This week could be last time to use the "still settling in" excuse. None of the title contenders have overly difficult games, although Inter's trip to Palermo certainly is not to be overlooked. A fun fact to point out is that as you'll notice below, 8 of the week's matches will be broadcasted live. I certainly don't think I've seen as many as 8 before.
Match of the Week: Napoli @ Sampdoria: SUN 2:45PM Live on FSC, ESPN3.com, and RAI Great Euro-contender match early on. Samp need to show up after getting shown up at their house last week. Napoli meanwhile have hopefully learned that games go 90 full minutes after watching their gamewinner get nullified in a matter of seconds to Bari. (My Prediction: 1-0 Napoli)
Standings...
(http://sport.sky.it/sport/)
Lazio @ Fiorentina: SAT 12:00PM Live on ESPN3.com, RAI, and FS+ (My Prediction: 2-0 Lazio)
Catania @ Milan: SAT 2:45PM Live on FSC, ESPN3.com, and RAI (My Prediction: 0-2 Milan)
Cagliari @ Bari: SUN 6:30AM Live on FS+ (My Prediction: 1-1)
Lecce @ Cesena: SUN 9:00AM (My Prediction: 0-0)
Brescia @ Chievo: SUN 9:00AM Live on ESPN3.com (My Prediction: 0-1 Chievo)
Inter @ Palermo: SUN 9:00AM Live on FSC and RAI (My Prediction: 2-1 Inter)
Genoa @ Parma: SUN 9:00AM (My Prediction: 3-0 Genoa)
Bologna @ Roma: SUN 9:00AM Live on ESPN3.com (My Prediction: 0-0)
Juentus @ Udinese: SUN 9:00AM Live on ESPN3.com (My Prediction: 2-1 Juventus)
Incredible round of results after just the second week. Milan's new additions absolutely busted in their debuts, getting thoroughly handled by Cesena. Cagliari, Brescia, Chievo, and Lecce also pulled out big wins to the dismay of some big names.
Standings...
(http://sport.sky.it/sport/)
Match of the Week: Milan @ Cesena 0-2: Bogdani 31 (C), Giaccherini 44 (C)
As mentioned, Cesena fully deserved the win. Milan just weren't there. It was the same old problems up top where final goal just wouldn't come. Granted, they had some close calls nullified by offsides. Nonetheless, the better team won. (My Prediction: 3-0 Milan)
Udinese @ Inter 1-2: Lucio 7 (I), Floro Flores 31 (U), Eto'o 66 (I)
Good result for Inter. 3 points is 3 points. You can tell that they're still lacking a bit and are understandably not at the form they were in in May. As long as they're getting their points, they shouldn't have much to worry about. (My Prediction: 0-2 Inter)
Roma @ Cagliari 1-5: Conti 8 (C), De Rossi 18 (R), Matri pen 20, 47 (C), Acquafresca 38 (C), Lazzari 88 (C)
Shocking result. Cagliari certainly isn't a bad team and Roma are usually atrotious in the beginning, but still. Roma rarely gets pounded and likewise, Cagliari rarely crushes teams. As is for all teams, its still early to judge but I'm sure Roma won't forget this result any time soon. (My Prediction: 1-1)
Three big, big points for Brescia. When you're considered early favorites as a relegation contender, points against Euro-contenders will come in handly in April and May. (My Prediction: 1-0 Palermo)
Its nice to see that maybe Catania is picking up from where they left off last season. But Giovinco's free kick has got to make you excited for his future. Why the hell would Juventus get rid of him? (My Prediction: 3-1 Parma)
For Chievo to go to one of the fortresses of Serie A and pull out three unanswered goals after going down one is a heck of a statement. I don't know what the long-term possibilities are of this team are but early on, they're not a team you want to face. (My Prediction: 1-3 Genoa)
The true Match of the Week, Cassano made sure this one came down to the wire. Not totally surprised by this result: Juve letting points slip and Sampdoria fighting to the end. (My Prediction: 2-1 Sampdoria)
Finally, we can get the season started. Saturday's line up is excellent with Inter, Roma, and Milan all in action.
Match of the Week: Milan @ Cesena SAT 2:45PM EST Live on FSC, ESPN3.com, and RAI Without disrespect to Juve-Samp, we'll find out just how real Milan's threat to the scudetto really is. Again, they're up against a promoted side, but results against the lower clubs are where league titles are won and lost. Cesena certainly isn't a gimmie either, after drawing with Roma last week. Plus they're home. This is a can't miss game. (My Prediction: 3-0 Milan)
Il Tavolo Dopo La Prima Giornata
(http://sport.sky.it/sport/)
Udinese @ Inter SAT 12:00PM EST Live on ESPN3.com and RAI. 2:30pm Replay on FS+ (My Prediction: 0-2 Inter)
Roma @ Cagliari SAT 2:45PM EST (My Prediction: 1-1)
Palermo @ Brescia SUN 6:30AM EST Live on ESPN3.com, RAI, and FS+ (My Prediction: 1-0 Palermo)
Parma @ Catania SUN 9:00AM EST Live on ESPN3.com (My Prediction: 3-1 Parma)
Chievo @ Genoa SUN 9:00AM EST (My Prediction: 1-3 Genoa)
Sampdoria @ Juventus SUN 9:00AM EST Live on FSC, ESPN3.com, and RAI (My Prediction: 2-1 Sampdoria)
Bologna @ Lazio SUN 9:00AM EST (My Prediction: 0-0)
Fiorentina @ Lecce SUN 9:00AM EST (My Prediction: 3-2 Fiorentina)
Bari @ Napoli SUN 2:45PM EST Live on FSC, ESPN3.com, and RAI
Yes, its the Faroe Islands, but quite frankly, its just nice to see our boys put up a big number. A 1-0 or 2-0 result would certainly be a cause for concern but great teams should win these games by 5, 6, or 7. Personally, I'm glad that Giuseppe Rossi saw about 60 minutes on the field and Cassano and Quagliarella got on the scoresheet. Its a good result that gives condifence looking forward. But quite frankly, I CANNOT WAIT TO RETURN TO SERIE A!! (My Prediction: 3-1 Italy)
It was a bit of an ugly one, almost too poor to watch. It seemed as if maybe Lippi was on to something, that his selections were the best possible options. However Cassano put an end to that as he headed one and wonderfully set up the winner to take all three points. As I said in the preview, getting off to a winning start is so crucial for this team and its what they got. Today they try to make it 2 wins in 2 against the lowly Faroe Islands (My Prediction: 4-0 Italy)
Faroe Islands @ Italy: Stadio Comunale Artemio Franchi di Firenze TUE 2:50PM EST
Not a bad time to show off a video from my time in Firenze. The Azzurri will be playing hosts at this magnificent stadium and I can only dream of what it would be like to watch la nazionale in a packed house. I had imagined that the converted stadium wouldn't be a very nice venue, but up close, its undeniable. I still can't believe I wasn't able to catch one game during six weeks in Italy.
