I’d rather watch them in Serie A. (So that they can play Parma!) I don’t think we can easily view Serie B here in US of A. So, in a dreadfully dull Monday offensive display in Udine by the home squad, they still managed a goal in extra time to draw “whatever happened to” Napoli. (Nice header by Osimhen earlier, though.) So here it is: 2 of 6 clubs (#14 thru #19) are in relegation danger. 4 will survive. I’m thinking Udinese has a better than even chance to survive because of their remaining schedule: @Lecce / Empoli / @Frosinone Of course nothing is sure, these guys could only draw at home against Salernitana a few weeks back. At least Udinese get an exciting and compelling finish to their seadon this year!
Congrats to Bologna. Qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 60 years. Juventus also back in but they've been a disgrace recently. Just two wins in their last 15 matches.
Glorious weekend for Udinese. All five of their Relegation Rivals lost on the weekend, while they got their 5th win of the season, at Lecce, today, on a first-half Lorenzo Lucca header. Let’s keep all the Moms first names on the jerseys until the season is over! (Especially Ljiliana’s, as her Bosnian Serb son Lazar Samardzic iced it with a late game insurance tally for the 2-0 final score.) A win at home (Empoli) or on the road (Frosinone) ensure Udinese of 36 pts and another campaign in Serie A. What a weird season. 18 draws for Udinese, would have been 20 but for those two recent games conceding in the dying ticks of stoppage times. And their 4 previous wins? Against other bottom feeders at home? NO! These! @ AC Milan Bologna @ Juventus @ Lazio Can’t make this stuff up. P.S. And as dire as it seems for last year’s 8th place Sassuolo, I’llwager that wins hosting Cagliari and visiting Lazio squeak them in.
Allegri sacked after his behaviour at the final . Juventus fire Massimiliano Allegri over his behaviour in Coppa Italia final
Worst thing about this sacking is that it's not about his awful football that he's been allowed to broadcast for all to see for the past 3 seasons, it's because of something he did on Wednesday (no idea what it is, frankly I couldn't care less). Hopefully Juve get a manager that actually does something with the ball. With Chiesa & Vlahovic uptop, they could be one of the most lethal sides in Europe.
With only one home win in 2023-24, Udinese fans celebrate draws. Miracle draw today, penalty on final play for the equalizer by our favorite Bosnian, Lazar Samardžić. (Thereby staying a point ahead of Empoli which could prove the difference in relegation status next weekend.) Yes, long VAR wait to confirm the shirt pull near the goal post on Udinese’s last ditch corner kick. Still not out of the relegation woods, though.
Verona & Cagliari clinch this past weekend. Frosinone win to put themselves in a driver’s seat. Bye bye Sassuolo, you’re a long way from a Coppa Italia round-of-32 bye right now. Udinese come up short in the clutch, fail to beat Empoli at home, and only draw miraculously. Missed their opportunity. Frosinone v Udinese Empoli v Roma UDI hold tiebreak over EMP since HTH is even (good thing no road goal criteria otherwise EMP would have the HTH!) and UDI have substantial GD. Empoli must win to survive. They will. Roma loses tiebreak to Atalanta for final CL spot so have little motivation. Meaning UDI must defeat FRO to survive. My head and gut say they will snare their 20th draw (a record of some kind?), and be relegated. Emergency Savior Coach of the Month Fabio Cannavaro’s efforts will be for nought. At least they have four road victories this season, quadruple their home field production, so there remains some hope. And if Roma can win or draw against Empoli, UDI is saved.
According to football-italia.net, this isn’t quite true. They inform that if places 17 & 18 finish even on points, they play an extra relegation match. (The site thus implies that normal tiebreakers are ignored in this special case.) So, there is some advantage in Udinese drawing over losing to Frosinone, in case Empoli draw to Roma. Speaking of Roma, Atalanta’s Europa League title opens up the chance for those wolf teat sucklers to qualify for CL! But only if those Brilliant Bergamo Boys remain 5th behind Bologna and Juve. Sadly for Udinese, it has nothing to do with Roma. They’re 6th place in every possible tiebreak scenario, so will still have no real motivation in Empoli on Sunday. Roma just want Atalanta to remain behind those other two.
They are considered like a plastic team. They were in Serie C2 probably when one of the richest person in Italy brought them and took them to the Serie A, 10 years ago. Their 22k stadium is always empty and they have basically no fans.
Could be 9 Italian teams in Europe next season ! How Italy could have 9 teams in Europe next season after Atalanta's Europa win Will that be an advantage or hindrance in terms of their UEFA ranking next season .?
it depends on what italian teams do next season. 9 teams could be an advantage only if they do well, because if 1 or 2 teams do really bad they can significantly lower everyone's average points. we are 2nd now in Uefa Ranking, 1st is Premier League. Fiorentina and Real are missing, but they can't pass us.
Was that ranking established before the CL round of sixteen completed? It’s a bit odd for no Italian clubs to advance to this season’s CL quarterfinals, yet still possibly qualify six for next season’s CL.
No, the ranking considers all European competitions. Atalanta won the EL, Roma were eliminated in the semi. As for the the ECL, Fiorentina could win it. These are the Country Coefficients for this year: UEFA Country Coefficients 2023/2024
AC Milan after a new manager too . Stefano Pioli: Manager to leave AC Milan after five years in charge
