Serie A Team of the Month: Manchester United loanee shines in Italy

Here we run through the best WhoScored rated XI from the month of October in Serie A (3+ appearances).

Goalkeeper: Gabriel (Lecce) - 7.63 rating

Lecce impressively drew three of their four league matches in Serie A last month, notably sharing points with AC Milan and Juventus in that run. Much of that is down to the inspired displays of goalkeeper Gabriel, who made at least eight more saves than any other goalkeeper in the division (24).

Right-back: Antonio Candreva (Inter) - 7.48 rating

Antonio Candreva has found another gear under Antonio Conte just when it looked like his time at the club was coming to an end. Candreva played a direct hand in two goals in three league appearances last month (one goal, one assist). Against Parma, Candreva became the first player in a Serie A match this season to register double figures for key passes (10). Unsurprisingly, Candreva completed the most crosses in Serie A last month (16).

Centre-back: Chris Smalling (Roma) - 7.52 rating

Chris Smalling has made a flying start to life in Italy after joining Roma on loan from Manchester United in the summer and the former England international celebrated his first goal for the club in Wednesday's 4-0 win away to Udinese. Smalling was not dribbled past in any of his four league appearances, while winning 24 aerial duels in that time. Smalling also made 22 clearances and his pass success rate was impressively 90.8%.

Centre-back: Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli) - 7.33 rating

Napoli will be disappointed only to have picked up one league win in Serie A last month but it was still a stellar period for centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly. The 28-year-old completed boasted a pass success rate above 90% in two of his three appearances and completed 12 tackles and interceptions combined. Koulibaly also made 11 clearances and won 10 aerial duels.

Left-back: Theo Hernandez (AC Milan) - 7.54 rating

Theo Hernandez earned two WhoScored Man of the Match awards in four league appearances last month after scoring in games against Genoa and Roma. The 22-year-old's WhoScored rating didn't finish below 7.00 in his four league matches and the youngster managed 19 tackles and interceptions combined in that time.

Right wing: Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo) - 7.41 rating

Domenico Berardi netted one goal in three league games for Sassuolo in October, coming in their thrilling 4-3 defeat to Inter. Berardi had 13 shots across his appearances last month, while also registering five key passes and completing three dribbles. Not only that, but Berardi also completed eight tackles in October, five more than his previous five league matches combined.

Central midfield: Erick Pulgar (Fiorentina) - 7.74 rating

Fiorentina only picked up one win from three league matches in October but defensive midfielder Erick Pulgar was another standout performer for the Viola. The 25-year-old completed 14 tackles in that time and nine of those came in Fiorentina's 2-1 win over Sassuolo in midweek. Pulgar didn't just excel defensively for Fiorentina but he was also a threat when they were in possession. He racked up 13 key passes across his three league games.

Central midfield: Alejandro Gomez (Atalanta) - 8.11 rating

Atalanta are the top goalscorers in Serie A this season for a reason and they didn't take their feet off the gas last month. Atalanta scored 15 goals across four league matches in October and Alejandro Gomez was integral throughout, playing a direct hand in four of those goals (two goals, two assists). Not only that, but Gomez registered 14 key passes and completed nine dribbles.

Left wing: Jeremie Boga (Sassuolo) - 7.68 rating

Former Chelsea academy graduate Jeremie Boga scored or assisted in all three of his league appearances in Serie A last month and appears to be really realishing a more advanced role this season. Additionally, Boga impressively boasted a pass success rate above 95% in two of his three league appearances. Boga also completed 12 dribbles and won seven fouls.

Striker: Arkadiusz Milik (Napoli) - 8.37

Arkadiusz Milik put together a stunning run of form in October, claiming the WhoScored Man of the Match award in all three of Napoli's league games. The Poland international scored in all three appearances, racking up four goals in the process. His strikes earned Napoli four points.

Striker: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) - 8.42 rating

Leaving the best until last, Cristiano Ronaldo finished October as the WhoScored Player of the Month in Serie A. Ronaldo scored twice in three league appearances, including a 95th-minute winner in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Genoa. The Juventus star scored his two goals from 20 shots, while also completing nine key passes and seven dribbles.