Who Who Will Make Serie A’s Top 5 at the End of the Season?

So far, only one team has dominated Serie A this season. That team is Napoli.

However, there are still so many games left to play. The Scudetto race is far from over. Not to mention, the standings can be influenced by whether Juve fully wins their 15-point deduction appeal. So, here are my predictions on who will Finish in the top 5 at the end of the Serie A season.

5. JUVENTUS

So far this season hasn’t been great at all by the club’s standards. Their recent loss to Napoli and 15-point deduction make that significantly worse.

In saying that, Juve has generally been playing and getting good results the last 2-3 months. I believe that given how inconsistent Roma, Lazio, and Atalanta have been, Juve has a great chance of sneaking into the top 5. Even, if that 15-point deduction sticks.

If Juve wins the appeal on that point deduction, I don’t see any reason why Juve won’t make the top 4. We’ll see what happens there!

4. ROMA

Before the season started, I’m sure most Serie A fans would’ve placed a bet on Roma to make the Top 4.

They signed Dybala in the summer, they have a top-class player in Pellegrini, having talented players like Tammy Abraham, Gianluca Mancini and Chris Smalling also help their case. Roma also has the never dull, Jose Mourinho as their manager.

I do acknowledge that Roma has had issues getting consistent results. However, I think Roma has been slightly more consistent than their inner-city rivals, Lazio and Atalanta.

However, as I said earlier, if Juve wins their appeal, things will change very quickly.

3. INTER

Coming into this season, it must’ve been tough for Inter knowing how close they were to win the Scudetto in 2022.

Inter’s first 10 games were way below how they should perform. However, Inter has gotten better results lately.

Additionally, even though Inter’s squad is very talented, like their fellow Milanese rivals, something feels off about them.

It’s tough to describe what feels off about them or Milan. But, in any case, I see them finishing third.

2. MILAN

Last season, Milan fans were ecstatic. For the first time since 2011, they won the Serie A title!

Fast forward to this season, Milan has been getting wins. But, shakily.

Milan has the talent to win the Scudetto again. That makes sense. When your squad has talents like Rafael Leao, Sandro Tonali, Mike Maignan, and Theo Hernandez, there is reason to be excited.

However, like Inter, Milan seems a bit off this season. I can’t point to a specific reason. In any case, I don’t see Milan catching Napoli. The point gap is just too overwhelming.

1. NAPOLI

Coming into the season, I would’ve been shocked if someone said that Napoli will win the Scudetto this season. But, here we are.

In the summer, many thought Napoli was going through a rebuild. It seemed that way when Insigne went to play in the 6ix, Koulibaly went to Chelsea and Mertens went to play in Turkey.

However, Napoli has surprisingly improved significantly last season. Osimhen continues to improve and is the best striker in Serie A at the moment. Also, Kim Min-Jae has impressed me as Koulibaly’s successor. Finally, Kvara has stepped up in so many ways this season. Kara could be the best signing in Europe this season.

All in all, Napoli is freewheeling on the field and teams don’t seem to have an answer to stop them, except Inter. The only way Napoli loses is by shooting themselves in the foot.

However, I don’t think that will happen. Napoli will win the Scudetto for the first time since 1990.

CONCLUSION

There you have it, I’ve named my Top 5 predictions for Serie A at the end of the season.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

The Three Best Serie A Signings of the Summer Transfer Window

3. Marash Kumbulla

Now that the Summer Transfer Window has concluded, all the focus has turned to how these new signings will perform with their new clubs. Here are my top three signings from Serie A clubs in the Summer Transfer Window!

Last season, Kumbulla played absolutely marvellous and grabbed the attention of some clubs in Italy. You probably already know this. But, just in case you didn’t, Kumbulla signed with Roma! In some people’s eyes, this is the best Serie A transfer of the transfer market. I’m rating at number three. However, that doesn’t take away just how good of signing this is. Roma clearly needed another centre-back and they definitely got another adequate one in Kumbulla. The toughness and defensive skill he’ll bring to the squad is already noticeable early in the season. Kumbulla is probably one of the most physically imposing defenders in his age group. He also possesses the defensive intelligence to be world-class. One of his weaknesses is his technical abilities. But, Roma just needs another defender that knows how to defend at a top-level.

