Serie A Fantasy Recap – Round 20

Standings implications: with different degrees of comfort, the title contenders were all successful as Milan sweated it out in Bologna, Juventus handled Sampdoria pretty easily and Inter outfaced Sassuolo. Roma picked up the most impressive win out of the bunch as they hanged three goals on Verona, becoming the first team to do that in the season. Lazio conquered another signature victory by besting Atalanta away and leapfrogged them in the standings. Despite the in-house drama, Napoli cruised past Parma.

Experience came through in the relegation zone as Udinese snatched a pivotal win over Spezia and Genoa kept it rolling versus Crotone. Torino and Udinese shared the spoils, while Cagliari were literally pipped at the post versus Sassuolo. Continue reading

Can Gennaro Gattuso turn it around at Napoli?

Gennaro Gattuso has been thrust into the hot-seat at Napoli in recent weeks, with reports suggesting his future is in doubt in southern Italy. While Aurelio De Laurentiis publicly denied all rumors and backed Gattuso, the former Milan tactician is still under pressure. Napoli slumped to back-to-back defeats against Juventus and Hellas Verona, adding further fuel to reports about Gattuso’s sacking.

Massimiliano Allegri and Rafa Benitez have since been touted as potential replacements but as De Laurentiis has highlighted, Gattuso will be given a shot to turn it around. The World Cup winner demonstrated his ability to rescue a sinking ship last season after inheriting a struggling Napoli side from Carlo Ancelotti. Gattuso instantly offered the Partenopei stability and led them to a Coppa Italia triumph.

While this season’s struggles are worrying, Napoli’s upcoming run of games will, in many ways, define Gattuso’s future. The Partenopei have since bounced back with consecutive wins against Spezia and Parma and will now shift their attention to Atalanta in the Coppa Italia semifinals. A game against Genoa is sandwiched between their intriguing two-legged tie with Gasperini’s side, offering them a chance to build momentum.

Napoli will then take on Juventus on February 13 before taking on Granada in the Europa League Round of 32. Gattuso’s side also takes on Atalanta, once more, but this time in league action. Make no mistake about it – February is the most important month in Gattuso’s tenure.

Should the former Milan boss steer them into the next round of the Coppa Italia and the Europa League, he will earn himself some temporary respite in the Napoli hot-seat. Clashes against Juventus and Atalanta will not be easy, but Napoli possesses the firepower and talent to get the job done.

Hirving Lozano is firing from all cylinders in his second season, while Victor Osimhen is expected to make his return to action this month. The Nigerian international has battled injuries all season and will be eager to put them behind him ahead of an important stretch. Andrea Petagna has deputized for the former Lille man in his absence and has largely done a good job. However, as the important games pile up, Gattuso will want his record signing at his disposal.

Gattuso has earned himself the opportunity to lead Napoli out of this tough time and oversee the Partenopei into a difficult month of February. While Gattuso is in De Laurentiis’ good graces for the time being, he cannot afford to get too comfortable. Elimination from the Europa League and Coppa Italia could just seal his fate come summertime. Gattuso will take solace in the fact that his side remains in contention on all three fronts and are right in the mix for top four ahead of the second half of the season.

Gattuso has demonstrated he is capable of turning it around before and will need much of the same heading into February. As reports surrounding his potential replacement intensify, the pressure is on Gattuso.  Whether he can deliver the goods again remains to be seen – but as February rolls around – De Laurentiis will soon find out.

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Milan return to winning ways ahead of crucial stretch

Milan entered its game against Bologna off the back of two consecutive defeats, most recently losing to fierce rivals Inter in the Coppa Italia. With the Nerazzurri breathing down their necks, Stefano Pioli’s men needed a result on Saturday – and did just that. The Italian giants emerged comfortable 2-1 winners over Bologna, maintaining their narrow lead atop the table for another weekend.

The win could not have come at a better time for the Rossoneri ahead of a crucial stretch in the season. With morale low after a humbling defeat against Atalanta, as well as a disappointing exit in the Coppa Italia, Milan was in dire need of a result this weekend. Stefano Pioli’s side has a favourable run of games coming up before their schedule gets difficult.