As for the match itself, same story, different chapter. There's no excuse to walk away with anything less than all three points. Rumor has it that Rossi will get his chance in the attack today along with Gilardino. After a poor start in the last game, I can't disagree with switching things up a bit. The fact that Gilardino will be in front of his home Fiorentina fans doesn't hurt at all either. (My Prediction: 3-1 Italy)
Fresh off the World Cup, UEFA wastes no time getting into Euro 2012 qualifiers. The first for La Nazionale is this Friday at 2:30PM.
Italy @ Estonia FRI 2:30PM EST Live on ESPN3.com
(Most Recent Match)
The new-look Italy squad will have it good starting off against Estonia and then the Faroe Islands. However after these two matches, there are no rollovers. The rest of the group consists of Serbia, Northern Ireland, and Slovena (2 of those 3 were at the World Cup). Starting off with 6 points will be crucial.
Keep an eye out for Italy's defense, as that is where Prandelli is really reshaping the team. Hopefully Chiellini will find a consistent partner in the center while wing left and right backs try to state their claim. I'm also a little disappointed Luca Antonini didn't get another call up. I know he didn't see playing time in the last friendly, but he gets better every game with Milan so I'd like to see him get a chance at the national level.
The attack should be exciting to watch because of how much their capable of achieving. Pirlo, Cassano, and Pazzini will surely start and I hope they'll be accompanied by Giuseppe Rossi and either Quagliarella or Gilardino.
Anything short of a win would be a disappointment. Let's hope their only previous friend has been enough for them to compete when it matters. (My Prediction: 4-1 Italy)
Match of the Week: Napoli @ Fiorentina 1-1: Cavani 7 (N), D'Agostino 49 (F)
Obviously a shame that Fiorentina had that call go against them. I'd like to wonder why they allow goalline referees in the Champions League but not Serie A. Anyway, it was a satisfactory result for both teams. Cavani gets credit for a goal which is espcially important considering how quickly Quagliarella simply up and left for Juve. Similar situation for Fiorentina as their new signing also scored and will hopefully fill the hole that Jovetic's injury left. (My Prediction: 1-2 Fiorentina)
Its another slow start for Roma. While Cesena are due credit, its early results like these, where the team is apparently unmotivated, that have kept Roma from possibly two Scudetti over the past three years. (My Prediction: 0-0)
Juventus @ Bari 0-1: Donati 43 (B)
This is probably the most surprising result of the week, tied with Inter's, maybe. You would think after all the reworking Juve did over the summer that they could at least score a goal? Credit to Bari though, as they performed just like last year as well. At home, they're a force to be reckoned with and it looks like things will stay the same for 2010/11. (My Prediction: 2-2)
Maybe this season I'll lighten the criticism of Chievo as whenever I call them out in my predictions, they seem to show me up. A strong, late win is a great way to start the season and considering their top striker, Sergio Pellissier, got on the scoresheet, maybe they'll be aiming for top half of the table. (My Prediction: 2-1 Catania)
Milan's first half display was quite possibly the best 45 minutes of soccer that I have ever seen them play in my short 4-year history. As a Milan fan, I was hyped up going into the game from a number of things: a) the signing of Zlatan, b) having visited the San Siro this summer, I could only imagine the atmosphere of what its like on opening night, c) this was already a good team before, now every seriously contenders. While Lecce's defense did well at the start, Milan's attack was simply Barcelona-esq. I can only hope Milan keep it up, especially after picking up Robinho today. (My Prediction: 1-3 Milan)
All the credit for Parma's victory seems to be going in the way of the Atomic Ant, Sebastian Giovinco. Having finally parted from Juventus, he came to play and had a hand in both goals. Brescia simply seemed overwhelmed, but having been promoted, they get a free pass. (My Prediction: 0-3 Parma)
Nice reaction from Sampdoria after getting bounced from the Champions League. I wasn't sure whether to expect this or the kind of hangover they went through during last winter where they couldn't win a game for shit. Lazio, who knows. Still plenty of work to for both Roman clubs as it turns out. (My Prediction: 1-1)
Cagliari @ Palermo 0-0
A bit of a disappointing result for two of last year's more exciting clubs, especially considering Palermo usually show up when playing at home. (My Prediction: 1-2 Palermo)
Inter @ Bologna 0-0
As I mentioned before, this was the joint-most surprising result of the week. Maybe you could've seen this coming after Inter's loss in the UEFA Super Cup but against Bologna, who have already fired their coach? AND they had watched Milan send a big message to the league the night before. Obviously the season has barely begun, but against clubs like Bologna, these points could be precious in time. (My Prediction: 4-0 Inter)
(I took this picture outside of the San Siro on July 30th)
Massive, massive signing that became official only hours after my first post today. Milan has finalized a 24 million euro deal with Barcelona for a year long loan, with Milan's option to buy at the end of the season, for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The total length of the deal would end up lasting four years.
