League Focus: Serie A Team-by-Team Guide to the Season

Juventus

Favourites for a fifth straight title for first time since the 30s, it’ll be a challenge to win without Pirlo, Vidal and Tevez. If Llorente follows Juventus will have lost the players behind 114 of the 210 goals they scored in the last two years. The club has bought well, spending €110m gross. The Old Lady has got younger and has a very bright future. But what about the present? They might need a little time to figure things out and have an uphill start. The team’s talent and potential isn’t up for discussion but it remains to be seen whether a deficit in leadership, charisma, and fighting spirit is felt. Pirlo, Tevez and Vidal routinely came up big for Juventus in difficult moments. Who will now? Buffon, the BBC and Marchisio remain a guarantee of stability. The onus is on Paul Pogba to have the best year of his career.

Roma

Injuries, a lack of fitness and, surprisingly, depth meant Roma faded after Christmas last season and steps have been taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Fitness coach Darcy Norman could well  prove to be their signing of the summer. Roma’s defence wasn’t the issue last term. It rated second. Their attack, meanwhile, ranked eighth and held the team back. It’s hoped Edin Dzeko will be to the team what Gabriel Batistuta was in 2000-01. Mo Salah brings the speed and guile that had escaped Gervinho. Consider Leandro Castan and Kevin Strootman like new signings. They have everything to dethrone Juventus. Roma, however, are their own worst enemy. When they’re winning the Curva is like a 12th man. When they’re losing it can make life unbearable. It’s been said that winning the Scudetto in Rome is worth 10 in Turin. It’s harder not only because of the perceived establishment power of Juve but on account of the pressures and distractions that are brought to bear in the capital.  

Napoli

Maurizio Sarri’s teams are not only wonderful to watch, they can defend too. That is what Napoli lacked last season. Holes in the team have been filled. Pepe Reina returns. The defence has been upgraded, although not as much as the midfield. It has everything. Mirko Valdifiori created more chances than anyone in Serie A last season [90]. Allan completed more tackles [162]. Captain Marek Hamsik laid on 10 assists, a league high. Then there’s the attack, which has long been a strength at the San Paolo. Holding onto Gonzalo Higuain is a coup. Rather than scale back, Napoli have taken steps forward this summer and merit consideration as outsiders.

Lazio

After a series of near misses, Stefano Pioli delivered a long sought after podium finish in his first campaign and arguably the best football in Italy. A goal shy of the best attack, Lazio had six different players with 8 or more goals, four of whom got into double figures. Felipe Anderson blossomed into one of the league’s most decisive players. Exceptional talent has been added in Ravel Morrison and Ricardo Kishna, attitude too. Whereas they were able to focus solely on Serie A last year, they now have an extra front to contend with either in the Champions or Europa League. That will make for a tougher season as will greater expectations.

Fiorentina

In May, Vincenzo Montella questioned Fiorentina’s ambition. Fourth in each of his three years in charge, Coppa Italia finalists and Europa League semi-finalists, would the owners be willing spend to take the club to the next level? If not, maybe he’d leave. Tellingly they sacked him instead. It’s been an acrimonious summer to say the least in Florence. Salah betrayed them. The appointment of Paulo Sousa, an ex-Juve player, met with initial dissent and the spending of the Milan clubs makes it hard to imagine the Viola staying in the top four. However, they have been exceptional in pre-season. Pepito Rossi and Federico Bernardeschi are back and if they stay fit for the entire season, they could have the Capocannoniere and one of Italy’s best young talents on their books. Now Montella has gone it remains to be seen if Fioretina will remain so effective from set-pieces. They once again led the league with 21 goals from these situations.

Genoa

The most improved team in Serie A last season [15 points upturn], Genoa would be in Europe if it weren’t for owner Enrico Preziosi’s inability to get his house in order. After a brief and damaging spell at Inter, Gian Piero Gasperini restored his reputation as one of Italy’s smartest tacticians. Unfazed when his squad changes from window to window, it remains to be seen whether Genoa can hold on to Diego Perotti and be as competitive now Andrea Bertolacci and Iago Falque are gone. Leonardo Pavoletti impressed towards the end of last season while Goran Pandev is a useful if underwhelming signing. Midtable seems right.

