It's easy to say National. Oh yes, because when the Serie A starts again, the stop is not always healthy for the top clubs, those that "lend" more players to their representatives. A matter of injuries, of course (see Lautaro, De Vrij and Cristiano Ronaldo returned "broken"). But not only. The causes behind the false restarts can be multiple: concentration, form, tactical errors. The fact is that the breaks for the national teams are not particularly loved by the coaches who are often forced to seat their best players on the bench to give them the chance to catch their breath because they are weakened by long journeys, like those in South America. The opposite is true for those technicians who can instead use the days without a championship to recover some important pieces left at home (this is the case of Spalletti with Icardi). In short, there are pros and cons. But what was the performance of the Italian big names after the three national stops of the season? The numbers speak for themselves: Juve, Lazio, Napoli, with 7 points scored, did not slow down, to follow Inter (two wins and one defeat), badly Milan (2 points), very badly Roma (1 point). But let's go with order.

BOMBER TIME - After the first pause, last September's (7 and 10) for Italy's two challenges in Nations League (1-1 with Poland and the 1-0 defeat against Portugal away), suffering are Inter, Milan and Rome. The Nerazzurri, with Icardi initially on the bench, sank at the San Siro with Parma (scoring with a great left from outside the former jewel of the Dimarco nursery). The team of Gattuso draws a draw instead to the Sardinia Arena (1-1) thanks to the first goal in the rossonero of the already ex Higuain. At the Olimpico the Giallorossi waste so much, too much against Chievo: 2-0 ahead at half-time (El Shaarawy and Cristante), Di Francesco's men (also now ex) collect the comeback of the clivensi with Birsa and Stepinski. The fourth day sees Cristiano Ronaldo unlocked with a double at the Stadium to file the Sassuolo practice (2-1). Napoli overtakes Fiorentina at San Paolo (1-0) and Lazio goes to Empoli (1-0).

ICARDI AND THE DERBY - The second national stop is dated October 14, 2018. In Nations League, Italy beats Poland (1-0: goals by Biraghi). At the resumption of the championship, Inter makes the derby with Milan thanks to a goal from Icardi's head that in the 92 'makes San Siro tremble. Juve gets stuck in Turin: Ronaldo is not enough, because Bessa signs the equal, he is 1-1 with Genoa. Another bitter defeat for Roma who is hit at home and sunk by Spal (0-2: Petagna and Bonifazi). Immobile and Correa drag the biancocelesti to Parma (2-0 the final) while Napoli overtakes Udinese at the Dacia Arena (3-0) .in order.