Serie A Clubs Hit by Friendly Upsets as Juventus and Napoli Fall, Milan Draw

While the Italian national team was earning a 1-1 draw against France in the Nations League at the Stade de France on Thursday, several Serie A clubs used the international break to play midweek friendlies. The results were largely unexpected, with Juventus and Napoli both losing, Milan being held by a lower-division side, and only Frosinone emerging victorious.

With the Serie A season set to resume on Saturday, October 10, these matches provided a final fitness test and a chance for managers to rotate squads. The outcomes, however, have raised questions about form and, more importantly, have delivered some concerning injury news.

Frosinone the Only Winner

The sole positive result for a Serie A side came from Frosinone. Massimiliano Alvini’s team continued their encouraging run of form by beating Benevento 2-1. Goals from Cittadini and Calò secured the win, confirming the club’s positive momentum heading into the league restart.

Juventus and Napoli Suffer Surprise Defeats

Two of the league’s heavyweights had afternoons to forget. Napoli, under Luciano Spalletti, were beaten 1-0 by Cremonese at the Continassa training ground. A first-half goal from Bonazzoli was enough to decide the contest.

The situation was worse for Max Allegri’s Juventus. They were convincingly beaten 2-0 by Avellino at their Castelvolturno training base. Goals from Venturi and Di Maggio sealed the defeat. Adding to the concern, Juventus also had to deal with an injury to Costantino Favasuli, who sustained a second-degree strain to the rectus femoris muscle in his right thigh. The severity of the injury and his expected return date are yet to be officially confirmed.

Milan Held, Parma and Genoa Also Fail to Win

Stefano Pioli’s Milan could only manage a 1-1 draw against Serie C side Padova. The young Ossola put Padova ahead, with Sgarbi scoring the equalizer for the Rossoneri.

Alberto Gilardino took charge of his first (unofficial) game as Parma head coach, but his side also drew 1-1 against Virtus Entella. Romero opened the scoring for Parma before Guiu equalized for the Ligurian side.

Genoa, now managed by Daniele De Rossi, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Rapid Bucharest in Romania. However, the scoreline was not the worst news to emerge from the trip. In the second half, forward Lorenzo Colombo was forced off with an ankle problem. This comes just a week before Genoa’s crucial league match against Fiorentina, placing his availability in doubt.

Key facts

What This Means for the League Return

For Fantasy Football and Betting Context Readers

These results, while from friendlies, offer some context for the upcoming matchday. Juventus and Napoli will be looking to bounce back from unexpected defeats, but the injury to Favasuli is a clear concern for Juventus’ squad depth. Genoa’s potential loss of Lorenzo Colombo, a key attacking player, is a significant blow ahead of their match against Fiorentina.

For Serie A Form Watchers

Frosinone’s continued positive results under Alvini suggest they are a team in form. While friendly results must be taken with caution, their consistency is notable. Conversely, the lack of a win for Genoa under De Rossi so far, combined with the injury to Colombo, points to a challenging period ahead for the club.

Source: TuttoMercatoWeb – https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/i-fatti-del-giorno/sorprese-amichevole-juventus-napoli-ko-pari-milan-vince-frosinone-2279543