2. Victor Osimhen

One of Napoli’s needs coming into the Summer Transfer Window was a striker. There were several names linked to the club. However, they ended up landing a highly-touted young striker, Victor Osimhen, from Lille. It cost them a pretty penny. However, this addressed Napoli’s huge need at striker. Also, he’s young so he should benefit Napoli long-term. He possesses so many great qualities that a striker needs. His positioning and all that stuff are very good. He even possesses the above-average technical ability and is also a good passer of the ball. So, he’s versatile. Another reason why this was such a great signing for Napoli is that it gives them more options in the attack. That’s key for Napoli because they’re competing in the Europa League as well as the Coppa Italia and Serie A, so he provides much welcome depth. I can’t wait to watch him blossom for Napoli!

1. Achraf Hakimi

During his time at Dortmund, Hakimi showed how world-class he is as well as can be. Now, he’s part of Inter’s squad. I’m not even an Inter fan and still hasn’t even sunk in that Hakimi is playing in Serie A. He possesses so many good qualities. Not only is he super fast, but he also provides so much in the attacking half and can defend well for a full-back of his age. By signing Hakimi, Inter addressed one of their massive needs which were signing a wingbacks. At Dortmund, Hakimi was deployed as a right-back. However, it’s clear from the first few matches that he fits being a right wing-back. He possesses top attacking ability down the right side of the field. It’s not only that, though. He has so much speed up and down the field, that his tracking back is also world-class. I don’t know if I’ve seen a player in a while that can transition from attack to defense or vice-versa so rapidly. It’s remarkable to see it!

Thanks for reading this article! Be sure to spread the word about my blog to people you know that are interested in calcio or want to learn more about it. If you’d like to follow me further, my Twitter handle is @calciofanblogs1, my Instagram account is @calciofanblogs, and my Facebook Page is Calcio Fan Blogs. Additionally, if you’d like to reach out to me, email me at calciofanblogs@gmail.com and/or connect with me on LinkedIn!

My Serie A Top Four Predictions for the 2020-2021 Season

The 2020-2021 Serie A season will kick off at 12 PM ET this upcoming Saturday, where Fiorentina will face Torino. One race that will be very fun to watch this season should be the Serie A top-four race. For me, there’s a clear top 3 heading into this season. However, I believe that the fourth spot should be a fight to the finish. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting my popcorn ready! Here are my predictions for the top four places in Serie A this upcoming season!

4. Milan

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For Milan, it seems as though everything has fallen into place for them this offseason. Not only were they able to keep Stefano Pioli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. They also signed probably the most in-demand player in Italy, currently, Sandro Tonali. Add to that the possibility of Bakayoko returning Milan and the summer couldn’t have gone more perfect for the Rossoneri. Considering the mix of old and young talent in their squad and also considering Milan have solidified their central midfield, I think they’ll finally qualify for the Champions League in 2021. It should be a tight race to the end. However, I see them claiming that fourth spot. Their only issue in my view is at right-back. But, I don’t think that weakness will be enough from them accomplishing a top-four finish.

3. Napoli

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On paper, Lazio, Inter, Juve and possibly Atalanta have better starting lineups than Napoli. However, under Gattuso, they’ve shown that how their squad is on paper doesn’t matter. In saying that, they made some crucial signings. Their biggest need for the last couple of seasons has been buying a Striker that’s more clinical. Well, they addressed that issue by signing both Andrea Petagna and Victor Osimhen. That attack will be dangerous for any opposing defence. They’ve also added depth in the Centreback department by signing Amir Rrahmani from Hellas Verona. In my view, they still lack a proper right-winger and a left-back. However, given they have Gattuso as their manager and they finished way below par last season. Expect them coming into this season wanting revenge. As a result, I believe they’re a lock for third this upcoming season.

