Serie A midway roundup: Ronaldo warming up with Juventus locked at top with Inter

 

Now the winter break is upon us in Serie A we have the ideal opportunity to take stock of the season so far in Italy. We reveal out Serie A Team of the Season at the midway point (10+ appearances) and take a broader reflection, assessing the best and worst aspects of the first half of the season.

 

Best player: Luis Alberto (Lazio) - 7.76 rating

 

Luis Alberto has Cristiano Ronaldo hot on his tail but the Lazio creator is the best WhoScored rated player in Serie A so far this season. No player in Europe's top five leagues has more assists than Alberto (11) this season, while the 27-year-old has also scored three goals. Furthermore, no player in Serie A has picked up the WhoScored Man of the Match award more times than Alberto (5) this season. He has already been directly involved in five more league goals than last season and it's not even Christmas.

 

Best signing: Chris Smalling (Roma) / Romelu Lukaku (Inter) - 7.48 rating

 

Roma's decision to sign Chris Smalling on a season-long loan deal from Manchester United was a head-scratcher at the time but the 30-year-old has been a revelation in Italy this season. He is the best rated defender in the league and seventh overall. Smalling has scored twice and registered one assist and has won 71.6% of the aerial duels he has attempted. Despite not typically being praised for his efficiency on the ball, Smalling has notably completed 89.4% of the passes he has attempted and his form for Roma has put him back on England's radar ahead of Euro 2020.

 

 

It says much about Manchester United given their woes that two players deemed surplus to requirements by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are now flourishing elsewhere. Romelu Lukaku has already matched his tally for league goals from his final season at United in his first 17 appearances for Inter this term (12). While Inter are challenging Juventus for the title, spearheaded by Lukaku, United are 24 points off first in the Premier League and seven off the top four. 

 

Best newcomer: Dejan Kulusevski (Parma) - 7.20 rating

 

Signed on loan from Atalanta in the summer, Dejan Kulusevski has been a real bright point to Parma's season thus far. The 19-year-old has impressively had a hand in 11 goals in 17 league appearances for Parma (four goals, seven assists) to help Parma reach seventh at the halfway stage. Kulusevski, who has scored or assisted 45.8% of Parma's league goals this season, has even earned international recognition with Sweden as a result of his fine form. Atalanta look to have another gem ready to bolster their free-flowing attack next season.

 

Surprise package: Cagliari

 

Cagliari will be disappointed to have finished the first half of the season with successive defeats but it's still been a superb five months for the Serie A outfit, who go into the winter break in sixth place. Cagliari made a number of eye-catching signings in the summer, no least Radja Nainggolan from Inter, and it's been a really positive campaign from Rolando Maran's side. Cagliari put together a 13-match unbeaten run before defeat to Lazio earlier this month, a streak that notably included wins at Napoli and Atalanta.

 

Serie A midway roundup: Ronaldo warming up with Juventus locked at top with Inter

 

Underachiever: Napoli

 

Napoli were Juventus' closest rivals to the league title last season and have been for a number of years but have well and truly been knocked off their perch this term. They currently languish 18 points off top spot and are on to their second manager of the season after sacking Carlo Ancelotti at the start of the month. Former AC Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso was swiftly appointed but things are yet to get going under the 41-year-old. Problems on and off the field for Napoli to contend with, it would now not be a surprise to see them finish outside the top four for the first time since the 2014/15 campaign.

Serie A midway roundup: Ronaldo warming up with Juventus locked at top with Inter