Italian football: Palermo remains Serie B favorite amid league shifts

The early stages of the Italian football season are showing significant movement across various leagues. In Serie B, Palermo remains a major focus; despite a recent draw that ended their perfect start, they remain the bookmakers' favorites for the title and promotion.

Other notable Serie B developments include Verona's resurgence following a victory over Arezzo, while Catanzaro struggles at the bottom of the table without a win. Mantova and Südtirol have also emerged as strong performers in the early standings.

In other matches, Salernitana secured a 1-1 draw against Barletta, with midfielder Mattia Vitale praising the club's leadership. In Benevento, captain Mattia Maita emphasized the need for stability and cohesion following a victory against Verona as the team aims for Serie B survival.

In European competition, Benfica took an early lead against Milan at San Siro following a goal by Dodi Lukebakio.