2. Juventus

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As a Juve fan myself, this prediction is very difficult to make, trust me. However, the fact that Pirlo was appointed as their manager and has no experience managing at this level influenced this prediction. Also, while there is still time left in the transfer window to address their weakness, particularly at right-back, as of now I think that’ll be their biggest Achilles’ heel. In saying that, bringing in Arthur, Kulusevski, and McKennie has resulted in them significantly upgrading their midfield, which is a big positive. Also, if Juve keeps Luca Pellegrini that’ll also be a positive and will lessen Alex Sandro’s load at left-back as well as giving him competition to ensure he consistently performs. Obviously, time will tell. But, as of now, Juve haven’t convinced me they’ll win the scudetto for the 10th time in a row this upcoming season.

1. Inter

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The Scudetto was already wrapped up for Juve last season with two matches to spare. However, Inter managed to only 1 point behind Juve. Fast-forward to currently and they’ve addressed pretty much all of their main issues in the Transfer Window, so far. At the left-wing back, they’ve signed formidable veteran, Alexsandar Kolarov. They’ve also signed top-class right-back Hakimi, which couldn’t be better for Inter. Also, consider that Nainggolan has come back from a loan at Cagliari and could very well feature in Inter’s plans for the upcoming season. It seems unlikely that’ll happen, but you never know. They’ve addressed their squad’s biggest needs so far and they possess a top-class manager in Antonio Conte who has a track record of success in Serie A and the EPL. His biggest flaw may be his stubbornness to make changes. But, now he has a squad that fits his style of play. Therefore, Inter should win the scudetto this upcoming season.

Honourable mentions should go to Lazio, Atalanta, and Roma, who I don’t think will finish in the for the top four. But, anything is possible and as I’ve reiterated throughout this article, there should be a tight race for that fourth spot.

Thanks for reading this article! Be sure to spread the word about my blog to people you know that are interested in calcio or want to learn more about it. If you’d like to follow me further, my Twitter handle is @calciofanblogs1, my Instagram account is @calciofanblogs, and my Facebook Page is Calcio Fan Blogs. Additionally, if you’d like to reach out to me, email me at calciofanblogs@gmail.com and/or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Reasons Why James Pallotta Should Sell His Shares in Roma

First Reason: He’s Failed to Keep Key Players at the club

Of course, this isn’t fully his fault, as it’s the individual player’s decisions to leave as well. But, he could’ve done better. Maybe, he wanted to make capital gain money, which is selling players for than what the club bought them for, as well. But, it clearly hasn’t worked and the squad has suffered for it. I’m not saying he should’ve kept every key player for Roma over the last decade because that’s nearly impossible. However, he clearly hasn’t given big players enough incentive to stay with the giallorossi. If you look at the great players they’ve sold over the decade such as Manolas, Alisson, and Salah, it’s clear to see why they’ve declined in terms of results. Not finding a leader after Totti retired in 2017 and when De Rossi left Roma in 2019, probably also hasn’t helped. But, selling a bunch of key players is a big reason why he should sell his shares in the club.

Second Reason: Roma Has Recorded Record Losses

According to Football Italia, for the first nine months of the season, Roma has recorded approximately € 126.4 million in losses. Now, I’m sure a bunch of clubs have lost just as much money this season, as a result of the pandemic. But, according to Football Italia, Roma have net debts of €278.5 million. That’s crazy! They’ll need another owner to reduce their debt and that’d also help them earn more revenue. These losses are despite selling so many great players. Selling key players would help financially. However, if you can’t keep your operating costs low enough and can’t make even revenue via other ways, then, that strategy won’t pay off. It’s clear he needs to sell the team so selling players and making capital gains from their sell, isn’t such a huge priority.

