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Juventus among the best in class, AC Milan improving after slow start, Inter must do better - Serie A report card after a quarter of the season
With 10 rounds having been negotiated and the latest international break upon us, we take a look at all 20 top-flight clubs in Italy and grade them on their form in 2011-12
Nov 7, 2011 6:30:00 AM
By Kris Voakes
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With a two-week break ahead for Serie A's clubs, the peninsula's 20 coaches will be analyzing their sides' achievements so far in the 2011-12 campaign and where they are in relation to pre-season targets.
For the likes of Juventus, Udinese and Lazio, the new term has been a huge success, with only the odd disappointment coming out of their opening clutch of games, while Inter lead the list of teams who will consider the first two months of the season to have been a huge disappointment.
But with every letdown there has been a success story, and with a quarter of the season having now been completed, we take a look back at the first 10 rounds of action and grade each Serie A club on their performances so far whilst taking into account pre-season expectations.
Having been hit by a six-point penalty in the summer, the Orobici have been almost flawless on the field, with form that would have seen them in the top five after 10 rounds were it not for their betting misdemeanours of last term.
German Denis has taken most of the headlines with seven goals so far, though his missed penalty in the dying moments against Inter stopped them taking their biggest scalp of the campaign. Argentine Maxi Moralez has added two braces alongside the former Udinese man as Stefano Colantuono's side have hit the ground running.
Their one setback came last week in a surprise defeat at Bologna, but they bounced back well to beat Cagliari on Sunday.
An abysmal start to the season was enough to see Pierpaolo Bisoli lose his post as coach, and replacement Stefano Pioli immediately brought about an upturn in fortunes.
Taking over a side that collected only one point in five games - albeit a gutsy draw away to 10-man Juventus - the man fired by Palermo before the season had even begun presided over three wins in his first four fixtures in charge before suffering defeat on his return to Sicily at the weekend.
One of the better pieces of news in recent weeks has come from the renewal of Gaston Ramirez's contract, though the Uruguayan's recent return to form could still see him leave before long.
Surprisingly, it is not their usually impressive home record which has been the basis of Cagliari's form so far this term, with only one win at the Sant'Elia to their credit - and that against Serie A new-boys Novara.
With Massimo Ficcadenti having only taken the reins from Roberto Donadoni in mid-August, they shocked many by toppling Roma in the capital on opening day, but they have only one win to their name in the last eight games after going down to Atalanta at the weekend.
The 3-0 home loss to Lazio in Round 10 will have been particularly difficult for notorious president Massimo Cellino to swallow.
The jury was out on Vincenzo Montella after his mixed spell with Roma last term, but the new season has been largely positive for 'L'Aeroplanino' since he was handed the coaching role at the Massimino.
Home victories over Inter and Napoli have provided the stand-out results so far, along with a draw against Juventus, but heavy defeats on the road at Genoa in Round 4 and Milan on Sunday have undone some of the good work.
Still, no longer are they reliant on the goals of Maxi Lopez, and their battling spirit has seen them earn creditable away points against Fiorentina and Lazio, and they also battled to secure a late draw in a thriller at Novara.
The 2011-12 season has been a veritable disaster for the Seahorses so far, resulting in the dismissal last week of Marco Giampaolo.
Three draws and six defeats in nine games unsurprisingly brought about a change in coach, but Daniele Arrigoni has a big job on to turn around the fortunes of a side in freefall.
The addition of Adrian Mutu has simply not worked, and the north-east side have only three goals to their name, including just one in the last seven fixtures.
While they showed a battling quality from day one last term, the new toothless outlook does not make for good viewing, and the safety mark is still 37 points away.
The Flying Donkeys continue to demonstrate their innate ability to silence the doubters just when they seem to be struggling.
Early victories over Napoli and Genoa were mixed in amongst an indifferent streak. Defeats against Parma and Bologna, and dropped points against Novara and Cesena, were added to creditable performances against Juventus and Inter.
But their response to a hugely disappointing 4-1 thumping at Siena in Round 10 was swift, with Luca Rigoni's goal seeing off Fiorentina at the weekend.
There is room for improvement in Verona, but few would dare back them to go down, especially with warhorses like Sergio Pellissier and Davide Moscardelli still around.
The Viola's season simply hasn't been good enough for a club who have come to expect more in recent times.
