Italian Football is BACK - (SERIE A 2013/14 PREVIEW)

Article by e-Football Writer Daniel Pisani (Aus)

I think it's safe to say that the league once referred to as the best league in the word is finally back into full swing after the turmoil that rocked the beautiful game in Italy almost 7 years ago.

This year is shaping up to be one hell of a battle for the "scudetto" crown and although Juventus F.C breezed their way through the past two campaigns, I believe that this year it really could come down to 4 or 5 teams that could be challenging the "Old Lady" for the title.

We all remember the days where Veron and Crespo lit up Parma's world and Batistuta and Rui Costa guided Fiorentina to success and those glory days, not so much for those clubs but in terms of champions being made in the Serie A. Well I believe last year we saw an indication of the rise of champions again with Insigne at Napoli, Pogba at Juventus, El Shaarawy for AC Milan and Erik Lamela for AS Roma.

So let's take a look at how the teams that are competing for the 2013/14 "Campionato" shaping up:

ATALANTA B.C - Last season the club based in Bergamo finished towards the bottom in 15th position and unfortunately much of the same is expected this time around. Ofcourse they are not to be under estimated with a great start to the year last season this side boasts a great strike force with Denis and Bonaventura. They have reinforced their side with 6 signings in the off season with the most noticable being the 1.6 million they signed for Nica from Dinamo Bucharest. Atalanta will cause a couple of upsets this year take my word for it, but they will generally happen at the beginning of the year.

Predicted Finish = 15th

BOLOGNA F.C - Stefano Pioli's side have a mountain to climb this year as they have already lost Azzurri striker Gilardino to Genoa and could be on the brink of losing Diamanti to Juventus. I don't see anything happening for them this year and although they secured the signature of veteren striker Bianchi from Torino I don't see him being anywhere near the type of poacher Gilardino was for them.

I predict Bologna will be flirting with relegation this year.

Predicted Finish = 17th

CAGLIARI CALCIO- An uneventful transfer market for the Sardinian side only managing to sign Casarini from Bologna and Mancosu from Benevento. Their starting XI will be much like last season with Ekdal and the ever present Conti orchastrating the links to striker Ibarbo. They managed an 11th place finish last year and due to the fact not much has improved in their camp I see the club slipping behind the likes of Sampdoria and Torino.

Predicted Finish = 14th

CALCIO CATANIA - Talk about an eventful market, the club from Sicily who were a couple places off Europe last season have brought in 11 players and released or sold up to 8 players. Their best acquisition is former Genoa midfielder Tachtidis in which they paid 5.5 million for his services. They have also bolstered their attack thanks to the signing of Leto from Greek giants Panathinaikos. A success story to be had here and I see Catania finishing up near Europa League places again and causing havoc for sides such as Udinese and Inter Milan.

Predicted Finish = 7th

CHIEVO VERONA - Finishing 12th last season was most probably a success for the side from Verona. They dont have a great roster in terms of names on the team sheet but they do show a lot of heart. The Bentegodi stadium is a tough place to play if you're the opposing side. Chievo boast a great home ground advantage and this is their key not only for survival but also challenging mid table rivals. The player to watch out for this season will be Paloschi who I predict will finish his tally in double figures.

Predicted Finish = 16th

ACF FIORENTINA - It was heart break last season just missing out on a Champions League spot due to events that occurred in the AC Milan match but the best way to bounce is to have a off season market just like the "viola's" have done. They are almost certain to lose Jovetic to the EPL but with Rossi back to full fitness and the signature of Mario Gomez from Bayern Munich, Vincenzo Montella's side is ready to give the league a shake up. They have also secured former AC Milan captain Ambrosini on a short term contract to add experience to the midfield. Luca Toni has departed to Verona and they have also farewelled Viviano and Sissoko. This Fiorentina side reminds me of the Rui Costa and Batistuta days so expect a great season.

