Lazio were off to a flying start this season, winning four of their opening five matches and currently lead the Serie A standings for the first time in many years.
Very few people would have bet on Lazio's chances this season after an indifferent 2007/08 campaign and their restricted financial budget.
But is Lazio's brilliant start to the 2008/09 season a mere coincidence or is the club reaping dividends from the sterling work of president Claudio Lotito and coach Delio Rossi?
A year ago, Lazio started full of promise but failed to deliver mainly for two reasons.
First, Lazio's involvement in the Champions League penalised them in no small way as their squad was not equipped enough to survive the double challenge posed by the two competitions.
Second, an incredible long list of casualties meant that Rossi had his work cut and therefore, Lazio's mid-table finish and their early exit from the European Cup came as no surprise.
With respect to the 2006/07 campaign, Lazio collected no fewer than 19 points less last season. Many club owners would have resorted to the change of coach. But not the shrewd Lotito who kept faith in Rossi and signed a handful of players that have enabled the team to make a quantum leap in quality.
Mauro Zarate is turning out to be a bargain signing from Birmingham City.
The 21-year-old Argentine hit-man has already netted six goals (two from penalties) in five appearances. The notable absence of Italy international forward Tommaso Rocchi is passing by unnoticed for Lazio as the Biancocelesti, with 13 goals to their credit, boast the most prolific attack in the division.
Goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo is proving himself in the Serie A. The Argentine is a worthy replacement for long-serving Angelo Peruzzi, who hung up his boots in 2007. Midfielder Pasquale Foggia, after loan spells at Reggina and Cagliari, is slowly establishing himself in the starting XI.
Christian Brocchi is another valuable addition to Lazio's engine room as the former Milan player has added some much-needed steel in midfield.
Brazilian midfielder Francelino Matuzalem, who is currently sidelined with a niggling injury, enjoyed a positive start on his return to Serie A while Swiss defender Stephan Lichtsteiner was another shrewd acquisition.
The former Lille wingback has featured in all Lazio's league fixtures this season putting in some solid performances.
Stefano Mauri, Christian Ledesma, Goran Pandev and Sebastiano Siviglia - all considered to be the 'old guard' of the team - are doing exceptionally well.
When players like Rocchi, Matuzalem and Ousmane Dabo return from injury, Rossi will have more options at his disposal and thus making Lazio all the more competitive.
The fact that Lazio are not competing in any Euro club competition this season is a huge plus for the team because in this way, they can concentrate exclusively on their Serie A commitments.
It is still too premature to predict what lays in store for Lazio this season. But the early indications are really encouraging because the new signings did not take long to settle and the 'veterans' are back to their best.
Moreover, Lotito is proving that, in football, it is not important how much one spends on new signings. Continuity, good management and forward planning are the main ingredients to attain success.
Serie A statistics
1st defeat of the term for champions Inter as the Nerazzurri were edged by city neighbours Milan in a highly-contested derby. Former European Cup holders Milan have now made it four wins in a row (three in the Serie A and one in the UEFA Cup). Catania pursued with their fine start as they beat Chievo. Catania have won all their opening three home fixtures with the identical score of 1-0.
2 teams - Napoli and Juventus - are still undefeated while bottom-placed Cagliari are still without a point. The Sardinians together with Sampdoria and Reggina are still in search of their first win of the term. Bologna are still to snatch a home win. Seven teams - Lazio, Milan, Palermo, Atalanta, Genoa, Bologna and Cagliari - are still to figure in a draw this season. Delio Rossi's Lazio boast the most prolific attack in the division with 13 goals. Cagliari have only one goal to show from their opening five fixtures. With only two goals conceded, Juventus have the best defensive record. Lazio, Napoli, Inter, Catania, Palermo, Atalanta and Genoa still have a 100 per cent winning record at home.
2nd successive draw (after a 1-1 midweek stalemate with Catania) for Champions League hopefuls Juventus as the Bianconeri had to settle for a 0-0 draw at Sampdoria's Luigi Ferraris Stadium. Fiorentina bounced back from their 3-0 defeat to Lazio by beating Genoa by a solitary Alberto Gilardino goal. This was Fiorentina's second home win on the trot with a 1-0 margin (after beating Bologna 1-0 on the third day). Lecce continued to show signs of improvement by beating Cagliari 2-0 at their Via del Mare Stadium. The Sardinians have last conquered Lecce on May 1, 1994 (1-0).
4th straight defeat for crisis-hit Bologna as Daniele Arrigoni's side were undone by a late German Denis goal at their Dall'Ara Stadium. This was Napoli's second successive win following their midweek 2-1 home victory over Palermo. Roma returned to winning ways by beating Atalanta 2-0. Atalanta have last left the capital with a positive result on May 24, 2003 (2-1). Reggina's truly dire record in Palermo continued on Sunday with a 0-1 defeat. All Reggina have to show from their five Serie A visits to Sicily are two draws.
4th winless game in a row (two draws and two defeats) for Torino who were beaten by leaders Lazio for the third time in their most recent four meetings in Turin. Torino have last beaten Lazio at home on January 27, 2002 (1-0). For the third season running, Udinese eased their way past Siena at their Friuli Stadium. This was Udinese's second straight win.
16 goals were scored on the fifth day: 11 coming from the hosts and the remaining five from the visitors, who managed two victories. Nine goals were scored before the break. Foreigners contributed with nine goals. Total number of goals scored so far is 108. Neither hat-tricks nor own goals were recorded. Lazio striker Mauro Zarate grabbed the only brace of the day. Zarate leads the goalscorers' list with six goals. Zarate and Nicola Amoruso (Torino) ably converted the only two penalties of the day. Meanwhile, five players - Matteo Sereni, Francesco Pratali (both Torino), Nicolas Burdisso, Marco Materazzi (both Inter) and Davide Mandelli (Chievo) - received marching orders by the referees.