Series A
Can Serie A’s magnificent seven lift a European trophy?
![Can Serie A’s magnificent seven lift a European trophy? Can Serie A’s magnificent seven lift a European trophy?](https://nigeriafootball.ng/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Lorenzo-Pellegrini-Roma-Conference-League.jpg)
Final season was a bittersweet one for Italian groups in Europe with three misplaced finals. However, after seven out of seven made progress this 12 months, Giancarlo Rinaldi assesses their possibilities of going one higher in not less than one competitors.
It’s by no means good to get near a prize and go away empty-handed. Inter, Roma and Fiorentina had been all left with that sinking feeling final time period after they fell on the remaining hurdle when European glory was inside touching distance. However, with all its groups making it via to the latter phases this 12 months, absolutely shut however no cigar gained’t lower it for Serie A this Could and June.
For a league dismissed by many as a second-rate product, the 2022-23 marketing campaign was seen as one thing of an indication of revival. The Nerazzurri, Giallorossi and Viola all produced an epic run of their respective competitions and will depend themselves unfortunate – in very other ways – to not decide up a trophy. This season has, to date, seen a continuation of that pattern.
Simone Inzaghi’s aspect have picked up the place they left off and look probably the most credible Italian contender to go deep into the Champions League. It was annoying that they didn’t win their group and revel in a greater seeding however Atletico Madrid weren’t the worst opponents they may land. A return of Diego Simeone to the membership the place he as soon as performed (no, not Pisa) will probably be a testing however not inconceivable reunion. Certainly, some thought the Milanese aspect’s coach had seen the long run when group winners Actual Sociedad landed Paris St Germain as their final 16 opponents.
Final time period, after all, it was Napoli who had been many individuals’s darkish horses to win the competitors however they’ve been much less convincing this season. They had been fairly comfy qualifiers behind Actual Madrid however they failed to supply the wonderful soccer they did underneath Luciano Spalletti. Nevertheless, there have been glimpses of Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia beginning to return to their finest which is able to give them hope. Barcelona seem like a troublesome however not insurmountable object – supplied they’ll recapture the scintillating soccer they’ll produce.
It’s more durable, in fact, to really feel a lot optimism for Lazio‘s prospects. They not often hit nice heights – Ivan Provedel’s heroics excepted – in getting via from a weakish group and now face an almighty mountain within the form of Bayern Munich. The constructive, if there’s one, is that Maurizio Sarri has time to plan for that one and, hopefully, begin to get the most effective out of his new acquisitions which have but to actually shine.
Milan, after all, dropped right down to the Europa League regardless of their epic comeback towards Newcastle however the second-tier competitors appears a way more believable goal for this explicit squad. Stefano Pioli has had an up-and-down season, however there have been some hints that he’s beginning to perceive how one can use his summer time arrivals higher. They landed Rennes within the competitors’s play-off draw and will probably be optimistic of seeing off a aspect within the backside half of Ligue 1 on the time of writing. It might be ironic if a coach who has confronted repeated requires his head was to ship a long-awaited European crown.
They had been joined within the draw by Roma after the Giallorossi didn’t win a fairly average-looking group, however no person ought to underestimate Jose Mourinho’s aspect. They may not be all that a lot enjoyable to observe however they know how one can get outcomes by one means or one other. He will certainly have already got a plan in place to plot Feyenoord’s downfall, simply don’t count on leisure alongside the best way. They undoubtedly have the gamers to make an honest tilt on the competitors which eluded them final time round.
Their matches will probably be watched with curiosity by Atalanta who, because of their group-topping show, are already via to the final 16. Gian Piero Gasperini’s crew got here via undefeated and conceded simply 4 targets – a complete bettered solely by Bayer Leverkusen. It was not so way back that the Bergamaschi had been stars of the Covid-hit Champions League and it will not be such a stretch to suppose they may do properly. Maybe Charles De Ketelaere may even cross paths along with his mother or father membership.
And, lastly, there’s Fiorentina. Final season’s heartache towards the Hammers remains to be recent within the reminiscence however they’ve put that disappointment behind them to grind out a gaggle win. It was not as spectacular as their earlier marketing campaign however they received the job achieved and, just like the boys from Bergamo, are via to the final 16 of the competitors to await the play-off winners. The Convention League, as at all times, has a really combined bunch of groups concerned and the bookies favourites are, unsurprisingly, Aston Villa. One other match-up with English opposition in Athens could be a little bit of a nightmare but additionally an opportunity for some measure of revenge. Vincenzo Italiano will hope so as to add some depth to his squad in January so as to proceed to battle on two or three fronts. The power lack of a prolific goalscorer is his largest headache however he has proven himself sensible at discovering options prior to now.
All of it implies that, general, issues look fairly vibrant for Serie A. They’ve excessive hopes of touchdown an additional Champions League spot on account of their performances this 12 months however a trophy could be even nicer. The highest competitors is likely to be a step too far however the Europa League or Convention League look extra manageable prospects. It might additionally verify the upward pattern that Italian groups have loved of late. Taking issues a bit of extra significantly has began to supply outcomes. Lifting a little bit of silverware could be the amarena cherry on high of that specific cake.
Giancarlo Rinaldi is the writer of a number of books on Italian football. You possibly can observe him on X @ginkers and take heed to him on the podcast Rigore!.