Inventing meaningless penalties. The strange revolution of referees at the time of Var

Inter-Sassuolo (2-1). After two consecutive defeats, Chivu's team returned to victory. The deciders were Dimarco, with a low billiard goal, and an own goal from Muhafemovic propelled by a sweeping Carlos Augusto effort. A fine goal by Cheddira added a touch of suspense to a finale that remained unchanged. After the success with Ajax, Inter got back on track in the league. Pio Esposito's performance was remarkable, much applauded by the San Siro in his first start at the Meazza. Particularly when he almost doubled the score with a bicycle kick. Someone is already maligning that, if Lautaro doesn't wake up, the good Pio will step into his shoes. Or rather, his boots.

Udinese-Milan (0-3). Three weeks ago, after the awkward fall with Cremonese, Milan still looked like a team without a head or tail. Now, after three wins in a row, someone has already placed it in pole position after Napoli and Inter. We may have been wrong before, but we are probably wrong again now. With Udinese, a tough and structured team, Milan really played the devil's advocate. Solid in defence, dominant in midfield with Modric's spells and Rabiot's percussions, piercing in attack despite the poor scoring streak of the electric Gimenez.

'Here is Allegri's hand', the lecturers of footballing wisdom have already certified, even going so far as to hypothesise a new Max in an offensive version. In football anything is possible, even that Sacchi revalues the catenaccio, but perhaps it is better to wait for some tougher opponents like Napoli (next round) and Juventus the week after.

Verona-Juventus (1-1). Although lone leader at least until tonight, Juventus came out rather badly from this laboured draw where (refereeing errors aside) the Bianconeri did almost nothing to deserve the success. A somewhat sloppy Signora, with its jewels in the shade and a defensive fragility that was hardly reassuring. In the end, Tudor's team came closer to defeat than victory. And if it escaped it is only because the Veneti are neither Inter nor Borussia. There's another problem: if Yldiz doesn't turn, Juve are in trouble. Tudor was right to complain about referee Rapuano's extravagances, but in this hype there was an old-fashioned first-class arrogance that, let's hope, is not repeated every week.

Lazio v Roma (0-1). It looked bad for the fuming Sarri, his third defeat after four games. A Cataldi goalpost in the second half and a wasted chance from Dia were not enough to put a frankly depressing Lazio back on track. Remissive in the first half, needlessly angry in the second half. Roma, on the other hand, thanks to Lorenzo Pellegrini's umpteenth resurgence (who also scored the winning goal), not only cancelled out the slip-up with Torino, but also hooked Milan into second place. For Gasp a fruitful derby, for Sarri another beastly Sunday. But this Monday will be even worse.

Torino-Atalanta (0-3). It's an up-and-down, once up, once down championship. Quite an inexplicable rollercoaster. For Atalanta, who were coming from a heavy 4-0 defeat in the Champions League, a sparkling restart that bodes well for their future. And also for Juric who, in the last five minutes, brought in the now-forgiven Lookman. For Toro, three slaps that hurt (Sulemana and Krstovic's double) and that thwarted the previous success against Roma. The final whistle blew as the granata left with their heads down for the snub.

Fiorentina -Como (1-2). A last-gasp match won in extremis by the Larians thanks to a sumptuous goal by Addai - well served by Nico Paz - which arrived in the 94th minute after yet another turnaround. The Viola, brilliant but imprecise in the first half, failed to capitalise on Mandragora's initial goal (6 minutes). Como, clearly more tonic in the second half, first equalised with a header by Kempf and then closed the match almost as time expired. Whistles and protests, for Pioli it was the second stop in a row at the Franchi and the Fiesole curve did not like it. Two points after four matches is a meagre haul. 'I didn't expect such a difficult start,' admits Pioli to whom, however, the club renews its trust.

It was a different story for Fabregas' Como, who climbed to seventh place with seven points,

Cremonese-Parma (0-0). A great heat and very few emotions for a faded draw that will certainly not go down in football history. Cremonese, who had started off on a great note (victory at the San Siro against AC Milan), never stung again. For the hosts this is in fact the second consecutive 0-0 after the one against Verona. Of course, the unbeaten streak remains and fourth place in the standings. However, some creaks can be felt.

Bologna-Genoa (2-1). In the end the Emilians came out on top, but apart from the three points they had little to celebrate. The Ligurians, who had taken the lead through Ellertsson, were reached by Castro and then mocked in the final by a penalty from Orsolini, who joined Beppe Signori with 67 goals in the A league.

Lecce-Cagliari (1-2). In Friday's early match, the Sardinian team cashed in their second consecutive success and flew to fifth place. Lecce, which had immediately scored through Thiago Gabriel, had to raise the white flag when the red and blues upped the tempo and the revived Belotti took the lead. The Gallo first equalised, then took a penalty which he converted into the net, sealing the game. Lecce, on the other hand, on their third defeat in a row, were already in apnoea.

Tonight Napoli-Pisa. If the partenopei win, they can produce the first stretch and climb to plus two over Juventus. A golden opportunity that Conte is unlikely to let slip away.