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The Euro Preview: Surprise Spal join usual suspects at top of Serie A

By Clemente Lisi

BOLOGNA, ITALY - AUGUST 26: Mirco Antenucci of SPAL celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the serie A match between SPAL and Parma Calcio at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on August 26, 2018 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images)
BOLOGNA, ITALY - AUGUST 26: Mirco Antenucci of SPAL celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the serie A match between SPAL and Parma Calcio at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on August 26, 2018 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images) /
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While the usual clubs are ahead early on in both Serie A and La Liga, there are some surprises making a name for themselves in Italy.

Serie A

The top of Serie A looks a lot like it did last season. League leaders and defending champions Juventus are in first place, and take on Parma on Saturday on the road. Napoli, who finished second last season after giving Juve a tough title race, are in second place on goal difference. They also play on the road against Sampdoria on Sunday. The post-Maurizio Sarri version of Napoli has not skipped a beat under new manager Carlo Ancelotti after last week’s epic 3-2 comeback against AC Milan. 

While Cristiano Ronaldo is still waiting to score his first league goal for the Bianconeri, some surprise teams are stealing the spotlight from the Portuguese star. Spal, on six points after two matchdays, have been the early surprise this season. Spal have defeated Bologna and Parma, both by 1-0 margins, to start the season with six points. Earlier this month, they also defeated Spezia by the same scoreline in the third round of the Coppa Italia. 

There are also some surprises in reverse at the start of this season. After a summer transfer window that brought with it the promise of a strong season, Inter Milan have just one point. A defeat to Sassuolo and a 2-2 draw last weekend against Torino, after squandering a two-goal lead, have Luciano Spalletti’s club in trouble early on. Inter Milan play on Saturday at Bologna in need of three points in order to keep up.  

“We need to look ahead and concentrate on the next match. The last two did not go so well but now that is the past and we must look forward,” Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij told Sky Sport. “We have to get going right away against Bologna and remain confident, because we have to be to win games. We know that we have to do on Saturday.”

La Liga

Barcelona are hoping for a better outing after last weekend’s 1-0 road win against Valladolid, where the pitch was in such bad shape entire chunks of it came undone. Barca take on newly-promoted Huesca at the Camp Nou, where the home-field advantage (and better turf) should favor the defending league champions. Huesca, runners up in the second division last season, are no pushovers since recording two points in four games. 

Real Madrid, led by Gareth Bale’s strong start, play Saturday at home against Leganes at the Santiago Bernabeu. Barcelona and Real Madrid are tied for first on six points each. Sevilla, who are in third place as part of a quartet of teams on four points, are on the road Sunday at Real Betis. Sevilla are led by Andre Silva with three goals, a result of his hat-trick against last-place Rayo Vallecano.

The other three teams in that group include Espanyol, Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid. This quartet all have the potential to threaten for a top four finish and a spot in the Champions League. 

In other matches to keep an eye on this weekend: Atletico Madrid play on Saturday at Celta Vigo, while Espanyol are also on the road the following day against Alaves.

Next. So, it appears like we have to talk about VAR. dark

Bundesliga

The German top flight may be just a week old, but controversy over VAR has already become an issue. Despite the success VAR experienced at the World Cup this summer in Russia, Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann calling it “a stupid period of video watching.”

The controversy on matchday 1, one of several from last weekend, started during last Friday’s 3-1 win by Bayern Munich against Hoffenheim. Franck Ribery was awarded a penalty with the game tied 1-1 after he fell while attempting to get past a tackle from Havard Nordtveit. That prompted Nagelsmann to say after the game: “Why the buildup to the penalty was not checked is a mystery to me.”

VAR could again become an issue when defending league champion Bayern Munich are on the road Saturday against Stuttgart. Borussia Dortmund, tied for first with Bayern on three points, are on the road Friday against Hanover 96. The game will mark Christian Pulisic’s 100th match for BVB.

In other notable matches: Eintracht Frankfurt are home on Saturday against Werder Bremen, while RB Leipzig play the following day when they host Fortuna Dusseldorf.

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