Amidst the whispers and cries of the football market, Inter stretch to +8. And Juve overwhelms Parma

Another shot, that of Inter. Now the points from Milan are eight. If that's not a sprint, it's not much less. For the Rossoneri, engaged tomorrow in Bologna, keeping in the wake will not be easy. Tonight in Udine (20.45) Roma, now fifth, will also play, trying to respond to the overtaking of Juve, fourth with 45 points

Parma-Juventus 1-4. Nothing to do for the Emilians. An overflowing Juventus overwhelmed Parma at the Tardini. A one-sided match with some highlights: Bremer's double, Mckennie's dragging force (who scored with a beautiful backhand) and the electricity of Conceicao, who confirmed his qualities in the goal area. There was also glory for David, scoring for the fourth time, and some mockery for Cambiaso's clumsy own goal, which however had no influence on the final success of the Bianconeri who, waiting for the last two postponed matches, not only overcame Roma but also put their breath on the necks of Napoli and Milan. The only blemish: Yldiz's exit due to fatigue at the end of the first half.

Napoli-Fiorentina 2-1. A bitter victory, conditioned by Di Lorenzo's injury (less serious than expected: only a second-degree sprain of the knee, 5-6 weeks' rest), however yet another incident in a season that began badly and continued even worse. An injury that is the result of the wear and tear to which Napoli's head coach has been subjected. In fact, Di Lorenzo is second in Antonio Conte's list of most-used players with 32 appearances and 2751 minutes played. He is preceded only by Scotland's McTominay with 33 games, but given the trend he too had better cross his fingers.

The list of injuries - 34 this season - is certified proof that Napoli is overburdening its best players. Conte, however, was furious with the football bosses: ''This football is veering more and more towards spectacle, it does not protect the players and only thinks about making money. We've played nine matches in the last 27 days,' the Neapolitan coach emphasised disconsolately, adding an eleven-player load: that he 'trains only for passion...'

Mah..., cala Trinchetto used to say that old ad. However, Conte is right about one thing: that football is now a hellish merry-go-round in which commitments are multiplied in order to multiply income. The problem is that everyone accepts this trend for the sake of convenience, except to complain (as Conte does) when injuries strike their team.

However, this umpteenth tegola is quite a bummer for Napoli who, three points aside, can only be delighted with the explosion of Vergara, the Parthenopean golden boy who scored a splendid goal on the counter-attack against Fiorentina. Socks down, very quick in his phrasing, this boy is a discovery for the whole of Italian football, which is finally seeing a new talent blossom who could also be useful on the national team. The paradoxical thing is that Vergara has managed to emerge thanks to the injuries of his teammates. Otherwise, who knows where he would be.

Torino Lecce 1-0. Good news for the granata, who returned to winning ways at home after a fast of almost two months. It was a precious victory that not only gave them three points, but also a strong boost of self-confidence after their recent disappointing results The decisive goal came from Scotland's Adams, who took advantage of a fine assist from Vlasic. For Di Francesco it remains a good performance in the first half of the match and many (hopefully useful) notes with which to build the not easy path to safety.

Como-Atalanta 0-0. A draw with a double reading: positive for the bergamaschi that, despite they were in ten from the 8th minute (expulsion of Ahanor) they managed to repel the attacks of Como that tried several times the advantage but always banged against the goalkeeper Carnesecchi. Negative for the Larians who wasted an excellent chance to detach a direct rival for Europe. In the final Nico Paz even had a penalty saved. Very disappointed the coach Fabregas himself, who speaks of "lost opportunity". He has a point: his team almost always misses the fleeting moment. The one who comes out well, from this challenge, is instead Palladino who, after the missteps in Europe, manages to give a shake to a group that, since he is on the bench, has scored 14 points out of 18. Only Inter and Milan have done better. A figure that must give us pause for thought.

Cagliari-Verona 4-0. Speaking of young national team talents, in this resounding poker that the red and blues inflicted on Hellas, one cannot fail to mention the excellent Palestra, protagonist of Cagliari's success this time too. From one of his crosses, then perfected by Obert with a backheel, came Mazzitelli's one-nil goal. Also of note was Kilicsoy's splendid bicycle kick, from which came the second goal. It was a match without history, dominated by Cagliari relying on play and speed. The third victory in a row that aggravates, if it was needed, the position of Verona, last in the standings and for eight matches without success. It's true that Sarr's expulsion (risky intervention) didn't help, but the game was missing. For coach Zanetti a future at risk.

Pisa-Sassuolo 1-3. Thanks Gilardino, but we don't need you anymore. The management of Pisa has fired the coach after the opaque defeat against Sassuolo. A defeat matured also for the good vein of Berardi, neuralgic centre of the emiliani and author of the first goal that has sparigliato the game. A Berardi like that always hurts. From his feet started all the dangers for Pisa. Even Caracciolo's own goal was caused by one of his crosses. On the exoneration of Gilardino it must be remembered that almost all the summer purchases have proved disappointing. In his place should come Marco Giampaolo, who saved Lecce from relegation last year.

Lazio-Genova 3-2. Three reassuring points for the Biancocelesti in a penalty shoot-out that, as always, leaves doubts and perplexity. Understanding the criteria by which penalties are awarded in Var time is increasingly difficult. However, after the 0-0 in the first half, the match lit up in the second half: Pedro opened the scoring from eleven metres, Taylor doubled. Then the Grifone equalised in 8 minutes with Malinovskyi (another shot from the penalty spot) and Vitinha. In the final, in the hundredth minute, the biancocelesti grabbed victory (again) on a penalty kick.

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Sinner, but how we like to demolish our champions. We don't usually talk about tennis in this column. But now that Carlos Alcaraz returns from Melbourne with his seventh career slam, allowing him to consolidate his ranking lead (3350 points more than Sinner), our unparalleled ability to knock down our champions from the celebratory monument on which we ourselves have (unmeasurably) placed them before must be emphasised. Sinner certainly doesn't need defence lawyers, but all these criticisms (he suffers from the heat, he can't handle the fifth set, he's too fragile, etc.), apart from being laughable for what Jannik has done so far, are ungenerous and daughters of this very contemporary desire to demolish those who, with difficulty, have made it to the top. Losing to a monster like Djokovic, after a five-set marathon, is not the end of the world. In sport, and in tennis, it is. But as the man said, we are very good at getting on the winner's bandwagon and just as quick to get off when that same winner falls from grace.