Who will win the title of Italian champion? Who will go to the Champions League or reserve Europe? Who risks relegation? Here are the predictions for the start of the season.
We start with the market still open and it’s nothing new now. We start with still a lot of work to be done by everyone, including the big names, because Italian football without money has to work on ideas, visions and above all end-of-season balance: many opportunities will ripen in the final days of August when it will be time to update for a more careful evaluation of the balance of power on the pitch.
Despite the premise, it is still possible to draw a championship grid by dividing the teams by objectives. The hierarchies seem stable, at least at the top, it is unlikely that the backlash of the market will significantly change them. The Serie A that starts has a recognizable sun (Inter) around which several planets revolve. Not all at the same distance.
Scudetto: it will be a two-way fight
Italian champions Inter are fighting for the Scudetto and are the clear favourites, not only because they have the tricolor sewn on their shirt. Chivu passed last season’s exam with enthusiasm and the market gives him a team that appears reformed for the better. Dumfries is a serious loss, but between old and new the balance can be positive.
Marotta has delivered the mission to look at Europe with more attention than a year ago and this will inevitably cause the Nerazzurri to lose a few points. Consideration that also makes the Scudetto racing Napoli entrusted to Allegri. The Neapolitans have a deep and qualitative squad, especially in midfield and in attack; if Allegri is able to give him balance there is no reason to imagine Conte’s orphans under the “80 quota” which means racing for the title.
Champions League, how many risks for Milan and Juventus
There are no other contenders for the championship in sight, there’s no point in deceiving yourself. The bourgeoisie of the Italian championship is immersed in a process of change or strengthening that does not envisage immediate victory except at very low odds: to be clear, Pioli’s 82 (at most) in 2022. Trying to line them up, here is the hierarchy that presents itself at the start of the games.
There Rome of Gasperini is in year two of its course, has freed itself from the burden of continuous failures to achieve goals and is building itself in the image and likeness of its coach. It is difficult to think that Malen will continue with his spring goal average, but even if he is a little less strong, the Giallorossi are in the front row of the group behind Inter and Napoli.
One step below Juventus that Carnevali is preparing for Spalletti. They are far from the Juventus we are used to knowing, weighed down by Thursday’s commitment in the Europa League and with the unknown first striker (how much is Kolo Muani worth?), but also solid at the back.
In the fourth row the How of Fabregas, supported without sparing any expense (Uefa doesn’t bat an eye anyway), with the unknown of the Champions League run which will take away energy but will also give enthusiasm and self-esteem to a group in constant growth and improved by the market. And the Milan? Amorim’s project is fascinating but risky, a revolution that needs to start off on the right foot so as not to trigger a process of rejection.
The Rossoneri summer was contradictory and can be summarized in two ways: the new coach has interesting and potentially winning ideas (Diego Moreira is a potential failure), but in the end Milan conceded an average of two goals per game in friendlies. The line between being “dominant” and being “unstable” is thin. The summary is that there are two Champions League places for four contenders: woe betide anyone who gets the methods and times of insertion wrong.
Those who… dream of Europe
Third tier for three realities that start, however, with different perspectives. It is difficult to place theAtalanta too far from those running for the Champions League. If Sarri gets a sufficient turnover of goals from Scamacca, the Bergamo players will actually be dangerous pains in the ass, even those upstairs. Having kept Ederson (albeit unknowingly) firmly in line with the old and new Atalanta course.
The first one teases enormously Florentine of Paratici and Grosso. The team that struggled to save itself has been revolutionized and some young players have been recruited who can become the surprises of the championship (watch out for Oulai as well as the aforementioned Mastantuono). Prospect? Europa League qualification to be contested by those who remain out of contention for the most important cup, provided they are not tempted by the sale of Kean at the last minute.
The group closes Bologna of Tedesco: he has lost Castro, he has to change his skin compared to the Italian cycle and in a championship that will be leveled upwards, at least in his middle class segment, he appears like the earthenware vase among the iron ones.
SOS, avoid relegation…
Last chapter for the sufferers, those who will have to arrive in May to try to avoid the descent into Serie B. Trying to limit the field, we include the three newly promoted teams (Monza a little more structured than Frosinone And Venice) for which it will be best not to be fooled by a possible good autumn start.
Other? The usual Leccenow subscribed to the sprints so as not to be relegated. And then watch out Lazio if Gattuso is not able to quickly create a technical and environmental stimulus to a team and an environment beyond the brink of depression. It would be a sensational own goal, but now that we are in mid-August it is difficult to exclude that the scenario will take shape.
PS – This grill will not self-destruct but will remain available throughout the year. At most it will be partially updated at the end of the market. Fine tuning.
