As everyone knows, Serie A and the mighty Milan in particular are a much tougher prospect for forwards. Which brings us to Luca Toni, 28 years old and truly hitting his peak for Fiorentina.
The ex-Brescia and Palermo hitman has been one of the underrated stars of Italian football, but he has 15 goals already this season and a typical bustling brace against the frugal Maldini, Nesta, Stam and co. Three goals in three Italy caps should not be taken lightly either.
He's certainly a "big lad", using his head twice in the 3-1 win, firstly with a clever diagonal run and change of direction to head in the first of three Pasqual assists. The second goal - from a corner this time - put the cap on a win that left Milan five points off Juve after the match-weekend.
BARGAIN BASEMENT
What's most impressive about Toni is the fact that Fiorentina are a team bereft of stars and - arguably - much in the way of quality. A mixture of bargain-basement signings, ageing Serie A rejects and promising youngsters has turned them into a Bolton Wanderers of Italian football.
Only promoted in 2004 after bankruptcy saw the the mighty Fiorentina fold and re-emerge in Serie C as Viola, they battled against relegation last season to survive at the death. Yet Toni - who had helped unfancied Palermo to sixth and a UEFA Cup berth that season - saw potential and the chance to finally play for a big club in his late 20's, albeit one which had fallen on hard times.
Fiorentina aren't a bad side - Martin Jorgensen, Stefano Fiore and Peppe Pancaro all feel they have something to prove and offer and Ricardo Montolivio, Sebastian Frey and Manuel Pasqual are turning promise into performance - but Toni is the star man and the focus of their play.
The city of Florence famously has a statue honouring Argentinian legend Gabriel Batistuta - a player who admitted to not being gifted with natural talent but worked at his game to become a world-class striker. Perhaps local stonemasons should arrange for a provisional sitting from Toni - if he fires them into Europe he'll deserve the freedom of the city.