Predicted Finish = 2nd

GENOA C.F.C - With a new coach at the helm and finishing one place above relegation zone last season, this side definitely needed a shape up. Although they lost players such as Borriello, Vargas, Immobile and Cassani, the Rossoblu have reinforced in a very positive manner with Azzurri poacher Alberto Gilardino coming from Bologna. This is a massive signing for them as they have lacked an out and out striker to get them goals week in week out. Other great signings include Marchese, Birsa, Lodi and Biondini who with work the middle with Floro Flores. Expect an improved Genoa side and their main target is to finish above of neighbours Sampdoria which I believe will happen

Predicted Finish = 10th

INTER MILAN - It's time to rebuild this club, plain and simple. Walter Mazzarri is the right man to ignite this change to the "nerazzurri". The signing of Icardi from Sampdoria is one that I believe will turn out to be a success for the young Argentinian but as for the rest of the signings there has been no real big names joining them. Belfodil is another great aquisition from Parma and although they are after players such as Marrone, Isla and Dragovic I just dont see Inter troubling the likes of Juve, AC Milan, Napoli or Fiorentina. Inter finished 9th last season and I expect another quiet year ahead and rebuilding phase in process.

Predicted Finish = 8th

JUVENTUS F.C - The "Old Lady" of Italian football are coming off 2 straight scudetto titles and a very succesfull transfer market. The new players that will grace the Juventus Stadium are names such as Tevez, Llorente and Ogbonna who are all excellent signings and didn't cost much at all. Now with new blood they obviously had to let go of some quality players that helped them reclaim dominance in Italy and they are Iaquinta, Anelka, Bendtner and the biggest loss of all is Giaccherini who is off to Paolo Di Canio's side in the EPL after a very impressive Confederations Cup for Italy. I just don't see any team in the Serie A who can rival the 'bianconeri" for their Hat-Trick so I believe they will win and their main threats will come from the purple side in Florence and Balotelli's men.

Predicted Finish = 1st

S.S LAZIO - The Coppa Italia winners from last season are looking for another successful year with their roster still quite the same with the odd inclusion. The side from Rome have lured Felipe Anderson from Santos and will be looking for another big year from Miroslav Klose and Candreva. All over the park they seem quite stable and solid so I believe another great year is ahead for Petkovic's side. It's been a long time since their last scudetto triumph in the 1999-2000 season and I don't believe they will be up there this year but expect Lazio to make waves in the Europa League and also look for success again in the Coppa Italia.

Predicted Finish = 6th

A.S LIVORNO CALCIO - Newly promoted Livorno finished 3rd in the Serie B last season and qualified for promotion thanks to wins over Brescia and Empoli in the play offs. They welcome Benassi and Bardi from Inter Milan to help Nicola's side but I don't see any chance of survival for this years edition of the Serie A and expect them to finish as an early relegated side.

Predicted Finish = 20th

A.C MILAN - Well the best thing the AC Milan board could have done in the off season is stick with Allegri as coach. Last season was disastrous but some how they managed to rise to a Champions League spot after a start that made football lovers think they wouldn't even make Europa League. They can now build on last season and they have a full year ahead of them with Balotelli and El Shaarawy headlining the San Siro outfit. They welcome Italian international Poli from Sampdoria who will slot in to replace out going captain Ambrosini. Along with Fiorentina, AC will be the biggest threats to Juventus claiming another title so expect a mouth watering year ahead.

Predicted Finish = 3rd

S.S.C NAPOLI - Hasn't a lot changed for the sky blues in the off season after a 2nd place finish last year. Serie A top goal scorer "El Matador" Edinson Cavani has departed for PSG for a massive transfer fee estimated to be over $90 million which now president De Laurentiis can invest into the market for more than 1 player surely. This transfer reminds me of when Juventus sold Zidane to Real Madrid and with that transaction hit the market and captured Nedved, Buffon and Thuram. Similar actions are expected to occur at the San Paolo especially after the manager has changed too. Walter Mazzarri has departed to Inter Milan and they have welcomed back to the Serie A Rafa Benitez who has his sights on Julio Cesar, Damiao and Rami. They have also captured the signature of Gargano, Callejon and Raul Albiol to strengthen an already solid side. Rafa will be expecting a massive year from young gun Insigne and needs to urgently find a replacement for Cavani. I like this side that Napoli have put together but the loss of Edinson Cavani is massive and I see them just scrapping in the top 4.

Predicted Finish = 4th

PARMA F.C - Former Azzurri coach Donadoni is expected to have built a solid roster for this years season and the transfer market has been good to the side from the Ennio Tardini. The most noticable signing has been Italian bad boy Antonio Cassano who will partner Amauri up front after not being needed at Inter. Parma have also secured the following names to help there cause of improving on last season 10th place finish. Players such as Modesto, Okaka, Chisbah and even a surprise with A-League product Terry Antonis to help Donadoni's side. They have lost Mariga and Belfodil to Inter but I believe they have done enough in the window to cover for their losses.