After an encouraging second half of 2010-11, many in Tuscany would have wanted to see Sinisa Mihajlovic's men hit the ground running. Instead they have seen their captain Riccardo Montolivo flirting with other clubs to such an extent that he lost the armband, and their coach has shown an inability to get the best out of the players at his disposal.
Alessio Cerci has blown hot and cold, Stevan Jovetic is still searching for full fitness, while Alberto Gilardino has missed much of the early stages. But behind them is a very suspect midfield, and failures against Cesena, Catania and Chievo in recent weeks make the next four clashes with Milan, Palermo, Roma and Inter crucial for Mihajlovic's future.
It has been a typically mixed beginning to 2011-12 for Il Grifone, with victories over Lazio, Roma and Catania being offset by losses to Chievo, Parma and Fiorentina.
If they are to break free from mid-table, they will need to garner consistency from the likes of Kevin Constant, Andrea Caracciolo and Bosko Jankovic, who have all performed in fits and starts so far.
Rodrigo Palacio's five goals have been one of the bright points, while Alexander Merkel's recent return from injury has also boosted Alberto Malesani's side. One downside is the likely loss of Juraj Kucka to Inter in the January transfer window.
The Nerazzurri's 2011-12 season cannot end quick enough, even now. Currently 12 points off the Champions League pace, there will need to be a huge turnaround in fortunes for them to be in the top three come May.
Gian Piero Gasperini's calamitous campaign came to a very swift end, but the issues running through the club have largely remained, even if Claudio Ranieri has managed to steady the ship somewhat in Europe.
Defeats at Palermo, Novara and Catania were all embarrassing to various degrees, while they've also suffered two losses at home after a run of one home reverse in 42 months.
With ageing midfielders, misfiring forwards and doddering defenders, it has not been the start many Inter fans envisaged two months ago.
Antonio Conte's impact has made the Bianconeri one of the favorites for the Scudetto, and they remain the side to have dropped the fewest points going into the hiatus.
Andrea Pirlo's addition in midfield has been pinpointed as the main reason for the club's upturn after consecutive seventh-placed finishes, but there has also been a more dynamic approach about their play.
Their new pressing nature has been behind many of their early wins, but the inability to convert the multitude of chances they have created so far has seen a lot of unnecessary points dropped despite their unbeaten record.
Free of injuries to key players so far, they have had luck on their side, though Conte's insistence that his men be more adaptable from game to game has deserved some fortune.
After dropping an early two-goal lead on opening night at Milan and then seeing Genoa take three points from the Olimpico, Lazio were under significant pressure just two games in, with Edy Reja being petitioned to leave his job by many fans.
However, the Biancocelesti's response has been magnificent, and they sit in second at the quarter mark following eight games without a loss, with six goals for summer signing Miroslav Klose at the heart of their upturn in fortunes.
They have come from behind to win three times so far, including in the Rome derby, and on all three occasions it is the German hitman who has snatched the winner.
Eusebio Di Francesco has been clutching on for dear life in recent weeks as a result of his side's dreadful home form which has seen them collect only one point from five games.
Their fortunes at the Via del Mare were never better summed up than in their hosting of Milan, as they led 3-0 at half-time only to throw away all three points.
However, a Round 3 win at Bologna and this weekend's priceless victory at bottom club Cesena mean they are still in with a fighting chance for now, though they will need consistent performances from the likes of Juan Cuadrado and skipper Guillermo Giacomazzi if they are to breathe more easily as the season progresses.
Lacking mobility, creativity and vibrancy, the champions started the season in very sluggish fashion, collecting only five points from their opening five games.
But since their late, late defeat at Juventus Stadium, they have responded with five straight wins and now sit just a point off the top.
Alberto Aquilani has proven an excellent addition as time has progressed, while hat-tricks for Antonio Nocerino and - most memorably - Kevin-Prince Boateng have had a hand in their renaissance.
Antonio Cassano's health shock will no doubt deal them a blow, but having scored 18 goals in five games, they have already proven to have the firepower to overcome his loss, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic crucial as ever.
After an explosive start which brought back memories of great nights at the San Paolo in the late 80s, the Vesuviani have hit a significant dip in form which has seen them fall well adrift of the top of the table.
Edinson Cavani's hat-trick against Milan looked set to be a catalyst for something big, but the Uruguayan took until Round 10 to score again, while victories over 10-man Inter and weakened leaders Udinese have been interspersed with some real letdowns.