Up next for Milan are two relegation candidates in Spezia and Crotone. Much like it was the case in the first half of the season, the Rossoneri cannot afford anything less than six points from these two games – especially as Inter and Juventus have difficult schedules of their own coming up. Inter takes on Fiorentina and Lazio over the next two matchdays, while Juventus locks horns with Roma and Napoli. In many ways, the upcoming weeks can help Milan extend their lead at the top before the next instalment of the Derby della Madonnina set for February 21.

As of right now, Milan holds a two-point lead over Inter with 18 games to go. With yet another derby on the cards, the Rossoneri will be hoping to cut Inter’s momentum short with a crucial three points. Milan’s games against Spezia and Crotone are good opportunities to blend in the side’s new signings, as well as build up their own confidence.

Milan is also in action in the Europa League Round of 32 against Red Star Belgrade later this month, taking on the Serbian outfit on February 18.  Factor in the Rossoneri’s winnable league affairs, as well as this two-legged tie with Red Star, and they can enter the derby extremely high on confidence.

Fikayo Tomori has looked good in his first two appearances in black-and-red and will have ample opportunity to stake his claim for more regular minutes. The Englishman offers some much-needed depth at the back and could use the next run of games to adapt to Serie A. Fellow January arrival – Mario Mandzukic - has featured sparingly since making the move, but as an intriguing second half of the season approaches, expect the Croatian hitman to play a more significant role. Manduzkic has regularly proven to be up to the challenge in big games and makes for an interesting partner to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

They may have been reluctant to say it in the early goings of the season, but one thing has been made clear since the turn of the new year: Milan is a legit title contender. The Rossoneri have largely downplayed this type of talk in an effort to take the pressure off themselves but can simply no longer avoid the contender tag.

Inter and Juventus are in it with a shot themselves but have been nowhere near as consistent as Milan this season. Barring their defeats to Juventus and Atalanta, Milan has impressed and taken care of business against the league’s mid-table sides. Stefano Pioli’s men will need much of the same heading into February – which is undoubtedly the side’s most important run of games.

Milan’s clash with Inter can potentially define the title race and could just swing the momentum in their favour. Talk about winning a Scudetto has largely been silenced in Casa Milan, but with only 18 games remaining – Milan is in the driver’s seat heading into a crucial month.

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Atalanta show first signs of struggles without Papu Gomez

Atalanta’s rapid rise to prominence has sent shockwaves throughout the footballing world, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s men taking Europe by storm. Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez has been at the heart of everything good in Bergamo in recent years but has since left the club after falling out with Gasperini.

Gomez made his move to Sevilla official on Thursday, joining the Andalusian side for just under six million euros. While Atalanta will be hoping its next-man-up mentality can help replace the departed Argentine, Gomez represented far more than just a playmaker. In many ways, Papu made Gasperini’s side tick and always looked to get on the ball in the final third. Gli Orobici has largely impressed since Gomez was frozen out of the team, picking up convincing wins against Sassuolo, Roma, Lazio, and Milan among others.

Atalanta’s most recent defeat, however, is cause for concern. Lazio completed dominated the battle in the middle of the park, emerging 3-1 winners against the Bergamo-based outfit. Without Gomez pulling the strings in between the lines, Atalanta struggled to create chances and looked toothless for much of the affair. Atalanta’s recent triumphs over Italy’s big sides are encouraging, but if Gasperini’s men are to reach last season’s heights, they will need players to step up.

Matteo Pessina has done well since returning to Atalanta, establishing himself as Gasperini’s first-choice attacking midfielder. The former Hellas Verona man has done well linking up play in the final third but does not yield the same influence Gomez held. Pessina is not a traditional trequartista and mostly relies on his keen sense of positioning to get in good areas.