Apparently 16 La Liga goals and 4 Champions League goals in your first season isn't good enough for Barca. Those numbers are peanuts compared to what he did for Inter and what he'll be expected to do for Milan. With Milan's addition of an absolute monster of a striker, they're legit contenders for the scudetto, maybe even the favorites. With a new and exciting coach and Hunteelar, Jankulovski, and Kaladze expected to be cashed in for, Zlatan's signing revolutionizes the team. November 13th just got highlighted, underlined, and circled on my calendar.
Late August has arrived and so another season of Serie A is about to begin. As always, there's a lot to look forward to in terms of the future of this league. My biggest concern, along with many others, is the UEFA coefficent, which determines how many Champions League spots each league is awarded. Well this is an absolutely crucial season, as the German Bundesliga is right on Italy's heels. What I want to know is if in fact Serie A is the 3rd toughest and most competitive league in Europe. I think we'll see that Serie A is still a top-notch league and that it will only get better with time.
Housekeeping: There is a Monday match this week (Bologna-Inter)! Make sure not to miss out.
A litter refresher to get you excited for this season
Match of the Week: Napoli @ Fiorentina SUN 2:45PM EST Live on ESPN3.com and RAI Two teams that will again set their sights on 4th place. Both teams have some proving to do as Napoli need to show that last season wasn't a fluke and Fiorentina to readjust under their new coach, Siniša Mihajlović. I'll be look forward to a lot of energy from both teams, as this already 3 big points against potential CL competitors. (My Prediction: 1-2 Fiorentina)
Genoa @ Udinese SAT 12:00PM EST Live on ESPN3.com and RAI This match has the honor of the first official match of the season. Unfortunately, its not exactly marquee. Genoa had a subpar season and Udinese didn't find safety until late. However Genoa tends to keep in interesting more often than not. And with Udinese reaffirming their starlet and capocannoniere, Antonio Di Natale, by rejecting a bid from Juventus, there's plenty of excitement to watch. (My Prediction: 0-1 Udinese)
Cesena @ Roma SAT 2:45PM EST Live on FSC, ESPN3.com, and RAI Newly promoted versus 2nd best Roma. Roma's gotten off to poor starts the past two seasons so look for Cesena to take advantage and make a name for themselves. (My Prediction: 0-0)
Juventus @ Bari SUN 12:00PM Live on ESPN3.com and RAI It should be fun to watch these two teams and what changes they'll be able to make from last year. For Juve, you can only go up after having the worst season in the club's history. But they're made several changes over the summer, including a new coach (Gigi Del Neri), shipping players out (Diego, Cannavaro), and bringing in new ones (Krasic, Quagliarella). Bari will be looking to maintain their breakout season after being promoted. Hopefully selling some of their standout players (Bonucci, Ranocchia) won't be too much to handle. (My Prediction: 2-2)
Catania @ Chievo: SUN 2:45PM EST A mid-table battle, it'll be interesting to see where both teams end up. Catania possibly ended last season as the hottest team in the league. I'd like to see how much of an influence Siniša Mihajlović had on that. Chievo is the dead fish of the league to me. Not battling for Europe, but also not threated by relegation. I just hope their they end up in either one of those races. (My Prediction: 2-1 Catania)
Lecce @ Milan SUN 2:45PM EST Live on FSC and ESPN3.com It should be no surprise that my focus is on Milan here. I'm feeling very optimistic about their chances this season, despite not making a splash in the market. That is of course unless they sign, who could be, the most dominant striker this league has seen since I've been watching, Zlatan. Lecce, as Serie B champions, should provide a decent challenge. Nonetheless, I don't think Milan have an excuse to lose this game. (My Prediction: 1-3 Milan)
Brescia @ Parma SUN 2:45PM EST I wouldn't expect anything from Brescia except to try to stay up in Serie A, much like Bologna. Parma though could fight for a Europa League spot. (My Prediction: 0-3 Parma)
Lazio @ Sampdoria SUN 2:45PM EST After a torrid season, Lazio should be recharged and aiming for the top half of the table. They should find hope in their good form at the end of last season. However I wouldn't be surprised to see Sampdoria terribly hung over from their Champions League playoff disappointment. They have the talent to get back to 4th, but who knows if they've got the heart. (My Prediction: 1-1)
Cagliari @ Palermo SUN 2:45PM EST I don't expect a lot from Cagliari this season, having lost coach Max Allegri to Milan. However, they still have potential to stay up. However, against a team like Palermo, who should be recharged after a great run last season, I don't think the Sardinians will be up for it. (My Prediction: 1-2 Palermo)
Inter @ Bologna MON 2:45PM EST Live on FSC, ESPN3.com, and RAI Had Inter won the UEFA Super Cup, they would feel as if they're on top of the world. Instead, hopefully they're looking at their loss to Atletico as a wake up call. Starting against Bologna though should be a good place to begin. Look for them to hoist the scudetto, again. (My Prediction: 4-0 Inter)
It's been a long, amazing summer and now it's time to prepare for the 2010/11 Serie A season. The first round begins Saturday August 28, a bit late compared to the other big leagues. There have been some note-worthy changes in the scheduling of games:
1) There will be Sunday afternoon matches, creating an earlier third timeslot 2) A few Monday night matches will happen (alla EPL) 3) Teams with upcoming Champions League matches will play Fridays
All of this will be made clearer after the first round. Essentially, its a good step forward, in my opinion, to make Serie A more contemporary. I do have a major concern though when it comes to how games will be televised. As Fox Soccer rises, as does Fox Soccer Plus, and how they decide to prioritize EPL over Serie A. Since FS+ requires its own subscription (which I'm not willing to pay), some bigger Serie A matches, which would normally be broadcasted on FSC, could get the boot in favor of EPL matches. All of this is only speculation though, as we'll see how it really goes in the coming months. As a friendly reminder, here are my suggestions to check out weekly matches:
1) RAI: While requiring subsciption, they broadcast the most games and have the best coverage of Serie A. 2) Fox Soccer Channel: Available in most digital cable packages, FSC offers a solid amount of matches. 3) Fox Sports en Espanol: Its not uncommon when FSC delays Serie A matches that they will air live on FSE. Not a bad resource to forget about. 3) ESPN3.com: It's not TV, but its free with most internet providers and has at least 2 matches per round, up to four. 4) GolTV: Holds the primary TV rights to the Coppa Italia and Europa League. 5) Fox Soccer Plus: While they seemed to have aired live Serie A matches, I'm not willing to pay X-amount in subscription for one match per week.