Sampdoria

When Sinisa Mihajlovic left Serbia, they offered the job to Walter Zenga. He declined but now replaces him at Samp. It’s a hard act to follow. Manolo Gabbiadini left in the spring, Alessio Romagnoli and Pedro Obiang departed in the summer but Zenga inherits a team of Italy internationals [Okaka, Eder, Soriano and de Silvestri] with a blue collar work ethic, a tough-to-beat mentality - only Juventus [0] lost fewer homes games [2] - and great potential in Joaquin Correa and Luis Muriel. Even with a mad owner, there is stability. Zenga didn’t want it compromised and vetoed Antonio Cassano’s return only to be undermined after losing Samp’s Europa League play-off. Expect fireworks from the crazy gang.

Torino

After becoming the first Italian team ever to win at San Mames and finally ending a 20-year wait for a win against Juventus, it’s a wonder what cherishable moments Torino will give their fans this season. They don’t have Europe to look forward to but appear stronger. Pillars of their defence, captain Kamil Glik, the league’s joint highest scoring defender [7] and Nikola Maksimovic, remain and they couldn’t have found a better replacement for Matteo Darmian than Davide Zappacosta. He joins from Atalanta, as does much hyped regista Daniele Baselli while fellow under-21 international Marco Benassi’s move from Inter has deservedly been made permanent. Veterans Fabio Quagliarella and Maxi Lopez will get the team goals as will Andrea Belotti, another Azzurrino. A top six challenge isn’t beyond them.

Inter

When asked towards the end of last season how many players Inter needed to buy in the summer, Roberto Mancini laughed and said: “Eight or nine.” It turns out he was serious. Inter have changed more than anyone this summer.  To the joint Capocannoniere, Mauro Icardi, they added Stevan Jovetic, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Inter’s second biggest signing of all time, which created quite the buzz, but the most welcome and comprehensive revamp was to the defence. The question is: can all these players come together as a team and fast? If so, and Inter improve at home where they ranked 12th last season, they are a legitimate contender. On the eve of the season however Mancini seems no closer to a clear idea of how his team will play and this could set them back.

Milan

Wherever he has been Zlatan has won the league in 12 of the last 13 years. He is Mr Scudetto, the quick fix, which is why, even if Milan have already signed Carlos Bacca, the best new striker in the division, and Luiz Adriano they are still doing everything to bring Ibrahimovic back. He is the closest thing to a guarantee of success. However, it must be said that throughout his career he has always played in teams with great defences too and Milan have finally improved there too after Sinisa Mihajlovic got his wish for Alessio Romagnoli. Look out for his partner too, Rodrigo Ely, 21, good enough to be represented by Mino Raiola. Maybe this year the backline won’t be an Achilles heel after all. Only Cesena [11] let in more corners than Milan did [9] last season. The team has quickly grasped what Mihajlovic wants from them and that’s why, for now, they look more likely to make a play for a top 3 place than Inter.

Sassuolo

It was only a matter of time before Juventus called in their options on Sassuolo’s exciting young talent. Simone Zaza has traded this part of the world for Turin but it’s a real coup that an agreement has been found for Domenico Berardi to stay and continue his development at the Mapei Stadium for another year. Since 2014 he is the youngest player in Europe’s top five leagues to score more than 30 goals, younger than Icardi, Neymar, Lacazette and Griezmann. After improving on their first season in Serie A, Sassuolo will be looking to do same again this term and Gregoire Defrel should ensure Zaza isn’t missed.

Palermo

As is the case with Berardi at Sassuolo, more responsibility falls on Franco Vazquez now that Paulo Dybala has joined Juventus. Their tango was something to behold. Both combined in goals and assists for 36 of Palermo’s 53 goals [67.9%]. After uncovering the likes of Javier Pastore, Edi Cavani and Dybala, there is great curiosity to see which, if any, of Palermo’s new signings will be the next big thing. Alberto Gilardino is on his way after Belotti left for Torino. If Luca Toni can still be Capocannoniere at 38, there is no reason why the younger Gila [33] can’t with a team playing entirely for him.