Losses to Chievo, Parma and Catania have dealt a real blow to hopes of them taking the extra step up from last year's third-placed finish, with Ezequiel Lavezzi, Marek Hamsik et al so far showing an inability to double up at home and in the Champions League.
Their magnificent victory over Inter at the Silvio Piola was memorable not only because they had beaten the reigning world champions, but also because it remains their only Serie A win since 1956.
The double step up from the Lega Pro to the top flight in two seasons has proven difficult for Attilio Tesser's side, though they have made teams work hard for points on their synthetic home surface.
Marco Rigoni's form in midfield and Riccardo Meggiorini's work-rate up front have deserved better results so far, but the Azzurri are going to have to become a tougher proposition away from home if they are to have any chance of staying up come May.
Another season, same old Palermo. After president Maurizio Zamparini lived up to his billing by sacking Stefano Pioli before the season had even begun, the Rosanero have gone about their normal business of being near-unbeatable at home but the exact opposite on their travels.
A full 15 points have been earned at La Favorita, but just one away from Sicily as young coach Devis Mangia has failed to buck the trend of the Rosanero struggling on their travels. If they're an A+ at home, they're F- away.
While they have not had one single outstanding player so far, the contributions of Federico Balzaretti, Giulio Migliaccio and Abel Hernandez have been too much for visitors to the Barbera.
Sebastian Giovinco continues to revel in the responsibility placed upon his shoulders by the Ducali, and their four victories so far have been due in no small part to the contribution of the Italy forward.
Braces in home wins against Chievo and Genoa were impressive enough, but he and Sergio Floccari played key roles as the Emilia-Romagna side took three points from their trip to Napoli.
Many of their defeats have come against decent calibre opposition, with only a reverse at home to Atalanta being of significant distress, though the three-goal margins of their losses at Juventus, Fiorentina and Milan will have come as a disappointment.
Clubs should never expect an immediate return on big investment, but the Giallorossi have undoubtedly left many underwhelmed in terms of their results so far.
While they have been able to pass many teams out of the game, they have too often let opponents off the hook with the inability to provide a killer edge around the penalty area.
That said, Pablo Osvaldo's five goals have shown they do have some weaponry to make more of, while Bojan Krkic has recently begun to find the net after a difficult start.
Luis Enrique will need to continue his delicate tweaking of his side if they are to regain the ground they have lost on the leading pack in the opening 10 rounds.
Three straight home wins - each in convincing fashion - have been the feature of Siena's season thus far as Giuseppe Sannino has continued the good work of Antonio Conte during their promotion campaign in 2010-11.
The Robur remain a durable outfit with an emphasis on flair when they attack, and with Emanuele Calaio, Mattia Destro and Pablo Andres Gonzalez among their forward options, they hold a threat which has stung many a side so far.
In picking up four away draws in six games they have proven they have the hard edge that other sides tipped for a relegation fight have failed to demonstrate in the opening rounds, and their return of 13 points from 10 games is a healthy first step to avoiding the drop.
Shorn of Alexis Sanchez, Gokhan Inler and Cristian Zapata, the Zebrette were tipped by many to plummet without a trace in 2011-12, but Francesco Guidolin continues to work wonders at the Stadio Friuli.
Armed with one of the best scouting systems in the world, the wily coach has injected just the right replacements for his departed stars and has reaped the benefits. And they have played with flair still too, not least thanks to the energy of the likes of Mauricio Isla, Pablo Armero, Kwadwo Asamoah and Emmanuel Badu.
Striker Antonio Di Natale continues to score goals too, and his eight goals so far have him well on course to finish as the capocannoniere of Serie A for the third season running, a feat last recorded by Juventus' Michel Platini between 1982 and 1985.
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For the likes of Juventus, Udinese and Lazio, the new term has been a huge success, with only the odd disappointment coming out of their opening clutch of games, while Inter lead the list of teams who will consider the first two months of the season to have been a huge disappointment.
But with every letdown there has been a success story, and with a quarter of the season having now been completed, we take a look back at the first 10 rounds of action and grade each Serie A club on their performances so far whilst taking into account pre-season expectations.
| ATALANTA |
A- |
 |
German Denis has taken most of the headlines with seven goals so far, though his missed penalty in the dying moments against Inter stopped them taking their biggest scalp of the campaign. Argentine Maxi Moralez has added two braces alongside the former Udinese man as Stefano Colantuono's side have hit the ground running.
