The difference is made out wide
In the modern game, wide areas have become one of the key battlegrounds for creating an advantage. When space through the middle is congested and the opposition press funnels possession towards the touchline, players who can beat their man or drive directly at goal can transform a game.
Matchday four of the Serie A season showcased that in all its forms. Full-backs and wing-backs contributed goals and assists, but above all made the difference with their ability to shift the balance from the flanks. From emerging talents and returning faces to established performers, these are the wide players who left their mark.
Hainaut gives Venezia an outlet on the right
Venezia are still searching for their first reward of the new league campaign, but they have already found a valuable weapon on the right flank. Antoine Hainaut scored in Serie A for the first time since 25 May 2025, when he found the net against Atalanta for Parma, having previously been one of the key figures in Venezia’s promotion with five goals.
His goal against Fiorentina continued a bright start to the season in attacking areas: an assist against Frosinone, a near miss against AC Milan and already three big chances created in the league. The numbers paint the picture of a wide player who not only supports the attack, but consistently gets into dangerous positions in the final third.
Moreira changes the game in 45 minutes
The weekend belonged to Diego Moreira. Sent on at the Olimpico at the start of the second half with Milan two goals down, the Belgian changed the complexion of the game with his pace, quality and relentless surges down the left, converting his first two shots for the club into goals.
Both finishes came on his left foot and earned him the first brace of his career across Europe’s top five leagues. At 22 years and 37 days, Moreira also became AC Milan’s youngest player to score twice as a substitute in Serie A since the competition returned to 20 teams in 2004/05, as well as the first player representing Belgium to score at least two goals in a league match for the Rossoneri.
His impact went far beyond the scoreline. Moreira gave Amorim direct running, acceleration and unpredictability on the left, raising the tempo of Milan’s play and emerging as the driving force behind the comeback.
Favasuli makes his mark in 51 minutes
Costantino Favasuli needed little time to make an impression for Napoli. Introduced late in the first half, the 2004-born full-back gave the side fresh impetus with his forward runs down the right before supplying the assist for Lobotka’s match-winning goal.
In just 51 minutes, he completed three dribbles — more than anyone else on the pitch — and recorded three key passes, level with teammates KDB and Spinazzola.
It was an eye-catching debut in blue and a continuation of the form he showed with Catanzaro last season, when he ranked among Serie B’s leading full-backs for dribbles and tackles.
Pace, one-on-one ability and an impact at both ends of the pitch: Favasuli needed less than an hour to show Allegri he can offer another valuable option on the right.
Mangas, decisive in three straight games
Ricardo Mangas is no longer simply catching the eye, the numbers now underline his impact. At the Via del Mare, the Portuguese wide man scored his first Serie A goal after already registering two assists, taking him to three goal involvements in his last three appearances. It is a level of consistency he had never previously reached across Europe’s top ten leagues.
His importance to Monza’s attack is already clear: Mangas has been directly involved in half of the Biancorossi’s six goals so far. The underlying numbers are just as impressive, with the Portuguese ranking first among the league’s wide players for big chances created (3) and xG (1.0).
He has settled quickly into Juric’s system and has already established himself as one of Monza’s most productive attacking outlets from wide areas.
Zhegrova changes the game in 36 minutes
On a breathless night at the Mapei Stadium, Edon Zhegrova gave Juventus the lift they needed. Introduced from the bench, the Kosovan winger struck his first two goals in Bianconeri colours, ending a 29-game scoring drought.
In just 36 minutes, he produced four crosses, three shots, three big chances created and three successful dribbles, driving Juventus’ push to reel in Sassuolo. The brace also ended a wait of 658 days for a league goal, with Zhegrova having last scored in Ligue 1 for Lille.
Kaiki makes the perfect start
A first Serie A start, a first goal and the Player of the Match award: Kaiki could hardly have scripted a better night at the Sinigaglia. After featuring for nine minutes in Napoli, the 2003-born full-back was handed his first start by FĂ bregas as Valle was given a breather, and the former Cruzeiro man made an immediate impact.
Kaiki was a constant outlet going forward and, above all, repeatedly created an advantage in one-on-one situations. He completed four dribbles, more than any other player on the pitch and twice as many as Nico Paz, who ranked second. He then rounded off the display with a goal, becoming the first Como defender to score on his first Serie A start in the three-points-for-a-win era.
Carlos Augusto and Diouf, Inter make their mark on both flanks
Inter also found a decisive edge in the wide areas. On the left, Carlos Augusto built on his Champions League goal against Real Madrid a few days earlier by scoring again against Udinese, netting the 2-1 goal that launched the Nerazzurri comeback. With one goal and one assist, he has already matched his attacking return from the whole of last season’s Serie A campaign after just four matchdays.
On the opposite side, Andy Diouf continues to make an impact. His assist for Thuram’s go-ahead goal took him to three assists in Serie A, a tally bettered only by Dybala at this stage of the season.
Full-backs scoring, wing-backs creating and wide players changing games from the bench. On Matchday four, the flanks proved decisive.