Third Reason: Their Results Have Been Disappointing Over The Last Couple Of Seasons

For many seasons in the early 2000s, Roma was competing for Serie A league titles. Even up to 2017, Roma was a title challenger. However, since 2017 they’ve gone from a club competing for the scudetto to competing for a Champions League spot. You could blame Roma for selling core players and it’s a fair point. But, the reality is Roma haven’t found adequate replacements for those players. It’s not fully Pallotta’s fault. But, he decides the budget that’ll be given to sign players in each transfer window. This is a big reason why Pallotta should sell his shares in the club. Roma needs an owner that’ll be willing to give the budget needed to adequately replace players. Also, an owner that’ll give players reasons to stay at the club would definitely help the club. That’s easier said than done. But, if he sells the club it may help Roma get the results they want once again.

Previewing Serie A Clubs for the Rest of the Season (Part Four)

The anticipation in my head is building like crazy, as tomorrow the Serie A season will resume! Here’s my article previewing Serie A clubs for the rest of the season (part four). Be sure to enjoy it!

Roma

I’m not really sure what to make of this season for Roma. I predicted them to finish in the top four at the beginning of the season. But, results-wise, I don’t think they’ve disappointed that much being in fifth. At the beginning of the season, they were a bit inconsistent. As the season has gone on, they’ve definitely improved. Dzeko has been decent upfront. At the back, the likes of Smalling and Mancini have also formed a decent partnership. Even Veretout and Diawara have done their jobs in the midfield. What may help this squad be in the Champions League next season is the fact that Zaniolo will be back. We’ll see if he can help elevate them to that next level for the remainder of the season.

Atalanta

Like I’ve mentioned many times, Atalanta has been performing above expectations by far this season. They qualified for the Champions League for the first time, as a result of finishing third last season. Once again, they’re holding on to a Champions League spot for next season. The fact that they could perform at this high of a level in the league and qualify to the quarterfinals of the Champions League is amazing, to say the least! Considering, the revenue the club earns. Roma is only 3 points away from them for that final Champions League spot. Don’t ever doubt this squad, though. We’ll see if Gasperini can lead Atalanta to the Champions League once again!

Inter

This season has been an interesting one for the nerazzuri. During the first half of the season, it seemed like they could go toe to toe with Juve for the scudetto. However, in the second half of the season, their form dipped significantly. They definitely possess the players to be scudetto contenders. However, it seemed as though their opponents began to figure out their tactics more and how to limit them. In Inter’s match last Saturday against Napoli, Antonio Conte changed his formation from a 3-5-2 to 3-4-1-2 and Christian Eriksen started. He definitely showed how good Inter can be when he starts. We’ll see if Conte keeps using the 3-4-1-2 for the rest of the season.

Lazio

I don’t think that Lazio or even calcio fans, in general, could’ve expected Lazio to perform this well. Kudos to them! Everything has seemed to click for this squad. As a result, they’re neck and neck with Juve for the scudetto. Before this all happened, they went on a massive unbeaten run in the league. This whole situation may effect that momentum. However, one thing is certain. That thing is that if they keep the momentum up from before, surely, they’ll win the scudetto. That’d be something remarkable if it happened! I’m sure Napoli fans wouldn’t be impressed, as they’ve been Juve’s main contender for the scudetto over the last several seasons and they haven’t been able to pull it off.

Juventus

It’s clear that this season Juve hasn’t had the same fear factor in Serie A as previous ones. Sarri shares a little bit of blame for that. But, it’s mostly because of Juve’s upper-management. In the summer, they didn’t address Juve’s right-back and central midfield issues. As a result, their flaws have been very explicit. Sarri has also had a tough time this season, so far. Yes, they’re in first but he’s had trouble implementing his style of play with their current squad. A big part of that is because the midfield doesn’t fit his style of play. He could implement Sarriball with this squad. But, the issue would be is they’d get exposed badly at the back. We’ll see if Maurizio Sarri can lead Juve to a Scudetto, in his debut season with the club.

Thank you for reading all four articles previewing Serie A clubs for the rest of the season! I don’t about you, but I’m so excited to finally be able to watch Serie A once again! We’ll see how the rest of the season plays out.