As for Champions League, Fox again holds the rights this season so look to FSC, FS+, and FSC.com for broadcasts.
In the coming days, I'll be previewing the new season, transfers, favorites, and expectations. I'm also hoping to share some experiences I had in my very first trip to Italy. I got to see some of my favorite stadiums and took some great photos. Being able to finally see the cathedrals you watch on TV each week sheds a whole new light on the great game. I can't even imagine what its like to watch a real match over there.
USA Send-Off Series, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA United States vs Turkey 2:00PM EST Live on ESPN2, ESPN3.com, and Galavision (SPA)
Tomorrow afternoon, the United States will square off with Turkey in their final match before heading to South Africa for the much, much anticipated World Cup. It is my understanding that this is the first time the US Men's National team has played in Philadelphia and will coincidentally be my first time seeing the US men's team (I hope to have pictures and videos posted in the review post).
(The Roster)
The United States has never had so much attention drawn to them, both domestically and abroad. ESPN is pulling out all the stops in their World Cup coverage while dedicating plenty of time to the US team (see above video). Being drawn in a very fortunate group, which happens to include England, has many soccer crowds talking up the good chance that the US has to advance to the round of 16.
What I'll be looking for tomorrow is simply cohesion. With several players grinding it out through injuries and the roster just finalized, I want to know that the players will be familiar with each other. As far as I'm concerned, the US has never had a consistent ability to threaten at goal. I'm hoping our performance from the Confederations Cup will carry over. If not, expect another group stage disappointment, alla 2006 (in which the US scored 2 goals, one an own goal).
Turkey provides a good challenge for the US. They're one of the teams who is hard to understand. Having well-outperformed expectations at Euro 2008, they failed to qualify for the World Cup for a second straight time. Nonetheless, having set the goal of making the last 16 or possibly even last 8, the US will be playing teams who are worse, equal to, and better than Turkey. A must watch for any US supporter. (My prediction: 2-2)
First off, this season should go down as the best since Calciopoli, due primarily because title race hadn’t been this tightly contested. We also saw the Champions League trophy return to the peninsula for the 12th time in it’s history thanks to Inter, giving much needed reinforcement to Serie A’s credibility. While on the topic of Europe, the race for fourth between Sampdoria and Palermo was top-notch. Perhaps the fact that one of Italy’s big 3 was out of the race by April give it some extra spice.
As for individuals who stood out, look no further than Diego Milito. While he was “il principe di Genoa” last year, he took his game to the highest level for Inter, scoring every goal in their title-clinching matches. While Diego tore it up in several ways, Udinese’s Antonio Di Natale bagged 29 goals, earning the “capocanonniere” title. As for the youngin’s, Palermo’s 21-year old defender Simon Kjaer made noise all throughout the season. Look for him to make a big move this summer.
(#6 has my vote for the most beautiful goal of the season)
1st Football Club Internazionale Milano Their *18thscudetto puts them alone in 2nd place all time, also adding another to their run of 5* straight. Certainly this was the most difficult for them to pull out, as Roma and Milan kept the pressure on for the most part. However, as most clubs in Italy seem incapable of doing, Inter’s aggressiveness in the transfer window made all the difference. Also, they won the Champions League, finally...
2nd Associazione Sportiva Roma Because their title run was expected by absolutely no one, Roma has to keep their heads high. Only smoking hot Sampdoria side could stop them in their last few rounds. Nonetheless, Roma can hang their hat on automatic qualification for the Champions League. Plus there’s no reason to think they can’t string together another run next season.
3rd Associazione Calcio Milan Shoulda, woulda, coulda. The 2009/10 scudetto was undoubtedly Milan’s to win. When Inter began to trip up back in late winter/early spring, Milan couldn’t capitalize any further than -1. Perhaps if Pato had a healthy season, their scoring drought would’ve never happened. Looking back, with very low expectations to deal with, Milan should also be happy with where they ended. Not to mention we were treated to an absolutely beautiful revival of Ronaldinho.
