The new Serie A season is upon us, and for us Calcio fanatics, it is the equivalent of Christmas eve. But while some are extremely excited ahead of the new campaign, others are adopting a more cautious approach. Basically, it’s all about how the summer transfer market has unfolded, which either raises or lowers the expectations based on the dealings conducted by each club.
Even though the transfer session can still provide some unexpected twists and turns between now and the end of the month, it’s time embarrass ourselves by handing our own predictions for the final table ahead of the first kickoff, which will obviously be proven wrong come May.
Relegation Battle
20- Lecce
Manager: Marco Baroni
Key Player: Gabriel Strefezza
Top Signing: Wladimiro Falcone
Every season, at least one newly-promoted club ends up making a swift return to Serie B. Unfortunately for Lecce, their recent history marks them as a yo-yo club, and they could be facing a similar fate by the end of the season.
Despite winning the second division last season, their squad appears to be weaker than their fellow Serie A newcomers, which might suggest an uphill battle from the get-go.
19- Cremonese
Manager: Massimiliano Alvini
Key Player: Matteo Bianchetti
Top Signing: David Okereke
Similarly to Lecce, Cremonese have mostly maintained the same squad that secured them promotion. Nonetheless, they won’t be able to rely on Nicolò Fagioli this time around, as they young midfielder returned to his parent club, Juventus.
The Lombardi side will surely put up a courageous fight on their long-awaited Serie A return, but they might fall just short in the relegation dogfight.
18- Spezia
Manager: Luca Gotti
Key Player: Daniele Verde
Top Signing: Mattia Caldara
In their first two Serie A campaigns, Spezia managed to avoid relegation under the guidance of two different managers – Vincenzo Italiano and Thiago Motta – who somewhat adopted a resembling progressive mentality.
So can the Ligurians make it three in a row with Luca Gotti in charge?
While it’s surely possible, the odds might be against them, as the repeated managerial changes and the lack of investment could take its toll on the club.
17- Salernitana
Manager: Davide Nicola
Key Player: Federico Bonazzoli
Top Signing: Tony Vilhena
After pulling off a miraculous escape last season, Salernitana now have some Serie A experience under the belt. Moreover, they rightfully decided to maintain the services of their manager Davide Nicola and signed star player Federico Bonzzoli on a permanent basis.
This will be anything but an easy ride, nevertheless, another 17th place finish would do for the Granata.
16- Bologna
Manager: Sinisa Mihajlovic
Key Player: Marko Arnautovic
Top Signing: Lewis Ferguson
After four campaigns in charge, next season could spell the end of Sinisa Mihajlovic’s reign at Bologna, but it certainly won’t be the manager’s fault.
The Serbian has been constantly working on improving his squad, but the American owners have thus far proven to be all-talk, as the club repeatedly sells its best assets while scarcely investing in adequate replacements.
While maintaining Arnautovic is certainly a positive sign, selling key players Mattias Svanberg Arthur Thate and Aaron Hickey will leave major holes in the squad.
Low Mid-Table
15- Monza
Manager: Giovanni Stroppa
Key Player: Gianluca Caprari
Top Signing: Matteo Pessina
After securing their first ever Serie A promotion, Monza surely didn’t rest on their laurels. Instead, Adriano Galliani has been on a spending spree, picking up some of the most reputable names in the league.
While Matteo Pessina’s arrival caught the eye of fans and observers alike, the criminally-underrated Gianluca Caprari could be the most important addition to Giovanni Stroppa’s squad.
However, the team might require some time to gel due to the great number of newcomers, which could hinder the Biancorossi’s early days in the top-tier.
14- Empoli
Manager: Paolo Zanetti
Key Player: Nedim Bajrami
Top Signing: Razvan Marin
Following an impressive campaign under the tutelage of the experienced Aurelio Andreazzoli, Empoli are preparing for next season with their manager Paolo Zanetti.
The Tuscans have mostly maintained the same core of players, but lost the services of several stars who served on loan last season, including Andrea Pinamonti and Szymon Zurkowski, while also selling up-and-coming defender Mattia Viti and young Regista Krytstjan Asllani.
Nonetheless, the arrivals of Razvan Marin and Mattia Destro should be enough to steady the ship and allow the Azzurri to secure another safe finish.