Clubs That Should Sign Moise Kean in the Summer

It obviously didn’t work out for Moise Kean at Everton this season. It was definitely frustrating for him. He probably didn’t get the playing time that he wanted in England. So, here’s an article about clubs that should look to sign Moise Kean in the Summer. 

 

    ROMA

Roma may not desperately need another striker. However, they should definitely look into it. As much as Dzeko is their main no. 9, it definitely wouldn’t hurt for them to buy a cheap player off the bench such as Moise Kean. Firstly, it would take the pressure off of Dzeko to have to constantly score. Also, with someone such as Moise Kean on the bench, Dzeko may become less fatigued as the season goes on. Additionally, as a fan of the Italian National Team, it’d be great to see two top prospects in Italy in Zaniolo and Kean playing alongside each other. It’d be a treat to watch. 

 

JUVENTUS

During the 2018-2019 season, things were looking great for Moise Kean. He was getting a good amount of playing time for Juventus and was performing well. Here’s the article I wrote on why I thought that selling Moise Kean was a mistake for Juve. In 13 Serie A appearances, he scored 6 goals. For a player that young in a top league, that’s very impressive! However, to the surprise of many fans, last summer Juve decided to sell Moise Kean to Everton. I think that Juve should try to use that buyback option to bring him back to Turin. If he was able to perform well for Juve before, what would stop him now? Like Allegri, I believe that Sarri could get Moise Kean to perform like he did previously at Juve. It’s definitely worth it for Juve, in my opinion.                      

                               

       INTER MILAN             

Inter fans may be surprised by this. But, I genuinely believe that Inter is one of the clubs that should sign Moise Kean in the Summer. Of course, he wouldn’t be a starter considering they’ll keep Lukaku and possibly still Lautaro Martinez for next season. However, since Conte likes to play two strikers in the starting 11, Moise Kean and Sebastiano Esposito would be great backups. Also, with the number of competitions, Inter is expected to participate in the next season, they may welcome more depth. The only issue would be that if Conte doesn’t like Moise Kean, he wouldn’t get adequate enough playing time. But, other than that, I believe it’d work. 

Thanks for reading this article! I’d love to hear which club you think should sign Moise Kean in the Summer. 

 

 

 

 

My Three Favourite Serie A Players of All-Time

There have been many players that have caught my eyes in Italian Soccer over the years. Even now, there are still tons of players that I like watching on a weekly basis within the league. However, there are three players that stood out for me over all these years of watching Serie A. So, here are my three favourite Serie A players of all-time.

3. Francesco Totti

The king of Rome was an outright legend and Roma fans worship him like a God. Indeed, he was everything that encapsulates a legend. He was a great captain that won multiple trophies with the Giallorossi. He’s also my third favourite Serie A player of all-time. Similar to other legends I’m going to mention in this article, I liked him for more than just his skill with the ball. He not only had the hunger and mental strength to deliver in clutch moments for the club, but he was also a true leader. By just watching him on TV, you could tell that everyone one of his teammates respected him. You could also tell that he was a leader on that pitch. I’d compare him to a general. That’s why he’s my third favourite Serie A player of all-time.

2. Paolo Maldini

Paolo Maldini is arguably the greatest football defender of all-time. He narrowed defending down to a science. For the most part, he didn’t have to make tackles. He read the game so well that for the most part, he was able to strip opponents of the ball without being rough. When he was on AC Milan it must’ve been tough for opposing managers to figure out his vulnerabilities, as they were nearly impossible to find. In Maldini’s case, I admired him purely because of his intelligence for the game. Of course, you need certain skills to be as great of a defender as he was. But, the reason why I liked him so much and why I think he’s an all-time great is because it was almost as if he was four steps ahead of his opponents every play. He was able to anticipate opposing player’s movements as well as what they’d do in advance, faster than everyone else. That’s why I loved him as a player so much.

