Five key stats from week 9 in Serie A - Featuring how Balotelli struggled away at Parma

Serie A picked back up where it left off in the drama department as the Italian top-flight’s electrifying start to the campaign looks to not be letting up by any means. Week nine witnessed Roma remaining perfect to match a prestigious record, Milan’s mercurial force of nature struggling in yet another loss, and Juventus appearing to have been shocked back to life on the back of a painful pair of results in the preceding days.

Historic Roma cope without stars

The league leaders faced a true test of their mettle in heading to Udinese without forwards Francesco Totti and Gervinho, but emerged victorious to end Udinese’s 22-game unbeaten run at home.

In the process Rudi Garcia’s men equaled the previous record of nine straight wins to open the Serie A season, held by Fabio Capello’s 2005-06 Juventus side, securing the 1-0 triumph through Michael Bradley’s late strike from distance after Maicon was sent off 25 minutes from full time.

The American, making his first appearance since September 1 following an injury lay-off, needed just a single shot to leave his mark on proceedings and completed two passes in his only other action of an efficient 12-minute cameo.

Marco Borriello disappointed stepping in for Totti, registering a Performance Score of -17 as he laboured to have an impact, but Adem Ljajic did well out wide in the Ivorian’s stead, tallying four take ons, a pair of shots on goal, and completing 91% of his passes.