Six games in and Serie A has already thrown up some wonderful surprises, so now it’s time for a breather as we head into the second international break of the campaign.

Here’s the state of play in Italy’s top flight.

Surprise packages

It’s a toss up between AC Milan and Cremonese.

Milan should never really be a ‘surprise package’ considering their status and history but few expected them to be right up there in early October. But then again, should we have doubted Max Allegri?

Say what you want about his brand of football, ‘corto muso‘ and all, but few coaches in Europe are able to get a tune out of players quite like the Tuscan. The win over Napoli was a massive confidence boost and the draw with Juventus in Turin was further evidence he is moving Milan in the right direction after the disaster of last season.

Allegri has brought a tactical cohesion that has been missing since the days of Stefano Pioli, and Milan have reached the summit without the presence of Rafael Leao who has been struggling for fitness.

Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot have brought experience and industry to the midfield while Christian Pulisic is back amongst the goals. Moreover, Allegri has tightened the defence with only three goals conceded in six games.

Cremonese, meanwhile, briefly topped the table after winning their first two games, which included a remarkable victory over Allegri’s Milan at San Siro on the opening weekend.

The club made headlines on the final day of the transfer window with the signing of Jamie Vardy but the Englishman has played just twice due to an injury. Yet Davide Nicola has shown they can cope without the former Leicester City man for now.

Will it last? Who knows. The 4-1 away loss to Inter has put a slight dampener on things heading into the international break but for now Cremonese have surpassed expectations.

Underachievers

The only correct answer here is Fiorentina.

Former Milan boss Pioli arrived in the summer after Raffaele Palladino’s surprise departure and has overseen a truly horrendous start.

No wins from six games, three draws and four goals scored tells its own story while Moise Kean looks a shadow of the player who banged in 19 league goals last season.

The Italian is scoring for Italy but finding it rather difficult to find the back of the net for his club, with only a single goal and no assists from six games.

With Kean lacking his usual bite, goals have been hard to come by for Pioli’s men. Their performance in the 3-1 home defeat by Napoli was one of the most insipid witnessed this term and the manager will be under pressure after the break to put some points on the board and bring Fiorentina up the table.

With games against AC Milan, Bologna and Inter on the horizon they need to start winning games or serious decisions may have to be made.

Standout players

Rasmus Hojlund has been exceptional for Napoli since arriving in the final throes of the transfer window. Surplus to requirements at Manchester United, the Dane has shown already that the Premier League side were a bit hasty in showing him the door.

Signed as a replacement for Romelu Lukaku, Hojlund scored within 15 minutes of his debut against Fiorentina and has since followed it up with good performances, including two goals in the Champions League against Sporting and the winner against Genoa.

With Lukaku out until Christmas, the centre-forward position is his. And by the time the Belgian returns it would not be a surprise if Antonio Conte keeps the veteran on the bench.

Pulisic is another who has made a tremendous start to the season, benefiting from having Allegri at the club. The American has four goals and two assists in six games and is an automatic starter for Allegri.

Nico Paz has picked up where he left off last season at Como and is at the heart of everything good about Cesc Fabregas’ side. Paz produced a stunner of a free-kick against Lazio in the 2-0 win in late August and the 21-year-old will have a major impact on their campaign.

Evan Ferguson started brightly for Roma without scoring but his performances have tailed off slightly. But left-footed Argentine wizard (aren’t they always) Matias Soule has been one of Gian Piero Gasperini’s best performers in the early part of his reign.

Soule has made the most of Paulo Dybala’s absence, playing in behind Ferguson to good effect. He scored the winner against Pisa, netted in the victory over Verona and scored a sumptuous equaliser against Fiorentina.

Still only 22, Soule will be one of the main beneficiaries of playing under Gasperini and you get the feeling the best is yet to come.

Managers under the most pressure

There is no doubt Pioli is coming under increasing pressure while Igor Tudor is beginning to feel beads of sweat at Juventus. The Old Lady have had too many draws and this was an issue that plagued Thiago Motta last season.

Tudor will be given time but the lack of conviction at Juve is adding pressure he does not need at this stage. Tudor has a wealth of options in attack and this has hindered rather than helped his cause.

Trips to Madrid, Como and Lazio after the break will not be easy and should results not go his way then pressure will really start to mount.

Maurizio Sarri at Lazio is proving the theory that reheated soup never does taste the same twice. His return to the capital was a surprise given how things ended with Claudio Lotito first time around, and the Biancocelesti have been nothing short of abysmal in the opening rounds of the season. Losing the derby is never good for local morale.

Where we want to go next

We have already travelled to Cremona but another jaunt to the city of violins, where Jamie Vardy will be strutting his stuff, could be a worthy adventure in the weeks and months ahead following Cremonese’s start to the season and how the city is reacting.

A trip to the Eternal City to see Roma in action could also be on the cards with the Stadio Olimpico a cauldron of noise and home to impressives tifo displays

Meanwhile, a saunter over to Liguria to see Genoa and Patrick Vieira is always a pleasure, especially as it could get paired up with seeing their city rivals Sampdoria in some Serie B action over the same weekend.

Visiting Milan and a chance to spend an evening in the dated-but-majestic San Siro never fails to impress. And remember, as it stands… its days are numbered.