Serie A is set to swing back into action next week and, after a restful winter break, we can surely expect to see fireworks on the return.
The first half of the season was a curiosity in many ways; two teams, Napoli and AC Milan, charged into a healthy lead while champions Inter took a steadier route and Juventus spent months trying to overcome a shocking start to the campaign.
But Simone Inzaghi’s Inter have now taken their place at the top of the pile and it is their Scudetto to lose.
Premier quality heading to the capital?
Of course the European transfer window is about to open too, so there will be some jockeying for position as the clubs in the chasing pack try to strengthen their hand, and there are reports that two young stars from the Premier League could soon be on the way to Rome.
Chelsea wide man Callum Hudson-Odoi is being tracked by his former boss Maurizio Sarri, and Lazio are hopeful a deal can be concluded over the next few weeks. The winger has struggled to make an impression under Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge, though he has made eight appearances and scored one goal, and his former head coach Sarri is a big admirer.
Another wide man, Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles is apparently close to reaching an agreement to join Roma, on loan from the Gunners for the remainder if the 2021/22 campaign. And there could be another player on the move… but the other way; from Serie A to the Premier League. Aston Villa have been recently linked with a move for Bologna’s rising star Aaron Hickey. Since his move from Scottish club Hearts the 19 year old has scored four goals in 30 appearances from the left back position and he’s becoming a hot prospect. Whether Bologna are willing to sell remains to be seen.
Dybala after another deal
Juventus striker Paulo Dybala has hardly been pulling up trees in Turin but he is hopeful of securing a longer deal with the Bianconeri, after instructing his agent Jorge Antun to work on a new agreement. The Argentine striker and the Serie A giants have apparently talked about a new five year deal, worth something in the region of 10m Euros a season.
But recent reports suggest the club is considering its next move as Dybala has not been in the best form in 2021. The Old Lady has been watching Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca after he has impressed this season, scoring six goals. The 22 year olds is sought after by a number of clubs, including Inter Milan, so Juve could face a battle in the quest for his signature.
Sassuolo will be looking for around 40m Euros to open the discussion.
The season so far
After a stunning set of Serie A 2021 results over the first 12 games Napoli and AC Milan set the pace but both the Azzurri and the Rossoneri have stuttered since and the reigning champions took advantage. Inter Milan went into the winter break with an extended lead at the top of the table, having registered a seventh consecutive league win. A 1-0 victory over Torino at the San Siro stretched the gap at the top of the table to four points.
The Serie A 2021 betting odds make this a five horse race, with the Nerazzurri the team to catch at a current price of 1.29. Napoli and AC Milan are in the hunt at 9.50, Atalanta at 12.00 and Juventus have snuck back into the picture, at a SBOTOP price of 21.00. 12 points separate first from fifth and the chasing pack has it all to do. Juventus joined Inter Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League and I Bianconeri will hope to challenge for the Scudetto too, but they can ill afford any more slip ups.
Inter’s success had been built upon the creative muscle of two of its attacking midfielders. Turkish winger Hakan Calhanoglu and Azzurri star Nicola Barella have made seven assists each, more than any other player in the league. Calhanoglu has been involved in 13 Serie A goals this term; more than any other midfielder in Serie A, scoring six goals as well.
Big matches ahead
When the league restarts on the 6th and 7th of January the eye-catching tie of the round is in Turin where Juventus host Napoli. The Old Lady is a marginal favourite at odds of 1.93 to win, with Napoli at 3.54 and the draw at 3.40.
Then, on the 10th leaders Inter face a dangerous Lazio side at the San Siro. The Biancocleste is sitting in eighth and is in the hunt for a top four place.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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