Gasperini has also turned to Josip Ilicic and Aleksei Miranchuk in attack. The former has done exceptionally well since Gomez’s falling out and has largely picked up the slack in the offensive third. The Slovenian is arguably Atalanta’s best bet at replacing the Argentine’s creativity without having to dip into their transfer kitty. Against Lazio, however, Ilicic’s limitations were brought to light. The former Palermo man is one of the league’s most creative outlets, however, he has undoubtedly benefitted from Gomez’s ability to progress the ball into dangerous areas. Without him, Ilicic must drop back often, reducing his ability to hurt the opposition inside the box.

Miranchuk is another player that will be looking to take his game to the next level. The Russian international is the most similar to Gomez in terms of playing style but lacks consistency. Miranchuk has only made two starts thus far in league action and will likely benefit from a run of games in the starting lineup.

Should Miranchuk struggle with a bigger role, Gasperini could always turn to Malinovskiy. The Ukrainian international thrives from the base of midfield but has featured regularly behind the strikers. Blessed with a wicked shot on both feet, Malinovskiy could offer Gasperini’s side some much-needed end product. However, much like Pessina, the 27-year-old is not an out-and-out number 10 and cannot be expected to deliver on Gomez’s level.

Atalanta’s recent victories have papered over the cracks, but make no mistake about it: Gli Orobici are a completely different team without Gomez and will soon need to adapt. Gasperini has demonstrated a unique ability to make the most of the squad at his disposal and continue to deliver beyond expectations. The Italian tactician has a number of options he can turn to in Gomez’s absence, with all players offering him something a little different.

Whether it is Ilicic, Miranchuk, Pessina, or Malinovskiy, Atalanta boasts impressive depth in the creative department. However, as much as depth is useful, Papu Gomez is not easily replaceable. With Gasperini forced back to the drawing board and a two-legged affair with Real Madrid looming, things are about to get interesting in Bergamo.

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New year offers Juventus faithful a glimmer of hope

The new year is well and truly upon us, and with it, comes newfound hope that things will get better. Juventus will be hoping 2021 is their year after a rocky start to life under rookie boss Andrea Pirlo. The Italian champions stumbled out of the gates in the new season and currently trail Milan by seven points, albeit with a game in hand. With a 10th consecutive Scudetto on the line, Juventus desperately needs to kickstart a winning run. Both Milan-based clubs have run away with it until now, setting up an intriguing second half of the season.

Juve’s extra game is by no means a formality as it will see them square off against Napoli, in what promised to be an intriguing affair. Despite Napoli’s recent struggles, one would be foolish to write off Gennaro Gattuso’s men just yet. When Juventus and Napoli lock horns, form should be thrown out the window. Juventus will take solace in the fact that they have looked much better in 2021, winning eight of their nine first games.

While the disappointing defeat against Inter will leave a sour taste in their mouth, the Bianconeri have made tangible progress since the turn of the year. It may have taken Pirlo nearly 20 games to do so, but for the first time since assuming the reins, the World Cup winner has established his preferred midfield trio.

In many ways, games are won and lost in the middle of the park, something Pirlo is well aware of. The rookie boss has since deployed a double pivot of Arthur and Rodrigo Bentancur with Weston McKennie roaming dangerously ahead of them between the lines. The U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder offers grit and energy, while Arthur looks to dictate the tempo. Bentancur has since emerged as the perfect foil to both players, as he is equally adept at protecting the back three as he is at spreading the ball.

Juventus is coming off a comfortable victory over Sampdoria, with Federico Chiesa and Aaron Ramsey finding the back of the net – but they cannot afford to get too comfortable. February promises to be an action-packed month for the Italian champions, with Juventus taking on Roma and Napoli in quick succession in league action, while welcoming Inter in the Coppa Italia semifinals. If that was not enough, Juventus also has its two-legged encounter with Porto coming up in just under three weeks’ time.

Juventus bowed out of Europe’s elite competition in the Round of 16 last season and will be looking to avoid a similar fate at all costs. Porto may seem like a favorable draw on paper, but the Portuguese champions have been in red-hot form in recent months. With games against Roma, Inter, and Napoli preceding it, Pirlo will need to rotate his lineup – without missing a beat.

