sport news Serie A 10 things we learned at the weekend as Lautaro Martinez shines for ... trends now
The full round of fixtures is yet to draw to a close with more games in store on Monday and Tuesday, but Italy's Serie A still conjured up plenty of talking points over the weekend.
Inter Milan got the better of arch-rivals AC Milan on Sunday night, with Lautaro Martinez turning home the only goal of the game at the San Siro, while Napoli maintained their 13-point lead at the top with a three-goal win at Spezia.
Sportsmail's ALVISE CAGNAZZO has dissected the weekend's action and taking a closer look at 10 things we learned from the Italian top flight.
Inter Milan got the better of rivals AC Milan in another fascinating weekend of Serie A football
1. BASCHIROTTO - THE FARMER WITH A WRESTLER'S PHYSIQUE
Lecce revelation Federico Baschirotto continues to impress after helping Marco Baroni's side claim a big victory at Cremonese on Saturday.
A tally of 21 appearances and three goals in his first Serie A campaign is a solid tally for a defender with a wrestlers physique and just enough technique, which is perhaps more fitting for Serie B.
Baschirotto is probably the most important player in a defence made up of contrasting backgrounds and experience. Samuel Umtiti was once a world champion with France and a key player for Barcelona, while Baschirotto's career until floated between Serie B and Serie C up until a few years ago.
In 2018, the 6ft centre-back was on Vigor Carpaneto's books in Italy's fourth division. His professional career so far matches that of a farmer. In Nogara, the Verona province, he helps his father Graziano and mother Giuliana in the family fields whenever he has free time. Along with his brothers Baschirotto works in the morning to feed the cattle and pigs and grow wheat, corn, soybeans, rice and tomatoes.
Federico Baschirotto (L) continues to impress after helping Lecce claim victory at Cremonese
2. ABRAHAM ENDS OLIMPICO DUCK
Tammy Abraham headed home Roma's second goal to crush Empoli and move them into the Champions League places at a time when problems behind the scenes, the booing of Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolo Zaniolo's exclusion continue to dominate headlines.
As well as sealing a 2-0 win for the hosts, Abraham finally found the back of the net at the Stadio Olimpico after an agonising 321 days, with his last goal at home coming all the way back on March 20 of last year against rivals Lazio.
The striker's acrobatic goal banished the ghosts of the past year and propelled him back to the forefront of Jose Mourinho's Roma project - for both the present and the future.
Empoli's Guglielmo Vicario is an excellent goalkeeper but at his best Tammy is a cynical surgeon in front of goal, and this header brought back some excitement around his name after months of discouragement and fear. In the second half Vicario denied him twice, pulling out one save with the sole of his shoe, yet Abraham is finally alive again and can almost be considered a new signing for Giallorossi.
Tammy Abraham headed home Roma's second goal in their 2-0 win at home to Empoli
In doing so the English striker ended his 321-day wait for a goal at the Stadio Olimpico
Even when he doesn't score, Paulo Dybala remains decisive and on Saturday he provided assists for both Abraham and Roger Ibanez.
In the space of six minutes Mourinho's devastating attack brought Empoli to its knees, earning them a vital set of three points to prove they share the same ruthless mentality as their Portuguese coach.
3 - HURRICANE OSIMHEN
With 14 league goals under his belt, the Scudetto virtually in the bag and a promising future as a top player in his sights; Victor Osimhen is currently experiencing the most beautiful and exciting moment of his career.
The Nigerian striker's 15th Serie A goal of the season put Napoli out of sight against Spezia on Sunday, before his 16th sealed a 0-3 victory late on thanks to a generous assist from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Luciano Spalletti earned his star forward a standing ovation in the small stadium of Lo Spezia when he replaced him with eight minutes to go, which left him visibly emotional.
Victor Osimhen continued his remarkable goalscoring run in Napoli's win away at Spezia
Today Osimhen is Serie A top scorer with 16 goals in 17 appearances and he could soon exceed the 20-goal mark. Spalletti has a custom-built race car in his hands and knows how to drive it very well, offering the best possible inspiration to his number nine, who continues to score with extraordinary regularity.
His second-half duel with Spezia defender Mattia Caldara almost resembled a wrestler submitting his opponent inside the ring, with Osimhen humiliating the former Juventus and AC Milan star on the day.
The 24-year-old's brace saw him become only the fourth player in Napoli history to score 16 goals in 21 games. Gli Azzurri's return this season has been exceptional: 56 points, 51 goals scored and just 15 conceded. These are the numbers of a team well on its way to a long-awaited Scudetto.
The Nigerian striker humiliated Spezia defender Mattia Caldara (right) in the second half
Largely thanks to his goal output, Napoli are well on course to sealing a long-awaited Scudetto
4 - LAUTARO IS INTER'S HEART AND SOUL
Lautaro Martinez's seventh goal in the Madonnina derby, which earned Inter a hard-fought 1-0 win over Milan, was the perfect symbol of a player who is fast becoming an Inter icon.
The Argentina World Cup winner is an exceptional player, gifted with great physical strength and great charisma. Milan Skriniar's departure will deprive the team of a leader, but Martinez has the potential to become increasingly important in the dressing room.
After helping his country triumph in Qatar, Lautaro returned in the best physical shape and has hit the ground running at the start of 2023. Simone Inzaghi clung to him to help Inter overcome a difficult moment and also gained his trust by handing him the captain's armband.
Marcelo Brozovic and Samir Handanovic's absence has resulted in Martinez becoming the key man in this team, both in the media and on the pitch, thanks to this upgrade of responsibility. At 25, Inter's number 10 has reached the level of maturity required to become the leader of a team that is often difficult to organise on the pitch.
Today he operates as a nine-and-a-half, as a forward who scores 15 or 20 goals per year with the technique of a real number 10.
Lautaro Martinez is proving Inter's heart and soul after winning them the Madonnina derby
5 - TATARUSANU CAN'T PERFORM MIRACLES
Ciprian Tatarusanu is by no means a top player and has been subjected to 90 days of criticism and controversy following a series of high-profile mistakes, but his excellent performance in the derby certainly boosted his reputation amongst AC Milan supporters.
The Romanian goalkeeper was on hand with two exceptional saves in the first and second half to prevent Inter from extending their lead on Sunday. The fiercest criticism directed at Tatarusanu in recent months is that he has simply been lucky, but his psychological strength was clear for all to see in a very difficult derby.
He can't work
