Serie A will head into 2024 as open and as exciting a league as there is anywhere across Europe.
I predicted before a ball was even kicked in this campaign that the top flight’s vulnerability is what makes it competitive and my view has not changed.
In fact, it has been further enhanced as it looks like we are going to get a two-way title race and a potentially epic relegation battle following this weekend’s results.
At the time of writing, I cannot see the SBOTOP Serie A 2023 betting odds on the title race – perhaps that is because it’s too close to call between leaders Inter Milan and second placed Juventus.
A Juve-Roma tiff was predicted for the final league game of 2023 and that is exactly what we got.
It was a very aggressive Roma start, and within four minutes, Bryan Cristante’s strike had taken a deflection to thump the base of the near post.
Yet the home side had the edge throughout, and Adrien Rabiot’s goal early in the second half goal earned the hosts a 1-0 victory to move within two points of the summit.
Rabiot latched onto a flick from Dusan Vlahovic inside the box and calmly slotted home.
Inter, who I believe will emerge triumphant this season, had been frustrated 24 hours earlier at Genoa as Marko Arnautovic’s first league goal for his new club was cancelled out by a header from Radu Dragusin.
The Austria striker opened his account in Serie A after being sidelined for several matches due to a hamstring injury following his loan move from Bologna.
However, Genoa equalised in first-half stoppage time when Dragusin’s powerful header from a corner eluded Yann Sommer, despite the goalkeeper getting both hands on the ball.
Away from the top two, one of the most heartening stories of the first half of the season is that of Fiorentina, who end the calendar year in fourth place.
The club from Florence have had their fair share of misfortune over recent years, as well as tragedy, so to see them in a Champions League berth will give heart to all connected to Viola.
Friday’s late win over Torino, combined with Bologna’s 3-0 reverse at Udinese, ensured they end 2023 in a Champions League berth.
Luca Ranieri added to his surprising goal tally this term with seven minutes remaining, nodding home a Michael Kayode cross from close range, to score his fourth of the season and seal the points.
Fiorentina ended the match with 10 men, as Riccardo Sottil pulled up mid-run clutching his hamstring after they had used all their substitutions, but they held on for victory.
Udinese’s own win was a real boon for their bid to break free of the strugglers as they secured quick fire Serie A 2023 highlights and only their second league victory to date (they have drawn 11 of their 18 league outings).
Granted, Thiago Motta’s men were depleted by injuries, but the hosts were impressive, and Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski had already made a number of impressive saves but was helpless to keep out a Roberto Pereyra rebound midway through the first half.
The contest was over after two goals in quick succession early in the second period.
A Sandi Lovric effort inadvertently found its way to teammate Lorenzo Lucca for number two before Martin Payero smashed home a volley for his first Serie A goal.
Their victory was slightly sweeter when it emerged that two of their fellow strugglers, Cagliari and Empoli, had played out a goalless draw to leave them both still stuck in the bottom three.
In a true relegation dogfight, Elia Caprile was the hero for the visitors, as he saved a Nicolas Viola penalty eight minutes from time and then made a last-gasp save to deny Andrea Petagna a Cagliari winner.
In what has been a year to savour for Napoli, deserved champions for the first time in 33 years, 2023 has ended in frustration, and there was more of that as they were held at home by Monza.
In a goalless draw, the Partenopei dominated but were unable to break the deadlock, and it could have been even worse had Alex Meret not saved a 68th-minute penalty.
Meret later limped off to join a host of players on the sidelines, with Mathias Olivera absent, Natan out for at least six weeks with a dislocated clavicle, and star strikers Victor Osimhen and Matteo Politano both suspended.
A flurry of red cards for coaches (and a Monza player) in the closing stages summed up the frustration.
The final word of the year goes to Salernitana, the rock bottom club who gained only their second league victory of the season—and their first away win in almost a year—at wasteful Verona.
Loum Tchaouna’s low drive three minutes after the restart won the day and was an ideal time to net his first Serie A goal.
Salernitana remain bottom, but that means they have closed the gap and are only two points behind Verona, who occupy the place directly above the relegation zone.
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