Serie A Incoming. What can we expect in 20/21

 SERIE A 20/21 SEASON PREVIEW: 

THE SEASON OF STABILITY

If it seems as though the Serie A season is back within the blink of an eye, it’s because it definitely is. After 8 weeks of inactivity on the pitch but for some friendlies and training sessions, the boys on the Peninsula are back for another swashbuckling season. It’s inconceivable to think that the status quo of Juventus winning its 9^th Scudetto in a row could be challenged with only 3 weeks of official transfer window activity. However, if the dynamism and unpredictability of this ‘mercato’ is any indicator, we may be in for the most unpredictable Serie A season in recent memory. So naturally, let’s preview what we could expect from this upcoming season. 

TABLE PREDICTION – SCUDETTO CHALLENGERS

WINNER – INTER MILAN

 

It could be considered a monumental ‘changing of the guard’, but Inter is primed for a scudetto win. After finishing as 1 point runner ups to eventual winners, Juventus, the Nerazzuri has strengthened their areas of weakness by adding Moroccan speedster, Achraf Hakimi and the omnipresent Arturo Vidal. Hakimi represents a clear upgrade in Conte’s system, which prioritizes width. The incumbent Arturo Vidal also brings midfield depth and insurance for the oft injured Stefano Sensi. However, the main advantage that Inter has going into the season is the stability it experiences. After a summer of speculation surrounding Conte’s tenure at the club, the toupee wearing manager’s retention at the club may be the tipping point in a race that was going to be ever so close to begin with.

RUNNERS UP – JUVENTUS

The Old Lady’s scudetto title run may finally be coming to an end this season after a tumultuous end to their 2019/20 campaign, culminating in the sacking of manager Maurizio Sarri and promotion of newly appointed youth team manager, Andrea Pirlo. Although Juventus has employed creative measures to infuse their squad with much needed youth and excitement in key areas of the pitch in the form of Kulusevski, Weston McKennie and Arthur, lack of stability at the top may ultimately be their undoing. In the three years that Ronaldo has been Juventini, he’s now played under three different managers, with Pirlo nonetheless, literally being the most inexperienced coach in all of football. While there is the slight chance that Pirlo might be the genius ‘Ronaldo whisperer’ (clearly Sarri wasn’t) that Juventus needs, odds are his inexperience comes back to bite the Old Lady in the form of a second place finish. 

TUSSLE FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

THIRD – NAPOLI

Napoli look to continue their good run of form under Gennaro Gattuso. Gattuso remains at the helm, a move which ensures that Naples side start strongly, compared to their last season start under Carlo Ancelotti. The Partenopei lost an integral cog in their side in Allan and may lose even more essential parts in the form of Milik and Koulibaly, (the latter of which will undoubtedly have a severe influence over this ranking) before the transfer window ends. Expect Nigerian hitman, Victor Osimhen to have a major say in their league finish however, as he looks to cut a particularly dangerous figure, next to Insigne and Mertens up front. This may also be the season where chucky finally breaks through after a rough first year in Serie A, not to mention their Macedonian gem, Elijf Elmas.

 

FOURTH – MILAN

If the previous pick wasn’t bold enough here comes another bold prediction as the theme of Calcio ones again shines through; stability. For the first time in a long time the Rossoneri has a clear project, competent directors, a coach in whom they trust and exciting, young, cost controlled players. The most important piece however, may be that of possibly this era’s most deservedly braggadocios characters in Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Zlatan’s inclusion in the squad has imbued his teammates with a confidence that they were sorely lacking before his arrival. This confidence along with strategic additions means the Rossoneri are now primed for a return to top 4 football which ultimately means a return to the Champions League after a 7 year hiatus. 

REMAINING EUROPEAN PLACES

FIFTH – ATALANTA

While its always dangerous to underestimate this Gianpiero Gasperini led Atalanta team, 20/21 may be the season where their Cinderella story finally comes to a halt. After back to back 3^rd place finishes in the league and excellent showing in the Champions League last year, it’s difficult to see the Bergamo based club navigating three competitions again without the help of advantageous scheduling arising out of the COVID-19 inspired break. The teams mentioned above have also closed the gap in terms of quality, while minus the acquisition of  Aleksey Miranchuk, Atalanta hasn’t done much in the market. Europa League isn’t such a bad consolation prize however. 

