The first international break of the 2026-27 season is just around the corner, and ahead of Roberto Mancini's Italy squad announcement earlier this week, here is a look at the 10 best-performing Azzurri hopefuls from the most recent round of Serie A fixtures.
The fourth round of Serie A fixtures began on Friday night with a thriller between Venezia and Fiorentina , which ended 4-2 in favour of the visiting Viola . It was the Franco Mastantuono show on the night, providing a hat-trick at the age of 19, but of the Italy internationals that were involved, Nicolo Fagioli was the stand-out performer with an average rating of 7.5/10.
VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 11: Franco Mastantuono of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring his team's equalizing goal during the Serie A match between Venezia FC and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on September 11, 2026 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
There were several eye-catching results over the weekend, including Cagliari's 2-1 victory away against Atalanta , which involved a winning penalty from Daniel Maldini . Sky Sport Italia gave compatriot defender Alessandro Deiola a higher rating than Maldini, though, at 7/10.
Juventus were also in for a shock over the weekend as they fell to a 3-2 defeat against Sassuolo , whose stand-out Italy performer was opening goalscorer Sebastiano Esposito . An unlikely shout for the next Italy squad, behind his younger brother Pio in the pecking order, but he was one of only two Italian players to be given a rating of 7.5/10 in Serie A this weekend.
REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 13: Sebastiano Esposito of US Sassuolo reacts during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and Juventus at Mapei Stadium – Citta' del Tricolore on September 13, 2026 in Reggio nell'Emilia. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Check out the full top 10 below!
ENSCHEDE, NETHERLANDS – JUNE 15: Head coach of Italy Roberto Mancini attends before the UEFA Nations League 2022/23 semifinal match between Spain and Italy at FC Twente Stadium on June 15, 2023 in Enschede, Netherlands. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Nicolo Fagioli (Venezia 2-4 Fiorentina) – 7.5
Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo 3-2 Juventus) – 7.5
Lorenzo Palmisani ( Genoa 1-1 Frosinone) – 7
Matteo Cancellieri ( Lazio 2-2 Milan ) – 7
Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio 2-2 Milan) – 7
Alessandro Deiola ( Atalanta 1-2 Cagliari ) – 7
Antonino Gallo ( Lecce 3-2 Monza) – 7
Lorenzo Spinazzola ( Napoli 1-0 Bologna ) – 7
Niccolo Pisilli ( Torino 0-2 Roma) – 7
Emmanuele Lulli (Torino 0-2 Roma) – 7
* Ratings via Sky Sport Italia