13- Hellas Verona
Manager: Gabriele Cioffi
Key Player: Antonin Barak
Top Signing: Thomas Henry
Hellas Verona enjoyed their finest campaign in recent memory under the guidance of Igor Tudor, but the latter eventually vacated his post as he sensed a certain lack of ambition from the management’s part.
Apparently, the Croatian was right in his assessment, as the Gialloblu haven’t exactly strengthened their squad. Caprari has already left, and Giovanni Simeone could soon follow suit, while the likes of Thomas Henry and Milan Djuric are decent but unspectacular signings.
Thus, Gabrielle Cioffi will struggle to imitate Tudor’s success, but should have enough talent in the squad to avoid a relegation scramble.
12- Sampdoria
Manager: Marco Giampaolo
Key Player: Antonio Candreva
Top Signing: Gonzalo Villar
On the back of an extremely disappointing campaign, Sampdoria fans could be forgiven for their less-than-excited stance ahead of next term. Moreover, the Blucerchiati still rely on an old core of players in Antonio Candreva, Ciccio Caputo and the unyielding Fabio Quagliarella.
Nonetheless, we have to remember that this squad largely underperformed last season amidst some bizarre circumstances off the pitch related to club owner Massimo Ferrero. Thus, we’re still tipping the Ligurians to produce an improved campaigned compared to the previous one, with their aging stars enjoying one last hurrah before disbanding.
High Mid-Table
11- Udinese
Manager: Andrea Sottil
Key Player: Gerard Deulofeu
Top Signing: Adam Masina
Despite the departure of Nahuel Molina, new manager Andrea Sottil will still find a solid crop of players and a consistent project.
Udinese mostly focused on confirming some of their key players by offering them permanent contracts. We’re talking about the likes of Nehuen Perez and Beto, while Destiny Udogie will remain for another campaign despite being sold to Tottenham.
Sottil doesn’t need to rock the boat in his inaugural Serie A campaign, he just has to build upon the hard work of his predecessors Gotti and Ciofani.
10- Torino
Manager: Ivan Juric
Key Player: Wilfried Singo
Top Signing: Nikola Vlasic
This hasn’t been an easy summer in Turin. The club expectedly sold last season’s best Serie A defender Gleison Bremer, while their longtime captain and talisman Andrea Belotti left as a free agent. Moreover, the highlight of Torino’s off-season was an awkward brawl between manager Ivan Juric and sporting director Davide Vagnati.
Nevertheless, the Granata still managed to attract some interesting names who will add some creativity to the squad, mainly Nikola Vlasic, Nemanja Radonjic and underused Atalanta flop Aleksey Miranchuck.
This should be enough to finish in the middle of the table.
9- Sassuolo
Manager: Alessio Dionisi
Key Player: Domenico Berardi
Top Signing: Andrea Pinamonti
Despite selling Gianluca Scamacca, Sassuolo have done well to replace him with Inter’s Andrea Pinamonti who’s expected to explode at the Mapei Stadium.
While Giacomo Raspadori’s potential switch to Napoli could leave a gap upfront, the Neroverdi can still rely on their most loyal servant Domenico Berardi as well as the ever-improving Hamed Traorè.
Additionally, the Emilians still possess one of the most underrated midfield forces in the league, thanks to the presence of Davide Frattesi, Maxime Lopez and Matheus Henrique. And as always, Sassuolo never fail to introduce new hidden jams with every new campaign.
8- Fiorentina
Manager: Vincenzo Italiano
Key Player: Nicolas Gonzalez
Top Signing: Luka Jovic
After selling Dusan Vlahovic in January, Fiorentina were adamant on maintaining their best players in the summer, and they managed to defy the odds by putting Nikola Milenkovic’s signature on a new deal.
Moreover, signing Dodo as a replacement for Real Madrid loanee Alvaro Odriozola may just be a masterstroke from Daniele Prade’s part. However, their success will largely depend on Luka Jovic and his ability to genuinely replace his compatriot Vlahovic as cement himself as latest devastating bomber in Florence.
European Spots
7- Napoli
Manager: Luciano Spalletti
Key Player: Victor Osimhen
Top Signing: Min-jae Kim
Although they managed to sign the likes of Min-jae Kim, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Mathias Olivera, losing the services of Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens, Kalidou Koulibaly and potentially Fabian Ruiz is too much to bear in one transfer session.
