After several weeks of transfer speculations and some friendly preparations, fans of Italian football are thrilled to finally kick off the action on the pitch once again, as the new Serie A season is about to start in the next coming days. Although calcio fanatics don’t really need any new excuse to follow their favorite league, here are the 10 top reasons why every football fan around the world should try to get himself a little taste of the Italian game during the 2020-2021 season:
History In The Making
Once again, champions Juventus are set to put their ever-growing winning dynasty on the line as they prepare to defend their league title against all comers.
Although winning nine Scudettos in a row is in itself a magnificent achievement, we all know that 10 is the magical number, and a failure to reach double digits will leave an empty hole in the club’s soul.
So, by the end of the season, either Juventus will incredibly complete an entire decade of dominance over Italian Football, or a rising contender will finally break the greatest winning dynasty in the league’s history.
It’s Immortality Vs Dethrone. And one way or the other, history shall be written.
The Phenomenal Atalanta
Although Football fans around the world were left amazed last season by their discovery of a black and blue Italian club which isn’t called Inter thanks to one of the most dramatic Champions League campaigns ever, calcio fans already knew about this hidden Bergamo gem for quite some time now.
And while Atalanta seemingly reached the height of their power last season, finishing in third place for the second season in a row with several demolishing results including some with seven goals, the question remains for how long can this provincial fairytale last?
In the exception of few names, like Timothy Castagne and possibly Robin Gosens, Atalanta are set to maintain the majority of their main cast, and as long as the architect of this story Gian Piero Gasperini remains at the helm of the team, there’s no reason to believe that their demise is close. Instead, we might ask ourselves if the former minnows are willing to take a further step forward and dare dream of winning some silverware.
The World Champions Are Taking Over
Inside the heart of every calcio fan, there’s a special place for every member of the 2006 World cup winning squad (Including the notorious Marco Materazzi), and luckily for all of us, we’re about to witness several of those champions sitting on some of hottest seats in the Italian Peninsula.
Andrea Pirlo’s quick and shocking promotion to the Juventus’ bench might be one of the most exciting news of the summer, but the initial success of his former Milan teammate Gennaro Gattuso at Napoli should not be underestimated.
Another Milan legend, Filippo Inzaghi, has done incredibly well at Benevento as the Campania side dominated the Serie B last season, and Alessandro Nesta almost earned a promotion himself with Frosinone, while the likes of Fabio Grosso and Massimo Oddo are slowly building their careers as up and coming coaches.
While we dearly miss seeing the world champions on the pitch, watching them lead their sides from the bench would be a welcome sight.
A Blast From The South
Although Italian football is known for its countless number of derbies, the major rivalry in calcio is arguably the one between the wealthy North and the less fortunate South.
We don’t want to get too deep in the details of this political and social-economic rivalry, but let’s just say that the North, for one reason or another, always had the upper hand in terms of producing championship level squads and also in the number of clubs taking part in Serie A, especially in last decade with the demise of the major Sicilian clubs.
Thus, Benevento and Crotone are a most welcome addition to the first division map. While Benevento will provide Napoli a chance to play an actual derby, Crotone will once again be the proud representatives of the Calabria region that has been overlooked since the fall of Reggina.
One Last Ride For The Legends
Just like everything else in life, football careers have to end at some point, and for the players and fans involved, the eventual farewell is the toughest and most emotional part of the beautiful game.
While the departure of Gonzalo Higuain towards American soccer will certainly leave a void in the hearts of Juventus fans, some major drama could await the Bianconeri by the end of next season as the Iconic Gianluigi Buffon and club captain Giorgio Chiellini might decide to hang up their boots once and for all.
Also, legendary striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic could in his turn end his career at Milan, but hopefully, we’ll be lucky enough to see him go for one last battle with his old foe Chiellini.
So enjoy their presence, rejoice in their class, because we probably won’t see their likes anytime soon.
The Rise of The New Generation
Out with the old in with the new, as a wave of young talents is about to take Serie A by storm. Sandro Tonali’s move to Milan has been one of the more exciting stories of the summer, as the former Brescia prospect is set to take the reigns of the Diavolo midfield.
In his turn, Victor Osimhen arrived to Napoli as one of the most sought-after young strikers in the world, while the signing of Ashraf Hakimi should be considered as one the best pieces of business done by Inter in the last few years.
Meanwhile, at Juventus, Dejan Kulusevski’s arrival will insert some fresh blood in the Old Lady’s veins, as the Swede joins fellow youngsters Matthijs De Ligt and Merih Demiral, while the rest of the clubs all have some young hidden gems ready to take the torch and thrive with it.
A Milan Revival At Last?
Since winning the Scudetto in 2011, Milan have found themselves lost in a never-ending black hole. The star names have long been gone, countless coaches have been appointed and sacked, and results kept gradually getting worse.
The appointment of Stefano Pioli mid-season wasn’t supposed to be the most inspiring arrival, as the former Lazio, Inter, and Fiorentina boss was only supposed to steady the ship until a “bigger” manager arrives with another new “project.”
But, unfortunately for Ralf Rangnick, Pioli refused to stick to the plan, and his players delivered some of the best football seen at Milan in the last decade, especially after the restart of the season, forcing the management to abort their pre-made plans and assure the Italian tactician’s position for the next season.
So can Milan and Pioli build on their performances of the latter stages of last season and prove that the black and red devils are finally awakened?
We’ll find out the answer soon enough.
The Clash of Styles
We all know how the stereotype goes. Italian teams are all about defending, rigid tactics, and closing down all the spaces for a forgettable 90 minutes.
Although this statement could have been somewhat acceptable during a certain period of time in the past, nowadays this claim couldn’t be less accurate, especially with the league’s goals average per match climbing up with the years.
Despite the remaining presence of some “old school” mentality among Italian managers, we’re luckily witnessing the rise of a new school of progressive football that is ready to combat the old ways, with the likes of Gasperini and Sassuolo’s Roberto De Zerbi being among the pioneers.
The Clash between the old and new schools of thought is one of the more intriguing aspects of the modern game, and we will be eagerly awaiting to find out which mentality will prevail this season.
Juventus Have Chosen Their Messiah
During the last 9 seasons, Juventus have successfully managed to dominate the Serie A under the helm of three different managers. And Although Max Allegri came very close on two separate occasions, the Bianconeri continuously failed to live up to their potential in Europe and win a Champions League Trophy.
This summer, President Andrea Agnelli made a courageous decision in appointing an absolutely inexperienced coach at the helm of the technical staff. And in his turn, Andrea Pirlo’s acceptance could be an even braver decision.
Both men clearly know the size of the risks they’re taking, and are both aware that their careers and legacies might rely upon next season’s results. So will Pirlo’s coaching career be ruined before it has even begun? Or will the Italian legend once again prove to be the Old Lady’s Messiah?
The Special Calcio Flavor
Let’s just put it simply, there’s absolutely no other league out there that resembles the crazy world of calcio.
From the volcanic and cartoonish club presidents who will put their noses in every little detail related to their teams, to a variety of colorful personalities who are the coaches and club directors, to some of the greatest stars in World Football including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Lukaku, and Dybala and the all the rest.
And let’s not forget some of the most beautifully designed jerseys on the planet (i.e. Sampdoria) and some of the hottest sets of fans and Ultras you’ll find in Europe cheering their clubs in their own creative fashion and breath-taking choreography…
In conclusion, we can go on and on in describing the greatness of Italian football, but eventually, you won’t be able to feel its magic unless you check it out yourself.
On September 19, we’ll be ready. Will you?