Their one setback came last week in a surprise defeat at Bologna, but they bounced back well to beat Cagliari on Sunday.
| BOLOGNA |
D |
 |
Taking over a side that collected only one point in five games - albeit a gutsy draw away to 10-man Juventus - the man fired by Palermo before the season had even begun presided over three wins in his first four fixtures in charge before suffering defeat on his return to Sicily at the weekend.
One of the better pieces of news in recent weeks has come from the renewal of Gaston Ramirez's contract, though the Uruguayan's recent return to form could still see him leave before long.
| CAGLIARI |
C- |
 |
With Massimo Ficcadenti having only taken the reins from Roberto Donadoni in mid-August, they shocked many by toppling Roma in the capital on opening day, but they have only one win to their name in the last eight games after going down to Atalanta at the weekend.
The 3-0 home loss to Lazio in Round 10 will have been particularly difficult for notorious president Massimo Cellino to swallow.
| CATANIA |
C+ |
 |
Home victories over Inter and Napoli have provided the stand-out results so far, along with a draw against Juventus, but heavy defeats on the road at Genoa in Round 4 and Milan on Sunday have undone some of the good work.
Still, no longer are they reliant on the goals of Maxi Lopez, and their battling spirit has seen them earn creditable away points against Fiorentina and Lazio, and they also battled to secure a late draw in a thriller at Novara.
| CESENA |
F |
 |
Three draws and six defeats in nine games unsurprisingly brought about a change in coach, but Daniele Arrigoni has a big job on to turn around the fortunes of a side in freefall.
The addition of Adrian Mutu has simply not worked, and the north-east side have only three goals to their name, including just one in the last seven fixtures.
While they showed a battling quality from day one last term, the new toothless outlook does not make for good viewing, and the safety mark is still 37 points away.
| CHIEVO |
C- |
 |
Early victories over Napoli and Genoa were mixed in amongst an indifferent streak. Defeats against Parma and Bologna, and dropped points against Novara and Cesena, were added to creditable performances against Juventus and Inter.
But their response to a hugely disappointing 4-1 thumping at Siena in Round 10 was swift, with Luca Rigoni's goal seeing off Fiorentina at the weekend.
There is room for improvement in Verona, but few would dare back them to go down, especially with warhorses like Sergio Pellissier and Davide Moscardelli still around.
| FIORENTINA |
E |
 |
After an encouraging second half of 2010-11, many in Tuscany would have wanted to see Sinisa Mihajlovic's men hit the ground running. Instead they have seen their captain Riccardo Montolivo flirting with other clubs to such an extent that he lost the armband, and their coach has shown an inability to get the best out of the players at his disposal.
Alessio Cerci has blown hot and cold, Stevan Jovetic is still searching for full fitness, while Alberto Gilardino has missed much of the early stages. But behind them is a very suspect midfield, and failures against Cesena, Catania and Chievo in recent weeks make the next four clashes with Milan, Palermo, Roma and Inter crucial for Mihajlovic's future.
| GENOA |
C |
 |
If they are to break free from mid-table, they will need to garner consistency from the likes of Kevin Constant, Andrea Caracciolo and Bosko Jankovic, who have all performed in fits and starts so far.
Rodrigo Palacio's five goals have been one of the bright points, while Alexander Merkel's recent return from injury has also boosted Alberto Malesani's side. One downside is the likely loss of Juraj Kucka to Inter in the January transfer window.
| INTER |
F |
 |
Gian Piero Gasperini's calamitous campaign came to a very swift end, but the issues running through the club have largely remained, even if Claudio Ranieri has managed to steady the ship somewhat in Europe.
Defeats at Palermo, Novara and Catania were all embarrassing to various degrees, while they've also suffered two losses at home after a run of one home reverse in 42 months.
With ageing midfielders, misfiring forwards and doddering defenders, it has not been the start many Inter fans envisaged two months ago.
| JUVENTUS |
A |
 |
Andrea Pirlo's addition in midfield has been pinpointed as the main reason for the club's upturn after consecutive seventh-placed finishes, but there has also been a more dynamic approach about their play.
Their new pressing nature has been behind many of their early wins, but the inability to convert the multitude of chances they have created so far has seen a lot of unnecessary points dropped despite their unbeaten record.