Even if they manage to add Raspadori and Simeone before the end of the session, Napoli will probably start the next campaign on the wrong foot, especially with their Champions League commitments taking their toll on Luciano Spalletti’s thin squad.
While the 7th place doesn’t officially guarantee European football, traditions suggest otherwise, so it should be enough to land its owner a spot in the UEFA Conference League.
6- Atalanta
Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini
Key Player: Rulan Malinovskyi
Top Signing: Ederson
After the disappointment of last season, another underwhelming campaign could officially spell the end of Atalanta’s golden era under Gian Piero Gasperini.
Therefore, great many things are at stake for the manager who will try to prolong his legacy, while benefitting from the absence of European football to restore order within the black and blue walls.
Perhaps the transfer market hasn’t added much to the squad – with Ederson and Ademola Lookman being the only notable additions – but then again, La Dea always has a hidden trick under her sleeve.
5- Lazio
Manager: Maurizio Sarri
Key Player: Sergey Milinkovic-Savic
Top Signing: Alessio Romagnoli
Maurizio Sarri doesn’t always make it beyond his inaugural season at a new club. But when he does, the results could be spectacular. The capital side has decided to put its trust in the former Napoli and Juventus manager, and slowly but surely, the squad is beginning to mirror his own style of football.
The Biancocelesti have pulled off some interesting dealings in the market, bolstering the defense with Nicolò Casale and former Milan captain Alessio Romagnoli, while adding Matias Vecino and Marcos Antonio to an already-splendid midfield.
If Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto stay put, then expect Ciro Immobile and company to push for a Champions League spot, even if they missing out at the end of the day.
4- Juventus
Manager: Massimiliano Allegri
Key Player: Angel Di Maria
Top Signing: Paul Pogba
In order to solve their midfield issues, Juventus rekindled their old love affair with Paul Pogba. Unfortunately for both parties, the Frenchman will miss the start of the campaign with a meniscus injury, leaving Max Allegri short of options in the middle of the park.
With Paulo Dybala, Matthijs de Ligt and Giorgio Chiellini all gone, and Federico Chiesa still recovering from his long-term injury, the Bianconeri could be set for another slow start, especially if their manager doesn’t take his game up a notch.
Due to the complicated circumstances, the Old Lady could be set for yet another disappointing finish just inside the Champions League spots.
Scudetto Battle
3- Roma
Manager: José Mourinho
Key Player: Lorenzo Pellegrini
Top Signing: Paulo Dybala
With Dybala, Nemanja Matic and Georginio Wijnaldum, Roma could be finally set to re-enter the Scudetto scrap for the first time in a very long while.
Moreover, José Mourinho is set to maintain his main key players from last season, including Lorenzo Pellegrini, Nicolò Zaniolo and Tammy Abraham.
Perhaps they won’t have enough to topple the Milanese duo just yet, but the Giallorossi could pose a genuine threat if the Special One succeeds in gelling the old stars with the new in an swift and smooth manner.
2- Milan
Manager: Stefano Pioli
Key Player: Rafael Leao
Top Signing: Charles De Ketelaere
Although they lost the services of Alessio Romagnoli and Franck Kessié, Milan maintained their same winning core that guided the club towards its first Scudetto title in eleven years.
Perhaps the squad still needs one or two additions, but in Stefano Pioli and his loyal band of players, the Rossoneri will play the consistency card in their title defense, while the addition of Charles De Ketelaere may be the cherry on top.
The defending champions could be embroiled in another head-to-head title battle with their crosstown rivals, but this time, they might fall just short.
1- Inter
Manager: Simone Inzaghi
Key Player: Marcelo Brozovic
Top Signing: Romelu Lukaku
This summer, Inter had their hits and misses. For instance, refusing to sell Milan Skriniar for a reported 60 million euros to PSG could come back to haunt them if the Slovakian ends up leaving as a free agent next summer.
But this is another problem for another day. At the moment, the Nerazzurri have a stronger squad on paper compared to last season. Romelu Lukaku returned to revive his terrifying striking partnership with Lautaro Martinez.
So if the Belgian giant succeeds in recapturing the magic of his original Serie A stint, the Scudetto title is unlikely to elude Simone Inzaghi this time around.
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