Serie A Daily Report - 2026-09-16

Bologna dismissed Domenico Tedesco after only four Serie A matches and appointed Raffaele Palladino as his replacement. Tedesco’s record consisted of one draw and three defeats, leaving the club with one point and three matches without a goal. The draw was a 2-2 result against Sassuolo, while Bologna lost 1-0 to Lazio, Atalanta and Napoli. Tedesco had signed a two-year contract in June with an option for a further season, but the club acted after the defeat by Napoli. Palladino, who previously managed Monza, Fiorentina and Atalanta, was brought in to halt a difficult opening to the campaign.

Tedesco said he was “very disappointed” as he left Bologna’s Casteldebole training ground, while also accepting that “that’s football.” He told reporters that the welcome from the city and supporters had been excellent, but that he had spent only two matches in the stadium. Palladino brings considerably more Serie A experience, having guided Monza to safety on two occasions and led Fiorentina to sixth place in 2024-25. His appointment gives Bologna a coach familiar with the division, but the timing leaves him with an immediate task: improving a side that has scored only twice in four league games and already faces pressure near the bottom of the table.

AC Milan suffered a 2-0 home defeat against Benfica in the Europa League on Wednesday, handing Ruben Amorim the first loss of his tenure. Dodi Lukebakio and Jakub Kaminski scored for Benfica at San Siro, where Milan again failed to score in the first half. The result followed successive Serie A draws against Juventus and Lazio, leaving Amorim still searching for a convincing attacking structure. Milan had begun the league season with wins over Torino and Venezia before those draws, but the European setback increased scrutiny on a side attempting to establish a new style under its manager.

Amorim said Milan had not been “in the game during the first half” and admitted that the team was creating more problems for itself in possession than without the ball. He said the players were trying to develop routines that would create more control in the opposition box, but acknowledged a lack of creativity near goal. The manager also indicated that he was ready to adapt tactically after a night when his substitutions failed to change the contest. Milan’s next challenge is to translate that flexibility into league improvement, with the Benfica defeat exposing the gap between their intended approach and their current execution.

Sixteen AS Roma supporters were banned from stadiums across Italy after performing a stiff-armed fascist salute during the club’s Serie A home match against Atalanta on September 5. Rome police said the bans range from one to five years and also cover Roma matches played abroad and Italy fixtures. Four of the supporters must additionally report to police during Roma matches. The gesture was made in the Curva Sud, the section associated with the club’s hardcore support, during a match Roma won 2-1 with late goals from Mario Hermoso and Matias Soulé.

The sanctions came as Italian authorities continued to address far-right displays among organised ultra groups. The fascist salute is not automatically prohibited in every circumstance under Italian law, with courts assessing cases individually, but it can be prosecuted under legislation against reviving the fascist party and inciting racial hatred. The bans therefore carry consequences beyond the September incident, restricting attendance at domestic, European and international matches. For Roma, the action also places renewed attention on conduct inside the Curva Sud as the club prepares for another high-profile league fixture against Inter at the Olimpico.

Inter came from two goals down to defeat Udinese 5-3 at San Siro on Monday. Udinese made a fast start, with James Abankwah and Jürgen Ekkelenkamp putting the visitors 2-0 ahead inside the opening 15 minutes. Carlos Augusto and Nicolò Barella restored parity within 10 minutes, before Marcus Thuram completed the turnaround three minutes before half-time. Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny then extended Inter’s lead to 5-2, while Idrissa Gueye scored a late consolation for Udinese in stoppage time. The result maintained Inter’s perfect start and underlined their attacking depth after a difficult opening spell.

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye said Inter were “too strong”, explaining that the champions continued attacking even after moving three or four goals ahead. His assessment reflected a match in which Udinese’s early threat was eventually overwhelmed by Inter’s pressure and finishing. Inter’s response was particularly significant because they did not allow the two-goal deficit to derail their control of the season’s opening weeks. Their reward was a fourth consecutive league victory and a place alongside Roma at the top of the table, setting up Saturday’s meeting between the division’s two remaining perfect-record sides.

Davide Massa was appointed referee for Saturday’s Serie A meeting between Roma and Inter at the Stadio Olimpico. The fixture will bring together the division’s two remaining perfect-record teams, with both clubs having won their opening four matches. Roma had scored 12 goals and conceded one, while Inter entered the match after their 5-3 comeback victory over Udinese. The game was scheduled for 17.00 BST and represented the final league fixture before the international break. The appointment formed part of the full refereeing list confirmed for the fifth round of Serie A.

The contest also offers a clear tactical contrast. Inter were described as having the league’s best attack, while Roma possessed the best defence after four matches. Both sides had played with high defensive lines and ranked among Serie A’s leading possession teams, making the meeting a test of control as well as finishing. Roma’s strong run had extended from the end of last season and coincided with their return to the Champions League. Inter’s recovery against Udinese, meanwhile, gave them momentum before the title-contending fixture and increased the significance of the first meeting between the two unbeaten sides.

Seven Serie A players were included in Argentina’s latest squad for friendlies against Bolivia on September 30, Burkina Faso on October 3 and Benin on October 6. Inter captain Lautaro Martínez was selected after scoring two goals in three league appearances, while Roma supplied three representatives: centre-back Leonardo Balerdi, forward Santiago Castro and attacker Matías Soulé. The selections were notable for Castro and Soulé, who received their first Argentina call-ups. Roma and Inter had both won their opening four Serie A matches, giving the selected players strong club momentum before the international programme.

Paulo Dybala was not included despite his form for Roma, and he had not represented Argentina since 2024. Napoli’s players were not the focus of the announcement, while Nahuel Molina was also absent from the squad. The friendlies will give coach Lionel Scaloni an opportunity to assess new options alongside established figures such as Martínez. For Roma, the call-ups underline the impact of their excellent start and the contribution of two summer arrivals, Balerdi and Castro, while Soulé’s selection marks a significant step in his international development.

Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti praised Teun Koopmeiners before Thursday’s Europa League match against NEC. The Netherlands international had made four Serie A appearances this season but started only once, in last weekend’s 3-2 defeat by Sassuolo. Spalletti nevertheless described him as a “complete footballer” who understood his position and could operate in different roles. He said Koopmeiners could play in a two-man or three-man midfield and contribute both defensively and in attack. The comments came as Spalletti considered changes following Juventus’ disappointing result against Sassuolo.

Spalletti’s assessment suggested that Koopmeiners remained an important part of his plans despite limited starts during the opening league fixtures. The manager said the midfielder could play anywhere, although he viewed central midfield as his natural position. That versatility may become particularly valuable as Juventus balance Serie A with their European schedule. Whether Koopmeiners starts against NEC was still to be decided, but Spalletti’s public backing offered a clear indication that the player retained the coach’s confidence after a difficult evening in the league.