4th Unione Calcio Sampdoria No doubt, Sampdoria had the 2nd best season out of any club, behind only Inter. They pounced on Juventus’ atrocious form and took the Champions League by the throat. Let’s not forget, they couldn’t win a game for love or money between November and February. However outside of those three months, they were possibly the best team in Serie A.
5th Unione Sportiva Citta’ di Palermo Very similar to Roma, Palermo should keep their heads high. While they just couldn’t hold on in the end, they achieved a great result for their club. It’s a shame Walter Zenga couldn’t get the team going at the beginning of the season or else they might have had the Champions League spot locked up by April.
6th Societa’ Sportiva Calcio Napoli Par for the course I would say for Napoli. They made some noise in the summer market, adding Fabio Quagliarella and Luca Cigarini to Hamsik and Lavezzi’s attack. After Roberto Donadoni was fired, Walter Mazzarri picked this club up and ran with them, going unbeaten for his first 15 rounds. Next year, they should be setting Champions League qualification as a must.
7th Juventus Football Club Worst season in club history in terms of on-field performance. From signing a well-past expired Fabio Cannavaro to Ciro Ferrara’s managerial failure to choking against Bayern in the last CL group stage match to finally ending the season with a club record 15 losses, nothing went right. To think that Juventus were scudetto favorites at the beginning of the season, instead they’ll be starting in the 2nd qualification round of the Europa League.
8th Parma Football Club Wonderful return to Serie A for Parma. Surely, the average promoted club just aims to stay up and lay a foundation. But with Parma’s history and their great run in the early decade, it is understandable that they finished just one spot outside of a European place. They will definitely be a club to keep an eye on next season.
9th Genoa Cricket and Football Club I want to say that this was a bit of a disappointing season for Genoa however considering losing their 2 best attackers from the previous year, perhaps 9th isn’t so bad. It will be interesting to see how they will fare next season.
10th Associazione Sportiva Bari Similar to Parma, Bari also celebrated a great return to the top flight. They fought through the season consistently well and perhaps deserved a high place. At home, they were one of the most difficult sides in the league to crack.
(Best goals of the 1st half of the season. Still looking for part 2)
11th ACF Fiorentina It took me until about March to realize that Fiorentina would have a disappointing season. Even now, 11th place is a shock to me. After handling Liverpool in the Champions League, they just fell off, perhaps due to the offside goal that eventually was their undoing against Bayern in the round of 16. In the league they just never had it. And with Cesare Prandelli off to the Azzurri after the World Cup, who knows if they’ll even be competing for a European spot next year.
12th Societa’ Sportiva Lazio Conversely to Fiorentina, I can’t believe Lazio finished 12th! For being in the relegation battle for the overwhelming majority of the season, the standings simple do not tell the story. With was an atrocious season for the club in nearly every way. The infamous behavior of their own fans cheering for their team to lose against Inter in spite of their cross-town rivals is a terrible stain on their club’s reputation and won’t soon be forgotten.
13th Calcio Catania A very interesting storyline to follow for Catania as they fininshed their season in great form. However, the mastermind behind it all, Sinisa Mihajlovic, has resigned as manager and likely headed to Fiorentina. We’ll see if Maxi Lopez can keep his phenomenal form up for another season despite a change at the helm.
14th Associazione Calcio ChievoVerona The most boring team in Serie A. I neither like nor dislike Chievo. It’s just that there’s really nothing that stands out about the club. While they dug themselves out of the relegation zone last season, I guess you can say their objective was to stay afloat for another year, which they did comfortably. Aside from that, no players stood out to me and their manager has since resigned and replaced Gigi Del Neri at Sampdoria.
15th Udinese Calcio Up and down year for Udinese but they should begin erecting a statue for Antonio Di Natale. Without a doubt, they would have be relegated if it were not for his 29 goals. Even if another average striker would have been in his spot, he probably wouldn’t have scored any more than 13, a difference of 16 goals. Still, I like this club and I’m glad they’ll be sticking around for another year.
16th Cagliari Calcio For a decent stretch there, Cagliari were one of the best teams in the league, even vying for 4th place. However they peaked too early and sank all the way down to 16th. AC Milan is hot for their coach Max Allegri and their stand out striker, Alessandro Matri, could be sold over the summer.
17th Bologna Football Club 1909 By the hair on their chiny-chin-chin did they avoid relegation. For a second straight year they manage to avoid the drop and so for that, they receive applause. However, you gotta think the steam has all but run out and will be right in the same spot next season.
18th Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio They put up a good fight but just couldn’t get it going in time. Their 4 year stay in Serie A is over and will have to duke it out in Serie B.
19th Associazione Calcio Siena I really thought they had it in them to survive, but I was sadly mistaken. The game that sticks out to me is the match at the San Siro against Inter when Siena took the lead two different times, lead 3-2 until the 88th minute, and eventually lost 4-3 in extra time. I believe there was much speculation about the referees favoring the big clubs and the Siena manager sadly admitting that sides like his could never win that type of a fixture. The ugly side of sports.
20th Associazione Sportiva Livorno Calcio I don’t want to rag them too bad, but they knew they were relegated back in March. Once they dropped into the relegation spots, they just laid over and played dead.
Champions League Final, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid Internazionale Milano vs Bayern Muchen 2-0: Milito 35', 70' (I) (The search for a solid highlight reel of this match has been very difficult, so I posted the best videos I found of 1) goal #1, 2) goal #2, and 3) celebrations.)
Diego Milito 35'
Diego Milito 70'
There's so much to be said about Inter's victory. Between the club, it's history, the players, the league it represents, I could write a 3-part series. However, if there's one thing that I am taking away from this match, its pride in the fact that I don't let the soap-opera that is now professional sports get in the way of a much need boost for calcio.