Much like it was the case in January, the upcoming month can come to define Pirlo’s tenure in Turin. The midfield maestro passed his first test of 2021 with flying colors, although the defeat to Inter leaves an asterisk on his record. With potentially title-defining games coming up, as well as both cup competitions, February is make-or-break for Pirlo.

Should he steer Juventus to the next round of the Champions League and lead them to the Coppa Italia final over Inter, it will be a hugely successful month for Juventus. However, he will have to do so without sacrificing the Scudetto. It won’t be easy, but Juventus have shown they might just be turning a corner with Pirlo at the helm.

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Federico Chiesa coming good under Andrea Pirlo

When Juventus announced they had signed Federico Chiesa from Fiorentina this past summer, it left many scratching their heads. The Italian international is undoubtedly one of Italy’s most promising young talents, however, his inconsistencies left a lot to be desired. Juventus had no doubts and wasted no time bringing in Chiesa, securing him with a crafty deal in place.

The Italian champions agreed to sign Chiesa on a two-year loan deal and pay Fiorentina 40 million euros over four years. While it may seem a hefty price-tag for a player who is not yet world-class, his signing is now looking like the bargain of the summer. Chiesa has taken his game to the next level since joining Juventus, establishing himself as one of the first names on Andrea Pirlo’s team-sheet. the 22-year-old has also become a regular with the national team and will likely make the trip to Euro 2021 with an important role, barring any setbacks.

Equally capable of playing on either wing, Chiesa has carved out an important role for himself in Pirlo’s hybrid setup, offering some much-needed speed and unpredictability in the final third. The 22-year-old’s best game in a Juventus shirt could not have come at a better time, leading the Bianconeri to a crucial victory over Milan.

Chiesa combined to devastating effect with Paulo Dybala, slotting home his side’s opener past a helpless Gianluigi Donnarumma. When Milan found the equalizer, the Azzurri winger got right back at it, tormenting Theo Hernandez. Chiesa  would inevitably find the winner, completing his brace and stepping up an a crucial moment. Hernandez will not soon forget about Chiesa, with the former Viola man consistently getting the better of him.

Chiesa has since built off that impressive performance with goals in back-to-back games against SPAL and Sampdoria and is starting to look like the real deal. The 22-year-old has put his past struggles behind him and has significantly improved on his end product. Whether he’s bursting past his man or looking to filter in a dangerous cross, Juventus – without a doubt – is a better team with Chiesa on the pitch.

What is most encouraging for Juventus beyond his recent progress is his performances in big games. Cheese has demonstrated an ability to make the difference when it matters – something Juventus will be counting on as the month of February rolls around. The Italian champions lock horns with Inter, Napoli, Roma and make their highly-anticipated return to the Champions League against Porto.

There will be plenty of opportunities for the 22-year-old to further assert himself in Pirlo’s preferred lineup and continue his development. Juan Cuadrado’s recent rebirth has meant Chiesa has to fill in a left midfield, at times, but it hasn’t stopped him one bit. The Italian international most recently found the back of the net from that position, getting on the end of Alvaro Morata’s cross to tap home.

While 40 million euros may seem like a lot, the crafty setup of the deal makes Chiesa’s arrival affordable. Regardless, his price-tag is slowly fading into the background as his top performances continue to pile up. A move to Juventus is exactly the type of transfer Chiesa arguably needed to make the leap into an elite winger, with the 22-year-old taking full advantage of life under Pirlo. As of right now, Chiesa is Juve’s X-factor in the final third and Pirlo will be turning to him to provide the goods. Whether he continues to do so remains to be seen, but as a plethora of big games coming up, Chiesa will be raring to go.

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Is Christian Eriksen the missing piece in Antonio Conte’s setup?

Christian Eriksen swapped London for Milan with high expectations surrounding him. After all, the Danish international arrived as one of football’s premiere attacking midfielders, with few players yielding as much influence over games as him. While his talent is undeniable, Eriksen has been an awkward fit in Antonio Conte’s system, with the former Spurs man struggling to carve out an important role for himself.