SIXTH – LAZIO

After suffering from a torrid end to last season, Simone Inzaghi’s men look to start fresh this season and would be looking to replicate the form that saw them as legit Scudetto challengers before the forced COVID-19 break. Whether or not the signing of Vedat Muriqi convinces you that Lazio have addressed their issue with lack of depth, what’s for sure is that the catastrophic collapse to the end of last season will have lingering effects this upcoming campaign. 

SEVENTH – FIORENTINA

 

An ‘out of left field’ pick, Rocco Commisso has not-so-silently gone about the business of making Fiorentina respectable once more. While it would be considered a major leap from 10^th to 7^th, considering the difference in points last season was 13 points, La Viola has assembled an engine room to rival the very best in Italy. Fiorentina has added Giacomo Bonaventura and Sofyan Amrabat to a midfield already including the likes of Gaetano Castrovilli, Erick Pulgar and Alfred Duncan. Not to mention they still have players like Milenkovic, Chiesa and Franck Ribery. Fiorentina fans are in for an exciting year. 

RELEGATION CANDIDATES

UDINESE

Not much to be said here as an already underwhelming Udinese side couldn’t keep hold of one of their best players from the previous season, losing Seko Fofana to Lens after finishing 12^th in the league last year. What’s worse is that their most creative player, Rodrigo De Paul has been the subject of transfer speculation for a number of weeks. Retaining him may be the only hope Udinese has at this point.

CROTONE

Crotone earned promotion to the top flight by finishing second in the Serie B table the previous season. Aside from the odd experienced Serie A players like Luca Cigarini and Luca Marrone, the club is mostly comprised of players who’ve spent their careers in the lower league. Kudos on their promotion though, but odds are they’re destined to return to Serie B. 

SPEZIA

Spezia finished third in Serie B last season and earned promotion via their playoff win against Frosinone. Difficult to expect anything else from them as their fate seems to mirror that of Crotone. 

SURPRISE TEAM 

BENEVENTO

 

Two main candidates come to mind, Benevento and Fiorentina. Since I already profiled Fiorentina, I’ll go with Benevento, who earned promotion by winning Serie B last season. After underwhelming stints at Milan, Venezia and most recently Bologna, Filippo Inzaghi may finally be getting the hang of the coaching thing. Not only that, Benevento has really reinforced their squad with experienced players, with the hopes of making some noise in Serie A. Former Milan player, Gianluca Lapadula, who scored 11 goals in Serie A with Lecce last season, are joined by Kamil Glik and Gianluca Caprari as new additions to Filippo’s squad. Expect big wins and a finish anywhere from 12^th to 15^th.

CAPOCANNONIERE (TOP GOALSCORER)

1. Romelu Lukaku 
2. Ciro Immobile
3. Ronaldo

PLAYER OF THE SEASON

Romelu Lukaka – I predict Inter to win the Scudetto and I believe Lukaku will be the main protagonist for Conte’s men. Expect Lukaku to bag goal after goal. He’s just too big and fast for opposing defenders in Serie A. 

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE SEASON

There’s no player better positioned in all of Serie A to breakout that Victor Osimhen. He joins a Napoli team, chastised for wasted chances and immediately takes the place of out-of-favour Milik. If Osimhen could convert at even a slightly more prolific rate than his Polish teammate, Napoli would be a much more free scoring team. That shouldn’t be asking much from a player who  already has shown his prowess in front of goal for club and country. 

COACH OF THE SESASON

Soon Roberto De Zerbi may be a household name for all football fans, but for now he’s quietly gone about the business of making Sassuolo one of the most aesthetically pleasing sides to watch in Italy, while not compromising ‘on the field’ results. De Zerbi has been at this for years and this year really should be no different. There’s no other coach in the league more deserving of a move to a big club than De Zerbi. Remember the name.