1. Alessandro Del Piero

I’ve explicitly mentioned multiple times, that Del Piero is my favourite soccer player of all time. I even wrote on article about how I became a Juve fan and watching him was a big part of that. Here’s the article on how I became a Juve fan , just for reference. Anyways, I became a Juve fan because of Alessandro Del Piero. He always been one of the few inspirational athletes for me. Like with Totti, I really admired his mental strength. It didn’t matter how mighty the opponent was, he was never afraid of dribbling past multiple defenders to pass or to score. He’s scored many great goals against formidable opponents. Among my favourites are his clutch free-kick goal against Inter in 2006, his amazing goal at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2008 that made fans give him a standing ovation, as well his goal against Germany in the 2006 World Cup. Sometimes, I wish he’d come out of retirement for just one match, that’s how much I admired him as a player.

My Five Serie A Manager of the Year Nominees

Image Credit: http://zimbio.com

This Serie A season may or may not be continuing after this tough time. However, in any case, the majority of the season has happened already. So, I’ve decided to nominate five managers of the year candidates. Here they are!

5. Paulo Fonseca

Image Credit: http://independent.co.uk

Coming into this season, I expected Roma to barely get a place within the Serie A top 4. However, as of now, they aren’t. It’s definitely been a rollercoaster type of season for the giallorossi. But, they currently sit in fifth. A big reason for that has been the work of Paulo Fonseca. Roma’s backline is still suspect. But, it has definitely improved under Fonseca. Last season they scored a total of 66 goals, which was fourth-best in Serie A. This season they’ve scored 50 goals in 26 matches. So, they’ve definitely improved in that aspect. Their midfield has also stood out, as offensively the speed of their track has improved. Also, without the ball, the midfield looks better this season. Fonseca has elevated Roma this season. We’ll see what he does in the future for them.

4. Roberto D’aversa

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Roberto D’aversa’s Parma side hasn’t been talked about much this season. However, they’re definitely proving to be a formidable force within the league. Last season, Parma was only three points from relegation and ended up in 14th. This season, they’re way past being in the relegation zone. They currently sit in ninth. They’ve proved to be a difficult opponent for any club that faces them. Roberto D’aversa has made them tough to break down at the back. Also, they’re dangerous for any backline to face, as their counter-attack has lots of speed to it. Their biggest flaw is they don’t have a top goalscorer. But, other than that, Roberto D’aversa has gotten the best out of this group.

3. Gian Piero Gasperini

Image Credit: http://romapress.net

Based on last season’s spectacular season from Atalanta, many people, including myself didn’t think Atalanta would be able to maintain this level of play because of being in the Champions League this season. Fast-forward to this season and they’ve somehow been able to continue staying in the Serie A top four. They also made it past the Champions League round of 16. They do have issues at the back, but they’re able to outscore most clubs. This should be credited to Gasperini’s work. The likes of Duvan Zapata, Josip Ilicic, and others weren’t big names. But, under Gasperini, they’ve become household names in Italy and around Europe, they’re starting to get the recognition they deserve.

2. Ivan Juric

Image Credit: http://calciomercato.com

The biggest Cinderella story in Serie A has to be Hellas Verona. I expected Hellas Verona to be relegated this season. But, they’ve surpassed my expectations by far. Who would’ve predicted that they’d possibly be challenging for a Europa League spot for next season? I certainly didn’t. Ivan Juric has elevated this squad beyond levels that I could’ve ever imagined this season. They may not qualify for the Europa League, at the end of the season. But, I’d consider it successful for Ivan Juric. Ivan Juric has earned the right to be a top nominee for the Serie A manager of the season, in my view.

1. Simone Inzaghi

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If you would’ve told Lazio fans that they’d be contending for the scudetto at the beginning of the season, I think they would’ve taken it. This season has been beyond anyone’s imagination for Lazio. Like I’ve reiterated in several other articles, over the past several seasons Lazio hasn’t had issues creating chances and scoring goals. However, this season their backline has immensely improved. A massive amount of credit should go to Simone Inzaghi for that. This Lazio project has been a work in progress. But, it seems like they’ve figured out the issues they’ve had and fixed them. Whatever happens, I’m sure this will be a season to remember for fans of the club. Simone Inzaghi has been a big part of making this dream season happen.

