Five key stats from week 9 in Serie A - Featuring how Balotelli struggled away at Parma

5. Hellas Verona’s dire defending on corners

The newly-promoted club may be the surprise package of the season in Serie A, but nonetheless suffered from the realities of life in the top flight against Inter on Saturday.

They were nothing short of an abject disaster in defending corner kicks, allowing the Nerazzurri to pick out a team-mate on eight of nine attempts from the flag and conceding three goals as a direct result of their contemptible efforts.

Coach Andrea Mandorlini will be certain to address such a starkly apparent issue, as the Gialloblu’s storybook sixth place position on the table certainly won’t last long should his troupe not improve in this fundamental area.