5 things we learned in Serie A this weekend

Milan - Juventus is virtually untouchable, Napoli needs a centre-forward, Mohamed Salah is soaring at Roma and there are mixed fortunes for the Milan giants.

Here are five things we learned from Italy's Serie A at the weekend:

Juventus turned a corner, and can sight a record

Even when the champion showed chinks in the armour last month, there was never any real doubt about the depth in quality or the title-winning credentials of Juventus. A hard-fought 2-1 win over Udinese in Turin on Saturday came despite Massimiliano Allegri resting several key players and, thanks to Roma's 3-1 win over Napoli, left the Old Lady of Turin looking ahead to a possible record sixth consecutive league trophy. Juve, away to Lyon in the Champions League on Tuesday, is far from the finished product. But eight games into the season the Bianconeri are five points ahead of Roma, and seven in front of Napoli.

Gabbiadini not the man to replace missing Milik

Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri lost prolific centre-forward Arkadiusz Milik to a cruciate knee ligament injury last week, and has suffered another blow upon realising Manolo Gabbiadini is an inefficient replacement. Gabbiadini stepped in to Napoli's three-pronged attack at home to Roma but was replaced by Belgian international Dries Mertens midway through the second half. Sarri had sent a strong hint to club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis last week that he would need "a direct replacement" for Milik if Napoli is to challenge for the Scudetto. It fell on deaf ears, but after a morale-crushing 3-1 defeat at the San Paolo left the Azzurri seven points behind Juventus, 'ADL' may perk up and listen.

Chelsea reject Salah rocking it with Roma

If Roma ends up challenging Juventus for the league title, Mohamed Salah, on his current form, would be a key contributor. The Egyptian winger was rejected by Chelsea 18 months ago when he initially joined Fiorentina on loan. At Roma permanently since August, Salah's pace both in attack and in defence has left fans, and coach Luciano Spalletti agape. "The lad has incredible pace, and doesn't shirk when it comes to tracking back," said Spalletti. Salah on Saturday enjoyed one of his best performances for Roma since joining the capital club on loan in August 2015, the 24-year-old setting up Edin Dzeko for one of his two goals, adding one of his own to seal a 3-1 win that left Roma second at five points behind Juventus.

A biography at 23 is a big mistake for Icardi

Mauro Icardi's decision to write his biography at the tender age of 23 raised a few eyebrows, and has landed the Argentine international in hot water with Inter Milan officials and the club's unforgiving ultras. "Personally, I don't think that at 23 years old you should be writing a biography," said the club's sporting director Piero Ausilio on Sunday. Ausilio had plenty of reason for concern after comments by Icardi in his book relating to a 2015 altercation with fans following a 3-1 defeat at Sassuolo angered them to the extent they have demanded he be stripped of the captaincy. "Inter simply don't deserve this. For us, you are finished. TAKE THE ARMBAND OFF, YOU CLOWN," fans wrote in an angry statement which denied Icardi's version of events. Icardi responded by missing a first-half penalty in a shock 2-1 defeat to Cagliari that left Inter 10 points behind Juventus.

Montella's Milan showing star quality

There were a few wry smiles in the red and black half of Milan on Sunday night, and not just because of the woes of city rivals Inter. Milan coach Vincenzo Montella is a stickler for detail and precision, and his determination to get the misfiring Rossoneri back among the top teams in Serie A appears to be paying off after an initially shaky start. Chievo was unbeaten at home this season but the Flying Donkeys were no match for a Milan side that has wrapped up four wins in the past five games to move up to third place.