This weekend, set pieces made all the difference, determining whether a team would play in the Champions League or miss out on the most prestigious club tournament entirely.
Cesc Fabregas has led Como to a historic achievement, securing European football for the first time in the club's history after a 1-0 win over Hellas Verona. The milestone comes exactly two years after their promotion to Serie A. With his managerial stock rising rapidly, Fabregas' success in Italy continues to fuel rumours of a potential return to his former club Chelsea.
Gift Orban may only be 23 years of age, but he has already spent time in five different European countries while scoring at a rate of a goal every other game. A move to an elite club likely awaits for a player who went through plenty of hardship as a child, with Orban easily one of the continent's biggest Hidden Gems...
Christopher Nkunku pulled off his trademark celebration after finally scoring his first goal in Serie A. The France international left Chelsea for AC Milan over the summer, penning a five-year contract in a deal worth £36m having failed to make an impact in west London. And while Nkunku has taken time to find his groove in Italy, celebrated his first league goal in style on Sunday.
Christian Pulisic continued his remarkable form for AC Milan, scoring the opening goal in a convincing 3-0 victory over Hellas Verona at San Siro. The American winger's first-half strike helped propel the Rossoneri to the top of the Serie A standings, two points clear of city rivals Inter Milan and extends Milan's unbeaten league run to 17 matches.
With Christmas approaching, there are still two winless teams in Europe's 'Big 5' leagues. That one of them is Wolves is arguably unsurprising. The Fosun International-owned Premier League club sold two of their best players during the summer and squandered the proceeds on sub-standard signings. However, the fact that Fiorentina have yet to win a single game in Serie A is shocking.
Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Napoli are monitoring Hellas Verona forward Giovane following his impressive start to life in Serie A. The 21-year-old Brazilian, who joined on a free transfer last summer, has quickly become one of the league’s most exciting young attackers and Verona could now demand up to €30 million for his signature.