Predcited Finish = 11th

A.S ROMA - A very good market for the Romans with 3 or 4 very talented buys in the off season. Strootman is the latest signing from PSV and he is joined by Maicon from Man City and Benatia from Udinese. Roma have what I believe is one of the most talented players in the Serie A in Erik Lamela and with a side that already has Totti, Destro and Osvaldo goals will be easy to come by for Garcia's men. The only position in which they have always had problems with is Goalkeeper, Stekelenburg has gone to Fulham and there a reports that they are after Napoli shot stopper De Sanctis.

Should be a very interesting year for Roma so we shal see what they bring to the table.

Predicted Finish = 5th

U.C SAMPDORIA - The blue side from Genoa finished 14th last season and this season I'm actually predicting this side to fall and fall hard into a relegation battle with the likes of Verona, Livorno and Bologna. Up front they will have an exciting Italian product in Manolo Gabbiadini who is coming off a successful 2nd place finish with the U20 Italian side at the European Championships. They have lost some big names though with Poli heading to AC Milan, Icardi to Inter Milan and Lopez to Catania. Unfortunately I don't see much happening for the blue side of Genoa and expect their neighbiours to have a much better season than them.

Predicted Finish = 18th

U.S SASSUOLO - The Serie B champions I believe are up for the challenge for their first ever season in the top flight of Italian Football. Di Francesco's side will be looking to keep improving and I believe they have managed to secure some great additions to they current crop. Simone Zaza is an up and coming striker and the 22 year old is looking for a break out year in the Serie A to challenege for a potential spot in Italy's World Cup squad. They have also lured Acerbi from Chievo and with that signing have an experinece defender to go along side Gazzola and Rossini. Expect a very interesting surprise from the Green and Black of Emilia-Romagna who I believe will finish around mid table.

Predicted Finish = 12th

TORINO F.C - "Il Toro" finished a low 16th position last season and I believe that a definite improvement in on the horizon for the Turin based side. For years they have had to play second fiddle to their cross town rivals Juventus and most probably the same will occur this year but after securing their Serie A status last season avoiding relegation Giampiero Ventura has recruited very well for the upcoming season. They have captured Juventus you gun Immobile in which they swapped Ogbonna for. Ogbonna is a big loss for them but they have replaced the defender with Bovo and Moretti who both have great experience in the Serie A. Don't expect a lot of noise this year from Torino this year guys.

Predicted Finish = 13th

UDINESE CALCIO - This club in renown for producing spectacular players for example Isla, Pizarro, Alexis Sanchez, Zapata, Jankulovski, Benatia, Pepe, Iaquinta, Asamoah Gyan, Muntari, Inler the list goes on and on. So who will Francesco Guidolin's side produce this year? Ofcourse they have at their disposal Antonio Di Natale who will be looking for a goal bound season so he can push for a spot in Italy's World Cup team. I'm not expecting a big year from a side that recently have been in and around the Champions League placings.

Predicted Finish = 9th

HELLAS VERONA - We welcome back Verona to the top flight for the first time in a few years but don't expect them to hang around to long. I expect a very quiet year ahead for Cheivo's neighbours who have only made one nig aquisition this off season with 2006 World Cup winner Luca Toni joining them from Fiorentina. Luca will head the line with Gomez but up front isn't where the problem will lie. I see this defence leaking many goals and having the worst goal difference in the league is a sure thing. Along with Livorno, Sampdoria and Bologna I expect the relegation battle to be a dog fight and Verona will be toward the bottom of that fight.

Predicted Finish = 19th

All in all it will be a great year ahead with a few surprises expected to make the league very interesting. The Serie A will this year have 5 derbies with the newest of them being the Chievo vs Verona clash to go along with the Inter vs AC Milan, Juventus vs Torino, Genoa vs Sampdoria and the battle of the Italian capital between Roma and Lazio.

Hope you enjoy this seasons edition of the Serie A and hoping for the Italian teams to do well in Europe so we can see Italian football rise up again and be amongst the best leagues in the world.

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Daniel Joseph Pisani #23

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