With less than a week separating us from the first kickoff of our favorite domestic league, the excitement has reached its climax. The 20 Serie A clubs our now finalizing their preparations ahead of the new season which could turn out to be an epic one. So here five reasons why Calcio fans should be ecstatic with the return of the Italian top-tier league.
New Stars
While the previous summer was marred by the departures of several top stars, the losses are far less severe this time around. On the other hand, a host of household names have landed in the Italian peninsula to bolster the ranks of the biggest clubs in the country.
For instance, Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba made their respective returns to Inter and Juventus. The Frenchman was also joined by Angel Di Maria who will be eager to leave his mark in Serie A before bidding European football farewell.
Moreover, Milan decided to bet on a young gun in the form of Charles De Ketelaere while Roma stole the show in a series of thrilling signings.
The Roman Renaissance
Speaking of I Lupi, José Mourinho should be pleased with how the transfer market has unfolded thus far, as sporting director Tiago Pinto has been strengthening his ranks with reputable names.
Between newcomers like Paulo Dybala to Nemanja Matic and Georgionio Wijnaldum, and already-established players like Tammy Abraham and Nicolò Zaniolo, Roma has become the home of some of the most exciting names in Serie A.
So with the world’s most famous manager at the helm, and solid crop of talent at his disposal, will the Giallorossi be able to break the dominance of the traditional three superpowers?
Tight Competition
In the last three campaigns, Serie A was the lone top European league to crown three different champions. Perhaps some would refer to the declining level of quality to interpret the outcome, but whatever the case may be, the Italian landscape has never been this balanced.
With the reigning champions Milan looking to build a winning cycle upon last season’s triumph, Inter eying vengeance for their dramatic defeat in the last title race, Juventus looking to restore their status amongst the elite, and Roma attempting to break the wheel, expect some fireworks on the Scudetto front.
Battles All Over the Table
We’ve already shed light on the big four, but the league isn’t merely comprised of top teams. In fact, Serie A is vastly rich from top to bottom, and we can anticipate some thrilling battles all over the table.
While the likes of Napoli, Fiorentina, Lazio and of course Atalanta will try to snatch a spot amongst the top four, others like Sassuolo, Torino, Verona and Bologna are building promising projects, and they remain a tough nut to crack for any big club, and let’s not forget about the anticipated heartbreaks in the relegation dogfight.
In short, there will be no easy matches in Serie A.
Exciting Newcomers
Usually, the Serie B playoffs winner would be the natural odds on favorite to fall back to the second division by the end of the campaign. Yet, the story is vastly different this time around, as Monza are apparently here to stay.
Under the ownership of former Milan president Silvio Berlusconi and his legendary right-hand man Adriano Galliani, the Lombardy club secured its first ever Serie A promotion, and have already bolstered their ranks with several renowned names with top-tier experience.
So with a steady hierarchy and familiar names on the pitch and in the stands, the Biancorossi will be one of the teams to watch this season, as they will certainly add a new and exotic layer to the elusive Calcio mosaic.
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