With Serie A taking its traditional Winter Break, it’s the perfect time to take a look at the leaders in some major statistical categories after the first 19 rounds of action. This not only offers a chance to see which players have impressed in the first half of the campaign, but also to discuss some who might otherwise have not been given enough attention while providing some incredible value for money.
Previously, we looked at the teams who had impressed and you can find that column here.
Most Assists: Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella (Inter)
Dusan Vlahovic may have bagged three more goals than any other player, but Serie A currently has two men sitting on top of the assists chart. Inter duo Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella each have seven, but – like the players in question – they have certainly arrived in very different ways.
Hakan joined Inter on a free transfer this past summer after his contract with crosstown rivals Milan expired, and four of the goals he has created have come on set pieces. Meanwhile, all of Barella’s assists came in open play, the 24-year-old continuing the fine progress he has shown since moving from Cagliari in a deal worth a total of €37 million ($41.87m).
Most Fouled Player: Dusan Vlahovic (Fiorentina)
Not only does he have the most goals in Serie A so far, but according to WhoScored.com, no player has been fouled more than Dusan Vlahovic. He has suffered 49 fouls to date, and it is also important to note that his Fiorentina team-mate Nico Gonzalez is fifth on that list after being fouled 39 times, while Giacomo Bonaventura is 11th with 36.
That is testament to the way La Viola have pressed forward at every opportunity, leaping up to fifth in the table with their impressive performances under manager Vincenzo Italiano discussed in depth here.
Most Passes: Marcelo Brozovic (Inter) & Maxime Lopez (Sassuolo)
Signed from Dinamo Zagreb back in 2015 for just €8 million ($9.05m), Brozovic has become integral to everything the Nerazzurri do. He was at the heart of Antonio Conte’s 3-5-2 formation, filling the same role Andrea Pirlo occupied during the Coach’s stint at Juventus, and has proven equally important since Simone Inzaghi took over at Inter.
According to WhoScored.com, Brozovic has completed 1380 passes so far this term, while Sassuolo’s Maxime Lopez sits just behind him with 1367. The Frenchman replaced Manuel Locatelli in the Neroverdi XI, coming in at a cost of just £9 million ($12.07m) from Marseille and instantly settling into the different demands of Serie A football.
Most Tackles: Petar Stojanovic (Empoli)
With 67 tackles, Slovenia international Petar Stojanovic has won 12 more duels than any other player in Serie A, highlighting the immense effort Empoli have put in so far this term. The Tuscan minnows sit ninth in the table after earning promotion from the second tier last season, meaning they should comfortably avoid dropping back down in June and it is signings like Stojanovic that have helped them do so.
Most Interceptions: Bremer (Torino)
Arriving from Atlético Mineiro for €5.8 million ($6.56m) back in 2018, Bremer had previously struggled to make much of an impression at Torino. He struggled through his first three seasons as the Granata found themselves mired in mediocrity, but is certainly enjoying a breakout campaign this term.
His tally of 60 interceptions is a league high, while his overall play has helped Torino get off to a promising start under new boss Ivan Juric, something discussed at length in this previous column.
All statistics have been taken from WhoScored.com unless stated otherwise.