The Champions League Final has been a staple event for American soccer fans. Thanks to ESPN, it was the only access to the European game unless you knew someone with a subscription package. Therefore, the final always stuck out. I remember seeing AC Milan and Juventus duking it out in the final as well as Milan up 3-0 at halftime against Liverpool in 2005, only to watch the highlights of them somehow losing on PKs. I haven't missed a final since.
The feel of this year's match was very unique. The Bernabeu made a phenominal atmosphere, as it really looked like one of the top, if not the best stadiums in Europe. As for the teams, it was a big change from the English-dominated tournament that the UCL had become. With clubs from 4 different nations in the semi's (Italy, Germany, Spain, France), 2009/10 was already a victory for the league.
I watched the match on the edge of my seat for the full 90 minutes. It seemed like the game was in the balance with every shift in possession. As a quasi-Milan supporter, I had never been so tense while wanting Inter to succeed. I've made it no secret that Serie A's grasp on all 4 Champions League spots far surpasses any domestic rivalry. When Diego Milito score his goals, I jumped up and cheered. All season he has been nothing short of excellence and no matter who you support or hate, this guy cannot be denied. The only thing that sucks is that playing for Inter and Argentina, there's not a jersey of his I would wear.
In the end, Inter were definitely deserved winners. While both their goals came on the counter-attack, Bayern rarely threatened. When they had a clear chance at at the very beginning of the second half, Julio Caesar "kick-save-and-a-beauty"ed the weak shot away. Perhaps Ribery would have helped, but quite frankly, he's overrated. Maybe he'll prove me wrong at the World Cup this summer. While it may be a pain to watch Inter strut around as the first to ever pull off the Italian trippleta, Serie A holds on to all 4 champions league spots and all the much, much needed revenue that comes with them. Finally, props to Samuel Eto'o for his 3 champions league titles in just 5 years (Barca '06, '09). Grazie Inter. (My Prediction: 4-3 Inter... I expect much more from Bayern's attack. Nonetheless, I got the winner right.)
Internazionale vs Bayern Muchen SAT 2:45PM EST Live on FOX
Inter's Road to the final: (home club's score first)
Group Stage Match #1: vs Barcelona 0-0
GS #2: @ Rubin Kazan 1-1
GS #3: vs Dynamo Kyiv 2-2
GS #4: @ Dynamo Kyiv 2-1
GS #5: @ Barcelona 2-0
GS #6: vs Rubin Kazan 2-0
Round of 16: vs, @ Chelsea 2-1, 0-1
Quarter-finals: vs, @ CSKA Moskva 1-0, 0-1
Semi-finals: vs, @ Barcelona 3-1, 1-0
Bayern's Road to the final:
Group Stage Match #1: @ M. Haifa 3-0
GS #2: vs Juventus 0-0
GS #3: @ Bordeaux 1-2
GS #4: vs Bordeaux 0-2
GS #5: vs M. Haifa 1-0
GS #6: @ Juventus 1-4
Round of 16: vs, @ Fiorentina 2-1,3-2 (2-1 away goals)
Quarter-finals: vs, @ Manchester United 2-1, 3-2 (2-1 away goals)
Semi-finals: vs, @ Lyon 1-0, 0-3
Tomorrow, one of these two clubs will pull of a historic triple, as both have already won their domestic league and cup competitions. Likewise, former Real Madrid castaways, Bayern's Arjen Robben and Inter's Wesley Sneijder, have propelled each's seasons to this point and will now return to their former home stadium. Together, both teams have combined to take out European giants including Chelsea, Man Utd, and Barcelona.
What will decide this game is the defensive performances. Considering both team's forward lines, I expect at least 3 goals to be scored by the end of 90 minutes. This means that the defenses will have to resist all the pressure they can handle. I give the advantage to Inter's line up of Eto'o, Sneijder, and my boy Diego Milito who have been nothing short of incredible this season. I say this with an understanding that Bayern's attack, even without the over-rated Frank Ribery, is well capable of knocking in a handful of goals by the final whistle.
(My Prediction: 3-2 Internazionale)
One last quick, but very important note, it is my understanding that anything less than a win after 90 minutes (opposed to extra time or PK's) for the Serie A club will result the Bundesliga's leapfrog into 3rd place in UEFA's league coefficient rankings table. Why is this important? Only the top 3 European leagues are awarded 4 Champions League qualification spots, while the 4th league only receives 3 spots. To put this into perspective, the excellent race we just saw between Sampdoria and Palermo would mean nothing during next year's season. Not to mention, Italian clubs would miss out and some much needed financial revenue. So fans of calcio, whether you love 'em or hate 'em, we cheer for Inter for the common good.
Now that the top flight is settled, let's take a look at who will be promoted to the top tier and other interesting storylines from Serie B. With 2 rounds remaining, there's still plenty to play for.
Standings...
Heads up: there are multiple differences between Serie A & B. Serie B consists of 22 clubs with 42 rounds of play (opposed to Serie A's 20 clubs, 38 matches). The top 2 clubs are automatically promoted while teams 3-6 compete for the 3rd and final promotion spot through a home-away playoff. At the bottom, #20, #21, and #22 automatically relegated while #18 and #19 square off for the 4th and final relegation spot.
At The Top... #1 Lecce, who were relegated from Serie A last season, can clinch 1st place with a win against #16 Vicenza.
