It’s been an INTERESTING Season In Italy
As the season is wrapping up throughout Europe. Inter has the widest gap to second in any league. They’re not only dominant on points, they’re first in both goals scored and goals conceded. It’s been one of the most dominant seasons ever in the Serie A. Additionally, unless something unbelievable happens, Lautaro Martinez will become the capocannoniere, having already scored 23 goals, 7 ahead of second placed Dusan Vlahovic for Juventus.
Inter have been playing incredible football. Fast, attacking and fun to watch. Inzaghi’s tactics have allowed the team to be very prolific in attack while allowing fewer than any other team. Calhanoglou has been the team’s playmaker, providing the second most assist of any player (8), only after Romas Paulo Dybala. All in all, it’s been an incredible season for Inter.
| Position | Team | Games Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inter | 34 | 89 |
| 2 | Milan | 34 | 70 |
| 3 | Juventus | 34 | 65 |
| 4 | Bologna | 34 | 63 |
| 5 | Roma | 34 | 59 |
While Milan and Juventus will finish high up the table, their seasons will be remembered as quite unremarkable. They played each other this weekend, a game that finished 0-0, quite fitting. That does not, however, mean that the Serie A season hasn’t been interesting. There’s been plenty of drama.
Napoli’s Drop Off
Last year's winners have had a terrible season. Last season, Napoli won the league by 16 points, almost as dominant a display as Inter this season. While the club was able to keep most of the players that made this possible, they lost one very important person in the summer – Luciano Spaletti. While it was originally said that he’d go on a sabbatical, Spaletti pretty soon took on the job as national team coach for Italy.
The job of replacing the former Inter and Roma coach has gone anything but smoothly. Napoli are currently on their third coach this season, Francesco Calzona, who’s also the Slovakia national team coach. They’ve got some work to do in the summer to get back to their best.
Bologna’s Surprise Season
Another team that might have some work to do in the summer is Bologna, but for the opposite reason, they’re doing “too” well. Thiago Motta, who took over the club in 2022 after Sinisa Mihajlovic left, has been working wonders. Now, he’s wanted by Juventus, Milan and Chelsea. Unlike Alonso, Motta has yet to commit his future to the club and it seems pretty likely that he’ll leave in the summer.
Bologna are currently in fourth and have gotten there not by playing like an underdog but like a big team. They play with patience and confidence and have taken the league by surprise. The teams top scorer Joshua Zirkzee is someone they’ll also have trouble keeping as he’s been linked with most top teams in Europe throughout the season.
Roma Climbing After Sacking Mourinho
Lazio finished second behind Napoli last season and have apparently been dragged down with the winners as they currently sit seventh in Serie A. This season, it’s the other capital club doing better. At least lately.
After a tough few months, Mourinho was sacked from Roma and club legend Daniele De Rossi was appointed. Both the sacking and the appointment was received with a bit of surprise and hesitation by the Roma fans who thought the special one should have gotten at least until the end of the season. Especially as the club had been handed a transfer ban before the season.
Today, nobody’s complaining. Roma has seen a resurgence since De Rossi took the reins. Mourinho was sacked after winning just one game in his last six and had Roma in ninth. In 14 games, De Rossi already has more wins than Mourinho had in Roma's first 20 games. Since his appointment, Roma is the third best team in the league and they now sit fifth.
| Points per game | |
|---|---|
| Mourinho | 1.45 |
| De Rossi | 2.14 |
Looking Forward
Three Italian teams are still in European competitions – Roma, Atalanta and Fiorentina. Additionally, other teams well enough for the Serie A to secure one of the new performance based Champions League spots. This means that five teams will make it to the Champions League.
While De Rossi was originally seen as an interim solution for Roma, it seems likely he’ll hold down that spot into next season as well. Roma will also be able to make some transfers, which could see them get even better. That is, of course, if they manage to hold on to Dybala. The Argentinian reportedly has a release clause of just €12 million in his contract.
Bologna will be hoping to build on a great season and prepare for playing in the Champions League next season. They’ll have a busy summer, trying to convince Motta to stay or finding his replacement. Then trying to squeeze as much out of interested teams for Zirkzee – and finding his replacement.
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