Eriksen has largely been reduced to a super-sub since making the switch, featuring sparingly from the start. A trequartista by nature, Conte’s system simply cannot accommodate the Danish international, leaving him on the outskirts of the first team. The Italian tactician has typically fielded a midfield trio of Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, and Arturo Vidal, with Roberto Gagliardini coming off the bench. Their mix of grit, technique, and steel make for one of Italy’s best midfield units and have since developed great chemistry between them.

While altering his preferred setup for a more fluid 3-4-1-2 would, in theory, allow Eriksen to play in his best position behind the strikers, Conte has refused to budge, forcing the former Spurs man to adapt. When Eriksen has featured, it has usually been from a deeper role as the side’s regista. The Danish international makes the most of his impressive passing range to dictate tempo and feed Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez. It is not his best position, but Eriksen has made it work in recent weeks.

Beyond his passing range, Eriksen’s introduction into the fold offers Inter a bonafide threat from set-pieces. The Nerazzurri have lacked a threatening presence from dead-ball situations since Wesley Sneijder was still around. Eriksen’s free-kick prowess was most recently on display against Milan in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals. With the game tied at one, the Danish international stepped up and led the Italian giants to victory with an inch-perfect free-kick.

Inter will be hoping the goal represents a change in fortunes for Eriksen, as the second half of the season approaches. Conte rewarded him with a rare start in Inter’s win over Benevento on Saturday, deploying him as the side’s deepest midfielder. Eriksen thrived at the base of midfield against Pippo Inzaghi’s side, pulling all the right strings on Saturday. The former Spurs man will be looking to build some momentum heading into a crucial stretch and establish himself as a starter under Conte. Usurping Brozovic in the starting lineup will not be easy, but Eriksen has the talent to do so.

With over a week left in the winter transfer window, Eriksen’s future appears further and further away from Milan. Recent reports have suggested Paris Saint-Germain are interested in him, while his former side, Tottenham, have informed Inter of their interest in a potential return. For the time being, however, Eriksen will be focused on the task ahead and will be looking to lead Inter to its first Scudetto in 11 years. The Italian giants are within touching distance of first place and with Eriksen firing on all cylinders, they may just have what it takes to pip their fierce rivals to the ultimate prize.

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Juventus Top Perfomers – Round 20 vs Sampdoria

Juventus got past Sampdoria with a commanding yet unspectacular performance, where they came out aggressively in the first half but had a dip in the intensity in the second half, which almost allowed the opponents to come back into the game, but the back-line was extremely sturdy in this one.

Giorgio Chiellini (five points): it was arguably the best defensive display of the season as, on top of keeping a clean sheet, which is not necessarily anything new, the adversaries did not manage to create any major chance, which was a nice improvements compared to the last tilts, where Wojciech Szczesny often had to bail everybody out with superb saves. It was not the case on Saturday night, as he was rarely called into the action, while the grizzled captain made a plethora of plays in the box with vintage physicality and alertness, with the icing on the cake being a great block on a point-blank attempt by Fabio Quagliarella. Continue reading

Bologna 1-2 AC Milan: Rossoneri bounce back with important win after adequate performance

After two consecutive losses, against Atalanta and Inter, Milan were hoping to put in a good performance this afternoon and send a signal to the rest of the league. Although it wasn’t their best game this season, they did come away with the three points and thus put more pressure on Inter’s shoulders. 

0-3 against Atalanta and 1-2 against Inter didn’t exactly fuel the enthusiasm ahead of today’s game, but a response was needed to understand their form. And we did get it, although perhaps not in the way many had hoped, as Bologna managed to make it a bit nervy towards the end with a late consolation goal.  Continue reading

Bologna vs. AC Milan: Serie A Round 20 – Team news, stats and prediction

After managing to get by, the injuries finally took their toll on Milan as they have lost their last two games, albeit against tough opponents. 0-3 against Atalanta in the league and the 1-2 against Inter in the Coppa Italia, although the Rossoneri did well in the latter up until Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off. 

Either way, they will have to pick themselves up and bounce back with what would be a morale-boosting win tomorrow evening, taking on Bologna away from home. With 23 points separating the two sides, it’s clear that Milan are the favourites to win and they need to do it convincingly, as well.  Continue reading