2' min
Last year, the battle to stay in Serie A went down to the wire, involving three teams: Empoli, which played against Roma, and Frosinone and Udinese, who faced each other on the final day. It was a thrilling finish: the team from Friuli won at the last minute, the Tuscan Azzurri were leading 2-1 against the Giallorossi, while the Ciociari, at home, saw their team relegated. Following this dramatic scenario, Udinese sacked Cannavaro, Cagliari hired Davide Nicola, known for his miraculous saves, leaving Empoli to choose D’Aversa, while Frosinone picked Vivarini from Catanzaro after Di Francesco moved to Venezia.
Venezia, along with Parma and Como, are newly promoted to the top division: the first two return after three years, while the Larians last played in Serie A in the 2002/03 season, making their comeback after twenty-one years. These three teams replace Salernitana, Sassuolo, and Frosinone.
Typically, newly promoted teams are the favorites for relegation due to the challenge of the top league, but the experience of the two coaches of Venezia and Parma could defy this trend: Di Francesco, undoubtedly, will not want to repeat the unfortunate experience with Frosinone, while Pecchia is only in his second Serie A season but has an impressive resume, especially as Rafa Benitez's assistant at Napoli, Real Madrid, and Newcastle. Como, on the other hand, is led by the debutant Fabregas, but the Lombard club is assembling a respectable squad during the transfer market.
Eyes are on Udinese: Gokhan Inler is the new sporting director, and the bench is entrusted to Serbian Kosta Runjaic. Pozzo's club is among the most consistent in Serie A, but the choice of two novices in management and coaching risks repeating a disastrous season like the last one. Lecce is betting on continuity: after sacking D’Aversa, they hired Gotti, who will continue to lead the Salentini. The Giallorossi can rely on the former Udinese and Spezia coach, but especially on the experience of Pantaleo Corvino. Speaking of D’Aversa, he will sit on Empoli's bench: after promotion with Parma in 2018, he was sacked in 2021, after taking over mid-season, followed by two consecutive dismissals at Sampdoria and Empoli. Finally, Cagliari relies on the tenacity of Davide Nicola, known for achieving five record survivals: Crotone, Genoa, Torino, Salernitana, and Empoli.
