As the Serie A season draws to a conclusion we discuss the biggest winners and losers

The Serie A came to its drawn-out conclusion this weekend with its final two days of fixtures, bringing an end to a season ,which at one stage around mid-April seemed destined to never be completed in its true form on the pitch.

Who were the winners and losers in a season which we all hope will be like no other that follows.

Winners

Juventus – After defeat in the final two games of the season Maurizio Sarri’s men rather fell over the line after wrapping up a ninth consecutive Serie A title. Finishing just one point ahead of Inter Milan was perhaps a fairer reflection on how the league panned out.

Far from their convincing best a times, Le Zebre had the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo (who else) to thank on numerous occasions. Prior to the season, the Allianz Arena side were expected to run away from any title challengers, however, up until five games ago the league truly was there for the taking.

The season doesn’t end there for Juve as they welcome Lyon on Friday, August 7th for their second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie. Surprisingly the French side holds a one-goal advantage from the first leg.

Losers

Relegated to Serie B this season were S.P.A.L, Leece, and Brescia. In truth, both S.P.A.L and Brescia were miles off the pace from almost the outset and never looked like staying up, Gli Spallini who are relative minnows in Serie A terms finished a massive 20 points from safety with a -50 goal difference in what was a tough campaign for the team based in Ferrara. Meanwhile, Brescia faired slightly better, 15 points from potential safety with a goal difference of -44 after conceding 79 goals.

Leece made a far better fist of survival, four points adrift of Genoa at the final reckonings, however, their defensive frailties saw I Giallorossi concede a league-high 85 goals, ultimately securing their place in Serie B for next season.

Overachievers 

Despite punishing above their weight for a few seasons now, Atalanta have to be this season’s overachievers, once again. With their flamboyant gung-ho attacking style, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side has been a joy to watch all season.  The Black and Blues were by far and away the league’s top scorers with 99 goals, 18 more than their nearest rivals Inter Milan, which fired them for large parts of the season into title contention. However, their third-place finish, five points behind Juventus was enough to secure Champions League football for next season, in another campaign of overachievement for the Lombardy club.

Like Juve Atalanta also have European matters remaining this term with PSG awaiting them in the Champions League quarter-finals. With the completion now altered to a one-match format, Atalanta’s chances have to be increased, the Italian side truly are capable of out-scoring anybody on their day.

There were 1154 goals scored altogether in this year’s Serie A season

Atalanta: 99
Inter: 81
Lazio: 79
Roma: 77
Juventus: 76 pic.twitter.com/kGWL6Ud6Yp

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 2, 2020

Underachievers

Napoli’s seventh-place finish has to go down as a disappointing campaign for new Head Coach Gennaro Gattuso. Widely expected to perhaps challenge Juventus at the top, or at least earn Champions League football, the Blues have been inconsistent at best at times during 19/20. Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik the club’s top league goalscorer with just 11 strikes, highlighting just one of the issues at the San Paolo.

After a poor campaign by their recent standards, rumours have started to swirl about their chances of keeping their best players for next term, both Kalidou Koulibaly and Dries Mertens have been linked with moves, perhaps to the Premier League. Should the Naples side hope to improve next season they will need to keep hold of both.

Top Marksman

Lazio’s Ciro Immobile was in prolific form during 19/20 as his 36 goals lead his side to fourth and with it next season’s Champions League. The Italian strikers tally was an impressive five ahead of everybody’s favourite for the award Cristiano Ronaldo.

Since joining the White and Sky Blues Immobile has now scored 103 league goals in 143 appearances, a record which has seen the 30-year old linked with a move away from the Stadio Olimpico this summer.

Hot Prospect

There is only one man for the job of this title, Sandro Tonali. The central midfielder is almost certain to leave his current club Brescia this summer following their relegation to Serie B. At just 20 years old Tonali was the standout from an otherwise poor season for his club, making 30 appearances and scoring one goal, however, it’s his work in breaking up play where he shines most of all.

With comparisons already made to Italian great Andrea Pirlo, there is no doubt the future is bright for Tonali, having already been capped three times by his nation, the midfielder has already begun to make an impression.

We hope you enjoyed the article ‘Serie A: 2019/20 Round Up.’ What are your favourite moments from this seasons Serie A? Let us know!

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