Serie A View #1710
A.C Milan getting things togather
AC Milan has finally got the wheels turning in the right direction. They picked up their fourth consecutive win in all competitions while bagging their third in a row in the league. AC. Milan have been a dysfunctional mess this campaign. Practically ever since the very beginning of the season they haven't quite managed to get it right. While they're picking up form as of late, They never put themselves in position to legitimately defend their league title from last season. It has been particularly underwhelming for the most part. Not only in terms of performance but in terms of the pieces they brought in and the lack of use of some of those from Stefano pioli. Notably King Charles who still has yet to play his position. They spent 40 million to sign him and not given an opportunity to play his actual position. This has been part of the problem but not the only thing that's concerned. They've only recently realized Marcus Thaiw is a big talent as he has come on very strong as of late while being ignored for months before this. Nonetheless, AC Milan had finally got things back in the right directions. While they have not been overly dominant in their performances or victories in an extremely tight Champions League race, they're picking up the points they need to. They have yet to put together a particularly great performance in 2023 but The results they've gotten have been important. Against Atalanta, it was the first time since the new year that they have looked like a comfortable side. Atalanta is one of their compatriots in the Champions League Chase. They have stumbled in a rotten run of form at the wrong time as they began to slip. Meanwhile, AC Milan continue to climb. They are in third at the moment and they are back on track to remain in the champions league. They also beat Spurs in the round of 16 of the Champions League, but that one is still very much open. AC Milan has to take one step at a time. They'll run a form will only do well for their performances to come. A great performance against Atalanta will do wonders for the momentum and confidence of the team. The champions league race is tight so matches like these by the end of it will prove to be very important. They're starting to click again. They still yet to look like they did last season, but they're starting to gather a bit of momentum as their stamp of approval with their performance against Atalanta. Four straight victories will only give them the right mind space to continue to build on it after a very underwhelming start to 2023.
Juve starting to look dangerous
Juventus has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately. Their financial investigation that had them docked negative 15 points. They are elimination from the Champions League and even bigger pill to swallow. However, Juventus has been a force to be reckoned with as of late. While the Champions League possibilities remain well out of reach due to the point deduction. They still may find their way back into Europe regardless. Finishing in the Europa League spots is up for grabs. Juventus has been one of the most impressive sites in Italy over the last month. Since losing to Monza back in late January they have been on a tear. They are unbeaten in their last eight matches. The only time they have failed to collect maximum points was a one-one draw with Nance in the Europa League. Outside of that they have been pretty close to flawless. Mathematically speaking, had they not gotten the point deduction they would be second in the league. That's how good they have been since the start of February. That is six straight wins in the league wins in the Copa Italia wins in the Europa League and advancement to the round of 16. While the deduction will probably prevent them from qualifying for the champions league. Trophies could still be up for grabs for Juventus. They're only problems seems to be the same problem that we have been talking about for months. Max allegri. With an elite manager they could get themselves much closer to their former selves. While they won't run the league and dominate the way they have in previous years, they very much could be vibing towards a potential title charge with the right acquisitions this coming summer. The Copa Italia and the Europa League still could be trophies they could capture. In the Copa Italia, they will have a two-legged fixture against Inter Milan as the rivalry will commence. Given their situation in the league, they should be overwhelmingly favored to win the Copa Italia. The Europa League will be much more difficult as they have drawn Freiburg in the round of 16. The German side will give them serious trouble. It will be much more difficult than anyone really realizes. However, if they manage to get through that challenge they would have a great chance I getting to the final and hopefully lifting the trophy. The truth of the matter is Juventus has been over the last month. The best team in the league. Even though they will not capture the title this season, they have shown the qualities that they do have in this team. There are plenty of things that still need to be worked on. They concede far too many goals. However, they have the attacking materials to overpower that when they struggle in the defensive area, which isn't always, it depends on the match. They beat Torino in the derby Del Mole 4-2 in what was an exhilarating thriller. This coming weekend. They take Roma in Rome. This will be another significant challenge for them. With all the pieces that have come together and have performed over the last month that they manage to fix the midfield for next season, this side could find themselves in a real title race next season. They have all the pieces together outside of maybe a couple areas. If they manage to fill in the blanks we could start to see Juventus finally being a real factor once again. Vlahovic staying at Juventus will be the key to that puzzle. If he departs in the entire project collapses. However, at this very moment we are seeing the absolute best of Juventus This is the very best they've looked all season. They're finally coming together at the right time which makes them a threat to at least win some trophies this season.