Free of injuries to key players so far, they have had luck on their side, though Conte's insistence that his men be more adaptable from game to game has deserved some fortune.
| LAZIO |
A- |
 |
However, the Biancocelesti's response has been magnificent, and they sit in second at the quarter mark following eight games without a loss, with six goals for summer signing Miroslav Klose at the heart of their upturn in fortunes.
They have come from behind to win three times so far, including in the Rome derby, and on all three occasions it is the German hitman who has snatched the winner.
| LECCE |
E |
 |
Their fortunes at the Via del Mare were never better summed up than in their hosting of Milan, as they led 3-0 at half-time only to throw away all three points.
However, a Round 3 win at Bologna and this weekend's priceless victory at bottom club Cesena mean they are still in with a fighting chance for now, though they will need consistent performances from the likes of Juan Cuadrado and skipper Guillermo Giacomazzi if they are to breathe more easily as the season progresses.
| MILAN |
B |
 |
But since their late, late defeat at Juventus Stadium, they have responded with five straight wins and now sit just a point off the top.
Alberto Aquilani has proven an excellent addition as time has progressed, while hat-tricks for Antonio Nocerino and - most memorably - Kevin-Prince Boateng have had a hand in their renaissance.
Antonio Cassano's health shock will no doubt deal them a blow, but having scored 18 goals in five games, they have already proven to have the firepower to overcome his loss, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic crucial as ever.
| NAPOLI |
C |
 |
Edinson Cavani's hat-trick against Milan looked set to be a catalyst for something big, but the Uruguayan took until Round 10 to score again, while victories over 10-man Inter and weakened leaders Udinese have been interspersed with some real letdowns.
Losses to Chievo, Parma and Catania have dealt a real blow to hopes of them taking the extra step up from last year's third-placed finish, with Ezequiel Lavezzi, Marek Hamsik et al so far showing an inability to double up at home and in the Champions League.
| NOVARA |
D |
 |
The double step up from the Lega Pro to the top flight in two seasons has proven difficult for Attilio Tesser's side, though they have made teams work hard for points on their synthetic home surface.
Marco Rigoni's form in midfield and Riccardo Meggiorini's work-rate up front have deserved better results so far, but the Azzurri are going to have to become a tougher proposition away from home if they are to have any chance of staying up come May.
| PALERMO |
C+ |
 |
A full 15 points have been earned at La Favorita, but just one away from Sicily as young coach Devis Mangia has failed to buck the trend of the Rosanero struggling on their travels. If they're an A+ at home, they're F- away.
While they have not had one single outstanding player so far, the contributions of Federico Balzaretti, Giulio Migliaccio and Abel Hernandez have been too much for visitors to the Barbera.
| PARMA |
C |
 |
Braces in home wins against Chievo and Genoa were impressive enough, but he and Sergio Floccari played key roles as the Emilia-Romagna side took three points from their trip to Napoli.
Many of their defeats have come against decent calibre opposition, with only a reverse at home to Atalanta being of significant distress, though the three-goal margins of their losses at Juventus, Fiorentina and Milan will have come as a disappointment.
| ROMA |
C |
 |
While they have been able to pass many teams out of the game, they have too often let opponents off the hook with the inability to provide a killer edge around the penalty area.
That said, Pablo Osvaldo's five goals have shown they do have some weaponry to make more of, while Bojan Krkic has recently begun to find the net after a difficult start.
Luis Enrique will need to continue his delicate tweaking of his side if they are to regain the ground they have lost on the leading pack in the opening 10 rounds.
| SIENA |
B- |
 |
The Robur remain a durable outfit with an emphasis on flair when they attack, and with Emanuele Calaio, Mattia Destro and Pablo Andres Gonzalez among their forward options, they hold a threat which has stung many a side so far.
In picking up four away draws in six games they have proven they have the hard edge that other sides tipped for a relegation fight have failed to demonstrate in the opening rounds, and their return of 13 points from 10 games is a healthy first step to avoiding the drop.
| UDINESE |
A+ |
 |
Armed with one of the best scouting systems in the world, the wily coach has injected just the right replacements for his departed stars and has reaped the benefits. And they have played with flair still too, not least thanks to the energy of the likes of Mauricio Isla, Pablo Armero, Kwadwo Asamoah and Emmanuel Badu.
Striker Antonio Di Natale continues to score goals too, and his eight goals so far have him well on course to finish as the capocannoniere of Serie A for the third season running, a feat last recorded by Juventus' Michel Platini between 1982 and 1985.
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