“Juventus are over reliant on Andrea Pirlo. It is Pirlo who dictates the game. If you take him out, the others become like ants” scoffed Catania general manager Pietro Lo Monaco after his side held the Bianconeri to a draw on Sunday. Creator-in-chief, ‘L'architetto’ was prevented from being at his fluent best on Sunday, with those struggles permeating through to the rest of the team in Sicily. Despite producing a decent performance considering the lack of time and space he was afforded, does Lo Monaco have a point? Can Juve find a Plan B to win games when the hub of their creativity is shut down?

You’ve waited all summer. Bets have been placed, fantasy football teams submitted and all that’s left is for the season to kick-off. Nervous, excited and hesitant all wrapped into one. Will Conte get it right? Will the team gel with all the new arrivals? Will Amauri ever leave? Of course they will, well except Amauri, but you can’t have everything! The Bianconeri brushed aside all the doubts with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Parma in Turin on Sunday, and with it, set the standard for the rest of the season.

The ideal scenario for most coaches across Europe is to have all the new additions to the squad present at the start of the summer. This allows for a full pre-season with their new team-mates and a chance to settle at the club ahead of what will undoubtedly be one of the most important years in their football life. Sensible approach or not, where’s the fun in that? What would a transfer window be without the traditional rushing through of paperwork in the last minute of deadline day? Welcome to mercato madness.