Udinese

The refurbishment of the Friuli is almost complete. Udinese will hope their new surroundings deliver the same 12th man impact as the J Stadium did to Juventus. The team could have done better last season. A difference of opinion brought the mutual termination of Andrea Stramaccioni’s contract and the appointment of dependable Stefano Colantuono. Udinese have lost Allan and will miss his midfield hustle but much is expected of Duvan Zapata. Of all players to to make 20 or more appearances he had the best goal per minute ratio in Serie A [102.2 minutes]. He’ll ease some of the burden on Toto Di Natale.

Atalanta

Of the teams that stayed up only Chievo scored fewer than Atalanta [38]. After getting into double figures without fail in his first three seasons at the club, the goals dried up for German Denis. Losing Baselli won’t hurt as much as Zappacosta principally because Luca Cigarini was preferred to him in the playmaker role. After narrowly escaping the drop last season, Reja, the oldest coach in Serie A, will need all of his wisdom if they are to beat it again.

Frosinone

Like Carpi, fellow automatic promoted side Frosinone are making their first ever appearance in Serie A and it comes on the heels of back-to-back jumps from the third and second divisions. Roberto Stellone’s team had no problems scoring goals, only Pescara had a better attack in Serie B, last season but keeping them out was a problem. They shipped 49 and understandably the summer has been spent strengthening the defence. Stand out recruits are goalkeeper Nicola Leali on loan from Juventus and winger Daniele Verde from Roma, both top prospects.

Verona

Even after becoming the oldest Capocannoniere ever at 38 and their all-time top scorer in Serie A with 42 goals in his two seasons at the Bentegodi, Verona recognise Luca Toni can’t go on further. After meeting him at one of Toni’s children’s christening, owner Massimo Setti has reunited the veteran with his former understudy at Fiorentina, Giampaolo Pazzini, an excellent move if he can stay fit. Filip Helander, a member of the Sweden team that won the Under-21 Euros, is an interesting pick up from Malmo while many a curious to see promising regista Federico Viviani finally get a shot in Serie A too.  

Bologna

The play-off winners have gone straight back down in four of the last five years, but Bologna, who returned to Serie A at the first attempt after relegation, look capable of surviving and more.
The club has the backing to do it in Canadian businessman Joey Saputo and also recruitment strategist Pantaleo Corvino. You might even call their project Roma lite. Mattia Destro’s arrival is a great coup. He is the latest striker to go to Bologna in order to find himself again. Think Roby Baggio, Beppe Signori and Marco Di Vaio. With his goals they could make make the same inroads Palermo did last season and Verona the one before and finish in midtable.

Empoli

You fear for Empoli. Sarri did a remarkable job to keep them up last season with four games to spare. They had the lowest budget and payroll. Star centre-back Daniele Rugani has graduated to Juventus. Valdifiori followed Sarri to Napoli and talismanic leader Francesco Tavano has bid farewell. Empoli have retired his number. Marco Giampaolo, once a highly regarded coach, will be once again if he keeps the Tuscans up.

Chievo

A three-year deal for coach Rolando Maran speaks volumes. Chievo believe their former captain is the right man for the job. After replacing Eugenio Corini last season with the club threatened by relegation, he kept the Flying Donkeys up comfortably. Chievo’s defence ranked fourth in the league. Goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri and defender Ervin Zukanovic pushed for a place in the Serie A team of the season. Zukanovic is gone, but he is the only loss. Paul-Jose Mpoku will hopefully give the league’s worst attack [28] more of a threat.

Carpi

Dominant in Serie B last season, Carpi were promoted with four games to spare. All but one of the Cadetto winners in the last decade have survived and Pescara because the team was broken up. Zdenek Zeman got headhunted while Marco Verratti, Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne all moved elsewhere. Carpi have got continuity. The appointment of Sean Sogliano as director of sport sees them in capable hands. He ensured Verona were equipped to stay in Serie A and had also been courted by Milan. There is tension, however, with coach Fabrizio Castori. He would like to keep faith with the team that got Carpi up. Sogliano has overhauled it instead. Can they work together?

Who will win the 2015/16 Serie A title? Let us know in the comments below