Comparing Atalanta and Roma’s Market Values from February 15, 2018 to now.

Coming into this weekend’s match, both Atalanta and Roma are battling for the last Champions League spot for next season. For each of these clubs, this could be the most important match. It should be a good one. So here’s an article each club’s respective market value from February 15th, 2018 to February 15th, 2020. The market value is in US Dollars, so keep that in mind when you read this article.

Atalanta’s Market Value

As a result of last season, Atalanta is in the Champions League for the first time in their history. That remarkable feat is definitely reflected in their market value. According to transfermarkt.us, on February 15, 2018, Atalanta’s club market value was $167.59 million . At that time, Atalanta was Serie A’s 8th most valuable club. Now, if you fast-forward a year later, their market value increased to $188.93 Million. However, as a result of them being in the Champions League this season, and possibly other factors, their market value is currently $328.79 million. Which, is a massive jump in value. From February 15, 2018, to February 18, 2020, Atalanta’s market value increased by 96.2 %, which is remarkable. Looks like things are looking up on and off the pitch for this club.

Roma’s Market Value

Since 2018, Roma has qualified for the Champions League Semifinals as well as being in the competition every season other than this one since then. So, here is their market value from 2018-2020. On February 15th of 2018, their value was $378.84 million. That was a couple of months before they made it pretty far in the Champions League, of course. Their market value was forth-highest in Serie A at the time. Exactly, a year later in 2019, their market value was $438.24 million. However, they went down a place and we’re the fifth most valuable club in Serie A. Then, today their market value is $484.33 million. As a result, from February of 2018 to February of 2020, their market value increased by 27.8%. It’s obvious that since 2018, they’ve been doing well off the field. However, in the field, it hasn’t been that great.

As you can see, off the field Atalanta and Roma’s market values have increased since 2018. But, we’ll see how they do on the pitch when they face each other today.

Previewing the Derby Della Capitale

It’s only the first month of 2020 and there’s already a weekend with some great rivalry matches taking place. The Rome Derby is the first one, then, the Juve and Napoli match will be the second one. Both matches take place on Sunday. However, fans of Serie A will be spoiled for choice. So, let’s take a dive into the first match between Lazio and Roma. Here’s the preview!

ROMA

Coming into this match, Roma has won 3 of their last 5 Serie A matches. They have a Champions League spot in their site for next season, as a result. Indeed, they’re currently fighting with Atalanta for that final Champions League spot. Unfortunately, for Roma, they’re missing such a key player that would be crucial in any match, especially for this match. That player is Nicolo Zaniolo. He got injured against Juve and will probably miss the rest of the season. However, with the way Roma has been playing, they shouldn’t be worried about this match. If they play their typical 4-2-3-1 against Lazio I believe it’ll definitely help them. Veretout and Diawara have shown that they’re very capable of shutting down opponent’s midfield as defensive midfielders. Also, by playing this formation, Roma is adding an extra dimension to their attack, which would help them against their rivals.

LAZIO

If you would’ve told Simone Inzaghi that his club would’ve been in third at this point of the season and possibly challenging for the scudetto, I’m sure he would’ve taken that 100 % of the time. Lazio has definitely been in superb form, as they’ve now won all 5 of their last Serie A matches. That’s tremendous. It seems that everything is clicking for this squad. Francesco Acerbi has been a rock at the back for them. Their midfield has been superb, led by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. However, the thing that’s stood out the most has been their frontline. Immobile can’t stop scoring and is Serie A’s leading scorer so far with 23 goals. Even, Joaquin Correa has looked solid with him. However, derbies such as this tend to be more difficult to win and Simone Inzaghi will definitely meet his match in Paulo Fonseca. It’ll be interesting to see who’ll win tactically. If their match in September is similar to this one, it’ll be very exciting to watch.