#2 Brescia, with whom the great Roberto Baggio ended the last 4 years of his career, are only 1 point ahead of #3 Cesena. Each of their upcoming matches consist of:
#2 Brescia: 5/23 vs #22 Salernitana, 5/30 @ #20 Padova #3 Cesena: 5/23 vs #13 Modena, 5/30 @ #15 Piacenza
Advantage: Brescia
(Never need an excuse for Baggio highlights)
As for the rest of last year's Serie A relegation class (#18 Torino, #19 Reggina, #20 Lecce), #5 Torino needs 2 more points from their final matches to secure a promotion playoff spot. Reggina, though sitting at #14, are only 3 points above the relegation playoff, and just 5 above automatic relegation.
At the bottom 11 clubs, yes ELEVEN, are still mathematically capable of being relegated. Only one club, #22 Salernitana, has secured relegation, while #21 Gallipoli need a miracle to overcome a goal differential with #18 Mantova.
For a 5th straight season, Inter will grace the scudetto. This also marks their 18th* scudetto all time, bringing them to 2nd (Juventus has 27 while Milan is stuck at 17). Not to rain on anyone's parade, but don't be shocked to see their controversial 05/06 scudetto revoked after the recently reopened Calciopoli trail, where new evidence has shown Inter to be as guilty as Juventus, the club who won the title on the field.
As for Roma and Ranieri, yet another case of coming in 2nd. However their effort was certainly worthy of much praise. It should be interesting to see if they can push for the title next season as well. As for the exciting Champions League race we've had, Sampdoria locked it with Gianpaolo Pazzini appropriately capping off a career year.
Finally, while this post will only highlight the final week of matches, I'll be posting a full review of each club's season. More importantly, I intend to preview and review EVERY match of this upcoming World Cup. Only 23 days away!!!
Matches of the Week: Inter @ Siena 1-0: Milito 57 (I)
You always knew they were going to win. There was too much momentum and too much quality for this team to stumble. And so after my third full season as a legitimate calcio enthusiast, I still know no other champion than Inter. (My Prediction: 2-0 Inter)
Roma @ Chievo 2-0: Vucinic 39 (R), De Rossi 45
I want to say that Roma had a great season, but considering just how close they came really hurts. It's becoming harder and harder for provincial clubs to compete with the big ones and so when you're at the top of the table with only four matches left, there's little consolation. (My Prediction: 2-2)
While Milan would definitely say that they had a disappointing season, beating Juventus 3-0 both times in the season has to feel pretty good. Smile Juve fans, your season has ended! (My Prediction: 0-0)
Lazio cap off their season with a solid win while Di Natale adds one more goal to cap off his league high 29 goals. Obviously a disappointing year for both clubs but you would have to expect both of them to rebound next season. (My Prediction: 2-2)
Not a whole lot in this match. Both teams basically just riding out the end of the season and will remain in Serie A next year. (My Prediction: 1-1)
Fiorentina @ Bari 0-2: Stellini 36 (B), Rivas 95 (B)
Viola fans are also happy to have their season come to a close. Bari though cap off their return to Serie A in style. It should be great to watch them for another season. (My Prediction: 0-3 Bari)
Genoa @ Catania 0-1: Maxi Lopez 65 (C)
Maxi Lopez leaves his mark on a phenominal Serie A debut season. I believe his goal tally finished at 11 through 17 matches. Keep an eye out for him. (My Prediction: 2-1 Genoa)
Parma also close out their return season in style. Granted, it was against #20 Livorno, they still had an excellent season. (My Prediction: 1-3 Parma)
Napoli @ Sampdoria 0-1: Pazzini 51 (S)
I wonder how many people had Sampdoria qualifying for the Champions League at the beginning of the season. There's so much to say about them and how big of a roller coaster season they had. Napoli should also keep their heads up as they too had a great season and have plenty to look forward to in September. (My Prediction: 2-3 Sampdoria)
Similar to Roma, Palermo simply took the lead a bit too early and couldn't hang on. Nonetheless, they still have plenty to be proud of. (My Prediction: 1-0 Palermo)
Its always a nice thing when the final day of the season arrives and there's still much to be played for. All eyes obviously will be on Inter-Siena and Roma-Chievo. With a 2-point lead, Inter can take the scudetto outright with a win. A draw will do if Roma fail to win. However, Roma has the tie-breaker advantage, having the better head-to-head record against Inter (win, draw).
There were date/time changes to two of the matches. Milan-Juve and Lazio-Udinese will be SATURDAY 2:45PM EST.
As for TV coverage, RAI is the place to be. They'll be between all the big matches on Sunday morning so you'll be able to keep on every goal as they happen. Fox Soccer's current listings for Sunday do not say exactly which matches will be broadcasted, but both FSC and FS+ will definitely have matches.
