Five key stats from week 10 in Serie A - how Milan fail to learn from their mistakes

With week 10 contested midweek, it was only a short wait following Saturday and Sunday’s matches for Serie A to return to action. Twenty-six goals have flown in and five red cards have been brandished already ahead of the round’s final tilt between leaders Roma and bottom feeders Chievo, with Napoli and Juventus at least temporarily moving to within striking distance of the capitoline club at the top of the table. Let’s take a look at the top statistics from week 10 so far in anticipation of Thursday’s clash of first and last.

1. Juventus: creation and conversion

Juventus were utterly irresistible against turmoil-ridden Catania on Wednesday evening, cruising to a 4-0 victory in front of the home support with aplomb.

The scoreline represents the second time the Bianconeri have tallied more than three goals in a Serie A game this campaign, one in which they have struggled at times to press home their territorial advantage on the pitch and manufacture quality chances.

But incisive play was simply not an issue opposite the Sicilian outfit, as Antonio Conte’s men completed an astounding 19 key passes out of a total 629 attempted balls to leave the competition broken, stifled, and barely able to spark an attack of their own.

The metronomic Andrea Pirlo led the charge on the day, netting a dipping free-kick, creating three chances, and picking out a teammate with five of six corners.

2. Napoli deadly on the counter

Rafa Benitez’s men had succumbed to their only two defeats of the season coming into their encounter with Fiorentina on the road, to Roma and Arsenal.

In turn the Spanish coach, keen on keeping up with the furious pace in the Serie A standings despite a tough fixture, chose to scale back his usual possession-based tactics and combat Vincenzo Montella’s free-flowing side with more measured, counter-attacking football.

As can be seen from Napoli’s Heat Map, the Partenopei spent the majority of the proceedings in their own half, but made good on their limited opportunities as Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens netted a delightful finish each out only four total shots.

The San Paolo outfit’s success was made possible by methodical work at the back, as the squad tallied 24 tackles and 44 clearances whilst clogging up Fiorentina’s passing lanes and frustrating the Viola throughout the 90 minutes.

3. Genoa try from wide until they succeed

Alberto Gilardino could’ve made matters more simple for the Grifoni had he converted from the penalty spot inside the opening 120 seconds against Parma, but his miss forced his side to take a terribly inefficient route to victory.

The veteran Italian eventually did net the winner with a trademark header on 57 minutes, but all told Genoa needed 21 crosses to bring about the necessary moment of inspiration, finding a teammate in the area with only two of them.

Besides Davide Biondini’s assist from the right flank the Marassi outfit played just two other key passes over the course of the game, highlighting the lack of a proper playmaker in the side, with summer caputre Francesco Lodi having struggled early on since his move from Catania and currently laid up with an injury.

Though Genoa were able to come away with the three points on Wednesday, boss Gian Piero Gasperini will undoubtedly continue to be concerned by his side’s lack of offensive efficiency.

4. Krhin anchors Bologna

Bologna have at last begun to recover from a disastrous start to the campaign, winning for the second straight week 3-0 over Cagliari after having gone without a victory for the first eight rounds.

At the centre of their revival has been a pair of clean sheets, welcome sights given the Rossoblu shipped an enormous 22 goals through week eight, the two efforts anchored by holding midfielder Rene Krhin.

The Slovenia international epitomised no-nonsense defending in their latest triumph with seven clearances, adding three interceptions, two tackles, and a trio of headed duels won in the penalty area to aid a back line that has seen plenty of instability.

His presence in the line-up has proven vital as Bologna now look to slowly distance themselves from the drop zone, and he looks set to become a fixture in the starting eleven, having shown maturity beyond his 23 years of age.

5. Milan continue to concede on headers

The famed San Siro giants squandered a 1-0 lead against Lazio to draw on a 72nd minute cranial effort from Michael Ciani, giving up their 17th goal in Serie A this term in the process, good for joint fifth-worst in the division.

Milan now lead the league along with Cagliari in the dubious category of headed goals conceded with six as their struggle to defend against aerial assaults in their penalty area endures.

Interestingly enough on Wednesday, the Rossoneri’s starting central defence partnership of Cristian Zaccardo and Cristian Zapata was a perfect eleven of eleven in headed duels, all of which occurred outside the 18-yard-box, but neither man was anywhere to be found when Ciani turned home the equaliser at close range midway through the second half.