Inter forward Pio Esposito and Napoli midfielder Antonio Vergara have set the standard for Italian players during the opening weekend of the 2026-27 Serie A season, with both earning average ratings of 7.5 out of 10 from the Italian press.
Esposito claimed the highest marks among Italy’s hopefuls after producing a stunning flick and assist during Inter’s 4-1 victory over newly-promoted Monza at San Siro on Saturday evening. The performance helped the reigning champions start their title defence with a convincing win.
Vergara matched Esposito’s rating following his decisive contribution in Napoli’s 2-0 triumph away at Genoa on Saturday night. The midfielder sealed the victory with a late goal to secure all three points for his side in their season opener.
Youngsters Make Their Mark
Beyond the top duo, several younger Italian talents marked the first round with notable displays. Nineteen-year-old AC Milan midfielder Alphadjo Cisse scored the first Serie A goal of his career during the Rossoneri’s 2-1 victory over Torino on Sunday evening, earning a 7/10 rating for his efforts.
The same score was awarded to Atalanta forward Giacomo Raspadori following his side’s 2-1 win against Sassuolo, Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone after keeping a clean sheet in their 2-0 victory at Venezia, and Cagliari’s Alessandro Romano, who helped his team secure a 1-0 win away at Parma. Romano has previously represented Switzerland at youth international level but remains eligible to play for Italy at senior level.
Solid Starts Across the League
Several other Italy internationals and hopefuls received ratings of 6.5/10. Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, Torino defender Pietro Comuzzo, Napoli’s Alessandro Marcandalli, and Cagliari midfielder Daniel Maldini all featured in the top ten after solid opening displays for their respective clubs.
The ratings cover the eight matches played across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Two fixtures—Bologna versus Lazio and Roma against Fiorentina—were scheduled for Monday evening, with the updated Week 1 list set for release on Tuesday once all opening weekend results are confirmed.