There’s a particular satisfaction in watching players prove their doubters wrong. This week’s standout performances came not from the usual suspects in Milan or Turin, but from a scattered collection of talents who’ve had to fight for their place in Italian football’s hierarchy. Two players share top honors with identical 9.3 ratings, while a Serie B forward reminds us that relegation battles produce the sharpest tools.
## The Complete Midfielder
**Scott McTominay** continues his remarkable transformation at Napoli, delivering the kind of performance that makes you wonder why Manchester United ever let him leave. His two-goal haul in 90 minutes tells only half the story. The 93% passing accuracy suggests a player who has finally found a system that understands his value — not as a destroyer or a number ten, but as something far more valuable: a midfielder who can do both.
Four interceptions and two tackles reveal the defensive foundation that Napoli bought into, but it’s the attacking output that justifies his spot in Antonio Conte’s midfield. This wasn’t a case of a defensive midfielder padding stats in garbage time. McTominay is becoming the kind of complete midfielder Serie A has always celebrated, the type who makes opposition managers lose sleep trying to mark him. At 28, he’s entering his prime years with a club that actually values versatility. That’s the definition of good business.
## The Belgian Renaissance
**Charles De Ketelaere** earned his 9.3 rating in just 79 minutes for Atalanta, which speaks to the efficiency Gian Piero Gasperini demands. One goal, four key passes, and an 80% passing accuracy from a forward who completed two dribbles — this is the player AC Milan thought they were getting before tactical confusion and Serie A’s unforgiving tempo exposed his limitations.
The difference? Atalanta’s system doesn’t ask De Ketelaere to be something he isn’t. His creative output (four key passes in 79 minutes) shows a player finally comfortable in the half-spaces, while his two tackles suggest the defensive pressing has become second nature. Bergamo has a history of rehabilitating expensive mistakes. De Ketelaere is rapidly becoming their latest success story.
## The Attacking Catalyst
**MatÃas Soulé** reminded everyone why Roma paid Juventus significant money for his services. A goal and an assist, combined with a 92% passing accuracy and three successful dribbles, painted the picture of a winger who can beat you in multiple ways. His two key passes suggest vision beyond his years, while those two tackles hint at a work rate that keeps Jose Mourinho types interested.
At 21, Soulé represents the kind of calculated gamble Roma needs to make work. The 88 minutes on the pitch indicate trust from the coaching staff, and the 9.2 rating suggests he’s repaying it. Serie A has devoured plenty of talented South American wingers who couldn’t handle the tactical discipline. Soulé looks different.
## The Defensive Anchor
**Mario Gila Fuentes** delivered a masterclass in defensive fundamentals for Lazio. Five tackles, one interception, and a 93% passing accuracy from the back — this is what modern defending looks like when executed properly. Zero goals conceded completes the picture of a center-back having the kind of quiet, dominant performance that only shows up in the data.
The passing accuracy is particularly notable for a defender who presumably saw significant pressure. Maurizio Sarri’s system demands ball-playing center-backs who can transition play without surrendering possession. Gila’s 90-minute shift suggests he’s adapting to those demands faster than most.
## The Serie B Specialist
**Matteo Tramoni** earned an 8.7 rating in Pisa’s Serie B campaign, and those numbers deserve context. One goal and three key passes, supported by four tackles and a 79% passing accuracy, reveal a forward who understands the second tier’s brutal reality: you have to contribute everywhere or you don’t survive.
Playing the full 90 minutes in Serie B carries different weight than in the top flight. The intensity never drops, the technical margins are thinner, and one moment of laziness costs you the match. Tramoni’s defensive work rate (four tackles from a forward) suggests he’s embraced that reality. His 79% passing accuracy indicates he’s not just running around aimlessly — there’s tactical intelligence behind the effort.
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## Pick of the Week: Scott McTominay
Two goals, four interceptions, two tackles, and 93% passing accuracy. McTominay didn’t just perform well — he dominated both phases of play across 90 minutes in a league that punishes positional errors ruthlessly. While De Ketelaere matched his 9.3 rating, he did it in 79 minutes and with less defensive responsibility.
The Scottish midfielder represents everything modern football claims to value: tactical flexibility, physical presence, technical security, and the ability to influence matches without the ball. Napoli found their most complete midfielder, and they found him in Manchester’s discard pile. That’s what smart scouting looks like.
