Serie B: Dream start for new boys Novara and Portogruaro

Novara first shot to my attention when last season they set their division in Serie C1 on fire topping it from the early moments of last season. However, they really came to prominence when in the Coppa Italia they were drawn against seven times European Champions AC Milan at the San Siro. It was a game that I watched and the Curva Nord at the San Siro took on a familiar blue, but this time it was not the colours of bitter rivals Inter but that of Novara and pretty much the whole of their towns population. They lost the encounter 2-1 but only with a stonking Flamini goal separating the sides. Serie B promotion was ensured, with old Serie A favourite Nicola Ventola in toe, and one wondered what would come in a jump to the Cadetti, a notoriously tough division of which the parameters seem to change year by year. Take 2008/2009 Serie A relegated Reggina for example, who instead of mounting a challenge to get back into the top division could only muster a 12th place finish.

However, promotion to Serie A will not be of concern to Novara and Portogruaro, at least not yet anyway. But, both have so far taken to Serie B like a duck to water with Portogruaro beating last years promotion candidates Cittadella 2-0 on home turf. However Novara have made and even better start, securing a 1-1 draw away at Padova before beating Triestina 2-0 in casa just last night. Novara face Cittadella next in round three but it is Portogruaro who face a tough trip away at old Serie A favourite Vicenza next this weekend. Perhaps however they will get something of a nice welcome from the home Tifosi, give that they were directly responsible for stopping Vicenza's bitter rivals Hellas Verona from returing to Serie B last season.