Napoli twice allowed Roma back into the game, Inter scored twice after the 90th minute, and Juventus finally ended their poor run. Serie A Matchday 8 produced 34 goals, with four teams still unbeaten. We look at the main results and compare them with our pre-match analysis on 888STARZ.
Napoli 3-3 Roma
Napoli let their lead slip twice: first after going 2-0 up, then again following Scott McTominay’s 83rd-minute goal. Leonardo Balerdi scored twice, grabbing Roma’s final equaliser a minute before the end of normal time.
Napoli led 2.34–1.86 on xG, although Roma registered 24 shots to the hosts’ 15. Gian Piero Gasperini’s substitutions made a difference, with Balerdi coming off the bench to score twice as Roma improved after half-time.
Our preview highlighted Roma’s outstanding defensive record: just three goals conceded in seven rounds. They have now conceded six. Roma remain unbeaten, but Napoli once again showed how they can create chances without managing to protect a lead.
Inter 2-1 Fiorentina
Inter were heading for defeat after an Álex Jiménez goal, but Marcus Thuram equalised after the 90th minute before Piotr Zieliński converted a penalty in the 98th. The league leaders snatched victory against a side struggling in the relegation zone.
The numbers underline Inter’s dominance: 2.90–0.23 on xG and 33 shots to Fiorentina’s seven. David de Gea made nine saves, but even that was not enough for the visitors.
We had highlighted Inter’s league-leading attack and Fiorentina’s defensive problems before the round. Both trends continued. Inter moved to 22 points and held on to first place, despite coming close to dropping points.
Lazio 2-1 Parma
Lazio recorded their seventh victory in eight league matches. Kenneth Taylor opened the scoring in the 50th minute, and a Diego Carlos own goal doubled the advantage. Simone Lontani pulled one back for Parma in stoppage time.
The Rome side had 21 shots to Parma’s ten and led 1.74–0.81 on xG. They were the better team overall, although their two goals did not come from an overwhelming number of clear-cut chances.
Our preview noted Parma’s lack of goals and Lazio’s impressive start under Gennaro Gattuso. Lazio justified their favourite status and drew level with Inter on 22 points, remaining second on goal difference.
Lecce 0-2 Juventus
Following defeat to Lazio and a draw with Rennes, Juventus finally returned to winning ways. Weston McKennie opened the scoring in the 29th minute, with Douglas Luiz adding a second before half-time.
The comfortable scoreline did not tell the whole story. Lecce took 16 shots to Juventus’ eight, and the xG figures were close at 0.86–1.06. The visitors converted their two shots on target, while the hosts failed to make their opportunities count.
We had drawn attention to Lecce’s threat from set pieces and Juventus’ finishing problems. This time, the Turin side were the more clinical team. Luciano Spalletti’s men climbed to seventh, although they still need to prove this win is the start of a consistent run.
Udinese 0-2 AC Milan
Milan responded well to their heavy Europa League defeat against Bournemouth. Christian Pulisic scored in the sixth minute before Omari Hutchinson sealed the win after the break.
The visitors recorded 19 shots to Udinese’s 12, with one xG model giving them a commanding 3.15–0.46 advantage. Udinese rarely threatened from dangerous positions, managing only three attempts from inside the penalty area.
Before the game, we highlighted Udinese’s five consecutive defeats. That run has now reached six. Milan, meanwhile, remain unbeaten in Serie A and have climbed to fourth with 18 points.
Other Matchday 8 Results
The highest-scoring match was Atalanta 4-4 Frosinone. Despite producing 3.85 xG to Frosinone’s 1.80, the hosts had to settle for a point after failing to protect their advantage.
Como beat Sassuolo 2-0 thanks to an Anastasios Douvikas brace. Bologna defeated Cagliari 2-0, Torino edged Monza 3-2, and Genoa claimed a 1-0 victory over Venezia.
Serie A Standings After Matchday 8
Inter and Lazio lead with 22 points each. Roma and Milan follow on 18, with Como fifth on 17. Napoli have dropped to tenth with 11 points.
Fiorentina and Parma, both on four points, occupy two of the relegation places, with Venezia bottom on three.
How the Results Compared with Our Preview
Several of our pre-match observations held up. Inter created chance after chance against a vulnerable defence, Lazio made the most of their advantage over Parma, and Milan comfortably beat an out-of-form Udinese.
Roma, however, conceded as many goals in Naples as they had in their previous seven league games combined. Juventus’ victory over Lecce was also much more convincing on the scoreboard than in the underlying numbers.
What Changed After Matchday 8
Inter and Lazio remain level at the top, with Roma and Milan four points behind. All four teams are still unbeaten in the league.
Napoli now trail the leaders by 11 points, while Juventus are eight behind. There is little time to recover, with Serie A Matchday 9 starting on 27 October.
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