Napoli’s Incredible Season: Is the way they are doing it Bad for Serie A?
Napoli has been absolutely flying this season. One of the most dominant sides we've seen in Italian football in recent memory. Over the last decade there are very few teams in Italy that can honestly compare to what Napoli has done this season. They are in no way shape or form in any kind of conversation as being one of the greatest sides in Italian football history. However, the way they have dominated has been something we really have not seen all that frequently, especially in the last couple of years. They currently sit 18 points clear at the top of the table. They have been almost unopposed all the way through. The hope was that Inter Milan could rebound after last season when they threw the league away when they had all the momentum in their corner. With some of the acquisitions that they made, They were expected to be the ones 18 points clear not Napoli. There hasn't been a legitimate title race. They have been a level above. Everyone else in Italian football this season. There's positive outlooks on this but they're always happens to be a negative one as well. If you look at Napoli going into the season what they got rid of and the way they've been able to recoup assets. The way they've been able to bring in the level of talent that they have while not spending a ton. Luciano Spaletti has completely changed Napoli since his arrival. He’s been through an awful lot and deserves all the credit in the world. He made this team into a monster. Arguably one of the best teams in europe. Very few genuinely believed Napoli would even make the Champions League this season. Not only have they overshot the very small expectations, they've taken it to a new level. They've been utterly unstoppable. 18 points clear is just a gigantic amount especially in a league that has been very competitive, especially at the top of the pile. This is something that they are capable of. Sustaining regardless who they sell in the summer. Luciano Spaletti has been absolutely sensational one of the best managers in the world this season. Finally getting the title he deserves. However, there is going to be a negative and pessimistic connotation to what they've done this season. Not necessarily as a team because it is widely known that they are one of the best teams in the world this season. They probably won't win the champions league, but it could happen. That's the level that they have gotten to. While it is important to have an elite team in european football. The real question is is this a positive or negative outlook on the league. In a certain sense, it is positive because Italy has one of the best teams in the world this season. They have two of the top five players in the world this season as well with Victor and Kvaratskhelia. The best center back in the world this season in Kim. They have been dynamic and they have deserved all the credit that they earn. This will be the first title since Diego Maradona. They have been so close so many times. They're finally going to get that moment. That's an overwhelming positive outlook. This will also be the fourth different champion Italy has had over the last 4 years. After having to deal with Juventus winning at 9 years in a row. It has been a very positive change of pace. However, this Napoli domination doesn't make Italian football look good. In fact, Napoli dominating could have a negative effect on the way the league is looked at. Napoli is a level above. Any other team in this league other than maybe Inter? We could have had something special but there's been too much dysfunction this season with AC, Milan, Inter, Milan Roma, Atalanta Lazio, and Juventus. All of the European teams have had some sort of dysfunction along the way. If everyone was at their best, we might have a title race instead. We're getting to the point where Napoli continue to dominate, but their games don't mean anything. They're almost not even worth watching anymore. You look at the way Bayern Munich and Juventus have dominated over the years. Bayern Munich on most occasions is winning the league by less than 10 points. The majority of the juventus dominance was not a runaway title. The Champions League battle this season has been absolutely phenomenal. There's no doubt about that. However, if we're looking at the big picture, does Napoli have a 18 point lead actually present Anything positive towards Serie A as a league I'm not sure it does. It is good that Napoli are one of the best teams in the world. It is good that a new team is going to be crowned in Italy, but overall there has been no title race from the very beginning and that is more negative than anything positive that has happened this season. It's not Napoli's fault. No one else has gotten themselves in order, but the fact that they are so far ahead doesn't make us look good in the slightest.
