Novara up to Serie A as fairy tale return complete

Italian football loves a success story and for now it has another one to report as Novara, absent from Serie A for 55 years defeated Padova by 2-0 tonight to secure a berth in the top flight. Having only achieved promotion to Serie B last season from Serie C1A the target for them initially would surely have been survival but they led the division for a while in the seasons early going, just falling off the pace of Atalanta and Siena when all was said and done.

But perhaps to an extent this should not come as so much of a surprise. After all last season Novara in the Coppa Italia ran current Italian Champions Milan close at the San Siro, just getting knocked out by 2-1 with a stunning Flamini strike being the difference. What was noticable however was the passion of the Novara fans as the Curva Nord in the San Siro became their domain for the 90 minutes of that match. That will definitely something they will bring to Serie A next season as their fans embark on a success story up and down grounds across the peninsula.

Speaking of success stories another one could be on the cards. Hellas Verona were today victorious in the first leg of the final of the playoffs in Serie C1A beating Salernitana by 2-0. With a second leg still to play the job is not done but Salernitana would need to score 3 times without reply to go through. The Brigate Gialloblu could well be about to end their exile in the pergatory that is Serie C.