Soccer
Serie A team of the week - top three dominate first week of 2026
Watch Serie A on DAZN in the UK, Ireland & U.S
The new year began with a bang in Serie A, with a key round of games at both ends of the table.
The top three flexed their muscles and put some small daylight between them and the chasing pack, while things couldn't be any tighter in the bottom three.
But how many of them made the rounds team of the week for Matchday 18? Ash Rose picks his first team of the week for 2026.
- DAZN is the home for Italy's top flight, where you can watch every match live across the campaign.
Wladimiro Falcone (Lecce)
If you're going to come away from Juventus with a point, then it normally means your goalie has had a very good game, and that was the case in Lecce's 1-1 draw in Turin.
Falcone kept the The Old Lady at bay, with his standout moment coming with a brilliant penalty save with his legs from Jonathan David.
Koni De Winter (Milan)
Milan racked up another clean sheet against Cagliari, and De Winter continues to be an ever-improving part of the backline.
The Belgian put in one of his best performances of the campaign in the 1-0 victory.
Berat Djimsiti (Atalanta)
A clean sheet for Atalanta and Djimsiti put in a top-drawer performance that didn't give Roma a sniff.
The defender won the majority of his duels and was a vital part of the side's shutout.
Amir Rrahmani (Napoli)
Napoli's big Kosovan was a colossus at the back for the champions as they saw off Lazio.
He even got on the scoresheet for Napoli in what was an all-round commanding performance.
Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta)
Another part of an impressive defensive display for Atalanta in their victory over Roma on Saturday.
Scalvini was also on hand at the other end to notch the only goal of the game to give the home side all three points.
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Matteo Politano (Napoli)
There was no case of Napoli's early-season away-day jitters at Lazio as they saw off their former boss Maurizio Sarri, thanks in large part to the performance of Politano.
The winger assisted both goals in the bad-tempered win, laying on goals for Leonardo Spinazzola and Amir Rrahmani.
Mandela Keita (Parma)
Parma battled to a useful point against Sassuolo, thanks to a Player of the Match display from their Belgian wall in the middle of the park.
The battle between him and Nemanja Matic was a highlight of the game, and it was Keita who came out on top.
Lucas Da Cunha (Como)
In a closely fought encounter against Udinese, it was Lucas Da Cunha's penalty that was the difference between the two teams.
It topped off a standout display from the midfielder, who was a constant attacking threat for Cesc Fabregas' men.
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Rafael Leao (Milan)
Leao is proving to be Milan's match-winner this season and scored another vital goal to secure all three points against Cagliari.
The Portuguese only touched the ball 27 times, but one of the touches was the all-important goal that keeps the Rossoneri right in the title picture.
Moise Kean (Fiorentina)
The striker was in the right place at the right time to get Fiorentina's last-gasp winner against Cremonese.
It was his fifth goal of the season, and it could prove to be the most crucial, as the Viola clawed level with the teams around them in the bottom three.
Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
Another week and another entry into the team of the week for Inter's captain fantastic.
The Argentinian wasn't on the scoresheet this time around, but he did rack up another assist as he laid on the first goal for Piotr Zieliński. That's 14 goal involvements for the season so far.
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Get every game of the Serie A season live on DAZN in the UK & Ireland; and in the US in Spanish language. For more information and to sign up to watch, click here .
