Allegri will look to take advantage of some of the results among the teams near the top to close the gap on the leaders, but that will require a second consecutive victory.

FROSINONE VS. COMO (SUNDAY, 15:00 CEST)

Alvini's Frosinone are certainly one of the biggest surprises of the opening four matchdays, and the game against Como appears to have arrived at the right time to test the Ciociari's strength and confidence. The Stirpe factor played a major role two weeks ago in the 3-2 win over Venezia, while their opening-day performance against Juventus had also been up to the required standard. The valuable 1-1 draw at Genoa added further evidence, and was the result of a performance played with courage and a certain confidence in their own ability. For Como, meanwhile, the 2-1 win over Parma is another useful step towards staying among the title contenders. To be fair, Fàbregas' side showed a few more problems in the last round, but winning games like that only reinforces their status as a top team.

PARMA VS. GENOA (SUNDAY, 15:00 CEST)

There are valuable points at stake on Sunday afternoon in the relegation battle between the Gialloblù and Rossoblù. Last season, both coaches managed to mould their respective teams around clearly recognisable playing principles, an objective that remains some way off in the opening stages of the current campaign. The danger is close at hand, and neither Cuesta nor De Rossi can afford to put the issue of three points off any longer. Parma showed signs of improvement at the Sinigaglia, but the Emiliani are looking for the decisive breakthrough in terms of results. The same can be said of Genoa: the team showed slight signs of recovery against Frosinone, but their performances remain marked by a certain inconsistency. Level on points in the standings, Parma and Genoa will be playing for a slice of their future at the Tardini.

JUVENTUS VS. ATALANTA (SUNDAY, 18:00 CEST)

At the Allianz Stadium, the perfect game to bounce back is taking shape. It has not been an idyllic period for Juventus and Atalanta, who have both been forced to chase after stumbles in recent weeks. The Bianconeri collapsed in the dramatic final stages at Reggio Emilia, while La Dea come into the game on the back of two straight defeats, albeit with very different circumstances behind them. It is the home defeat to Cagliari that concerns Sarri; the Tuscan coach returns to Turin as an ex-coach looking to lift the mood, perhaps by continuing Atalanta's unbeaten run at the Stadium, where they have avoided defeat in their last eight visits. Luciano Spalletti's objective is presumably the same as his Nerazzurri counterpart's: the first difficult spell of the season can be overcome with a convincing win in front of their home supporters. A three-way game on the coupon, with both teams ready to climb again.

AC MILAN VS. LECCE (SUNDAY, 20:45 CEST)

The final act at the Giuseppe Meazza. AC Milan are unbeaten, but they have allowed the teams at the top to pull away. After two tough away trips to Juventus and Lazio, the fixture list appears to be easing. This is where Amorim must look to take the next step and remain in touch with the title race. Lecce, meanwhile, edged past Monza, and now Di Francesco can savour that extra touch of calm ahead of the game at San Siro. The Giallorossi can play without the pressure of a must-get result and, by embracing that mindset, will look to carve out a positive evening at the Scala del Calcio. A game not to be missed, with plenty of time for everyone to rest during the long break.

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