Matches of the Week: #1 Internazionale @ #19 Siena SUN 9:00AM EST Live on RAI, likely on either FSC or FS+ #2 Roma @ #13 Chievo SUN 9:00AM EST Live on RAI, likely on either FSC or FS+ What other matches would there be? Its all still left to play for. With both teams on the road, there's always a chance to slip up. I definitely do not think it is over until the final whistle blows. At the same time, with all the momentum that Inter has going, it would be absolutely shocking to see them lose out on the title. (My Predictions: 2-0 Inter, 2-2 Roma-Chievo)
#7 Juventus @ #3 Milan SAT 2:45PM EST Live on ESPN3.com and RAI What an oxymoronic match under these circumstances. I remember when the schedule was release, this was touted as a possible scudetto championship match. Now, only Milan's hope to seal up third is the only thing up for grabs. Also worth noting, Leonardo will be stepping down after the match, leaving the head coaching job at Milan up for grabs for a second consecutive summer. (My Prediction: 0-0)
#12 Udinese @ #15 Lazio SAT 2:45PM EST Lazio is one of a hand full of teams who have endured a dreadful season. They will be very much looking forward to the final whistle. Udinese will be looking forward to Antonio Di Natale securing the Capocannoniere title. (My Prediction: 2-2)
#17 Bologna @ #14 Cagliari SUN 9:00AM EST Nothing left in this one. Bologna seem lucky to be staying up. Cagliari was never able to get back up to their great form that almost saw them in 4th place. (My Prediction: 1-1)
#10 Fiorentina @ #11 Bari SUN 9:00AM EST Disappointing end for Fiorentina, with a lot of transfers and such to make in the summer. Great return season for Bari. Glad they get to end it at home. (My Prediction: 0-3 Bari)
#8 Genoa @ #16 Catania SUN 9:00AM EST I'm not sure how to judge Genoa's season. Although they lost last season's core of Thiago Motta and Diego Milito, they still had their fair share of wins and good performances. Catania, little too late for their revival. I'm excited to see how they'll do next season. (My Prediction: 2-1 Genoa)
#20 Livorno @ #9 Parma SUN 9:00AM EST Highly contrasting performances for these two promoted clubs. Great return for Parma, right back where they started for Livorno. (My Prediction: 1-3 Parma)
#6 Napoli @ #4 Sampdoria SUN 9:00AM EST One of four meaningful matches remaining. Very well could be candidate for match of the week had it not been for the scudetto race. These have been two of the more impressive clubs this season, as Napoli were in the running for a CL spot until only a month ago. A Sampdoria win guarentees 4th place and the Champions League. (My Prediction: 2-3 Sampdoria)
#5 Palermo @ #18 Atalanta SUN 9:00AM EST Because Palermo failed to beat Sampdoria at home and take back 4th, I don't feel like they deserve it anymore. It's not that they haven't had a great season, its just that Sampdoria seems to have gotten hot at the right time. (My Prediction: 1-0 Palemro)
What I'm most intrigued with Rossi is how he is finally the first American to get it right, in terms of being a legitimate player on the world's stage. While playing in Europe is key for any player to advance their game, Rossi started like all Europeans at the youth academy, at age 13. To my knowledge, no other US players have moved to Europe to grow in the youth academies. Instead, they tend to resort to the American programs which do not seem to offer what academies like Parma has.
Yes, playing in European leagues is huge, but it has to start at a young age. This is particularly difficult for Americans though simply because it requires picking up everything and going to another continent. All for only A SHOT as a professional soccer player. But as we see for Giuseppe, he's now going to a World Cup as the first American with a legitimate shot at winning it all.
As an Italian-American, of course I'm a fan of his. I have a strong tug between the US and Italian national teams, which I'm sure to touch upon as Serie A comes to a close. However, I consider his achievements good for US soccer as a whole, and doing it for Italy is only a bonus.
And it all comes down to the final week. Inter go to Siena and Roma to Chievo. While it's still mathematically still up for grabs, Inter definitely has the advantage. But who knows. This is why they play the games. Certainly would be a memorable day if Roma pull it off.
As for 4th, a draw in Palermo leaves Sampdoria with a 2 point lead ahead of Palermo, and quite frankly, 3 points behind a pitiful Milan who would shock no one by getting leapfrogged. Atalanta also made their relegation official by losing to Napoli. They will join Siena and Livorno in Seire B.
Match of the Week: Chievo @ Inter 3-4: Thiago Motta og 12 (C), Mantovani og 13 (I), Cambiasso 34 (I), Milito 39 (I), Balotelli 52 (I), Granoche 60 (C), Pellissier 74 (C)
Obviously no one is surprised that Inter won but they very nearly let it slip away. Going down in the 12th muntes through an own goal, then nearly blowing a 3-goal lead. Luckily it was Chievo they were playing. Shades of Zlatan shown in Eto'o's great effort to cause the og and Milito's beautiful chip goal. (My Prediction: 0-2 Inter)
Quagliarella returns from his 3-match ban with two goals. That's about all there was. You would've though Atalanta was already relegated. They are now. (My Prediction: 0-1 Napoli)
What a season for Antonio Di Natale, sure to be Capocanoniere (league's top scores) with his now 28 goals. With neither clubs having nothing left to play for, this was still a highly entertaining match. (My Prediction: 1-1)
Scary stuff for Roma fans late in the match. Down 1-0, couldn't have imagined that a win was likely. And so the dream continues to the very last day. (My Prediction: 0-1 Roma)
Catania @ Bologna 1-1: Di Vaio 15 (B), Maxi Lopez 51 (C)
Another match with not a whole lot left in it. Both clubs secure for another season the top flight. (My Prediction: 3-2 Catania)
Lazio can finally lay this ugly season to rest. (My Prediction: 2-1 Lazio)
Milan @ Genoa 0-1: Sculli 57 (G)
This match was played with no fans due to fears of extreme violence between "fans" of both clubs. There's an apparently ugly history between the two, with I believe a Genoa fan stabbed to death outside the stadium some years back. Nonetheless, Milan have some domestic issues to deal with this summer, let alone leaving it to the last day to secure third spot and automatic qualification for the CL. (My Prediction: 2-1 Milan)
So much drama leading into this one, its a neither came out on top, according to the scoresheet at least. Sampdoria just about locked up the 4th and final CL spot with this result. (My Prediction: 3-2 Sampdoria)
Siena @ Fiorentina 1-1: Vergassola 3 (S), Marchionni 16 (F)
A season to forget for the clubs from Firenza. Two of them (Siena and Livorno) are relegated and Fiorentina fall way short of any European qualification spot. (My Prediction: 0-2 Fiorentina)
