Serie A: Brescia back up

Brescia, the former stomping ground of Roberto Baggio, Gheorghi Hagi, Andrea Pirlo, Pep Guardiola, Luca Toni and Dario Hubner, have made a welcome comeback to Serie A after a number of years in the wilderness. Brescia beat Torino 2-1 to condem Torino to another year in B at a packed Rigamonti, as Brescia completed a somewhat of a surprise return to Serie A. Suprise, in my view, as last season they stuttered in the playoffs as well and only just scraped through in the last round thanks to a superior league position. Anyhow it is a much welcome return and they join Serie B winners Lecce and runners up Cesena in the division next year. They will want to keep striker Andrea Carraciolo who has had a stellar season for the Rondinelle but will need to add depth if they are to maintain a place in the division next year.

It was bad news for former Serie A Scudetto winners Hellas Verona however as they failed to return to Serie B as Pescara made the jump up to the Cadetti instead in their playoff win. Varese, from Serie C 1A, also won their playoff and will be in Serie B next season as well.

Serie B Focus: Lecce lead the way back to Serie A

Lecce have overhauled an early challenge from Frosinone to lead the current standings at the top of Serie B. With 14 games played Lecce sit top on 27 points, 1 more than Ancona, 2 more than Cesena and a whopping five clear of Torino and Padova. So, two of last years relegated teams from Serie A are in the mix for an instant return but the other fallen side, Reggina, sit in 20th place in Serie B and seem to be involved in another relegation battle, this time with the consequences of dropping down to the Lega Pro. Still, it looks like the promotion candidates will swing up and down like a yoyo, as usual, in Serie B this season. Torino, in my view, will be there or there abouts due to the presence of in form striker Ronaldo Bianchi who is a class above at the moment, leading the scoring charts with 11 goals. Second in that respective category is former Palermo and Sampdoria hitman Andrea Caracciolo who now plys his trade for Bresica. Brescia came close to a Serie A return last year, but sit nine points off the pace at the moment. One team that is closer is Empoli, and its been a two year absence for them since they last took to the Serie A playing fields.

This weekends fixtures in the Cadetti bring about some intersting clashes. Lecce travel to Brescia while second place Ancona travel to Ascoli. But, in the game of the round Torino travel to Cesena to the stadium in which Italy recently beat Sweden in.

Lega Pro
Hellas Verona still lead the way in division 1B on 27 points, and with seven wins and six draws remain undefeated in the division. Second are Ternana, level on points, but Hellas just came of a difficult away draw at third placed Pescara. Hellas face Spal next, while Ternana go away to Cosenza and Pescara travel to Reggiana. In division 1A Novara are still in charge but again are tied at the top with former Serie A club Cremonese on 29 points.

Serie B and Lega Pro Focus

Serie B
Its International time again so Serie A has taken a break until Saturday 17th and that means its time to step into the realm of Serie B, the cadetti, and the Lega Pro to see how things are developing in these divisions. Last time we dipped our feet here Frosinone lead the way and after eights rounds now they are still sitting top of the division on 17 points after a very good win away at Piacenza at the weekend by 2-0. In second is perhaps a team that many would have expected not to be their as well in Cesena. One of the few Serie B teams to generate a very decent attendance, Cesena beat Salernitana by 3-0 to give them 15 points, one clear of promotion favouites Torino who continue their solid form by picking up a point in a slightly dissapointing point at home to Ancona. However, just to illustrait how difficult it is to get out of this division below Torino come six teams on 13 points in Sassuolo, Brescia, Padova, Ascoli, Empoli and Ancona. As usual it looks like its going to be very tight, and Frosinone and Cesena will be pushed very hard to see whether they have the quality and mental strength to maintain their stunning starts.

Lega Pro
In the Lega Pro divisions 1A and 1B last time we looked Novara lead the way in 1A and Ternana lead the way in 1B. Well, much like Serie B, not much has changed. Novara still remain top in 1A on 17 points suffering no defeats so far. However, they are being pursued hard by Cremonese, a former Serie A side, who are just one point off the pace. Perugia, another Serie A luminary, are joint third and remain in contention on 14 points level with Lumezzane.

In Division 1B Ternana though have slipped from their top position, with Portogruaro now leading the way with six wins and one defeat. Second are old favourites Hellas Verona who remain unbeaten with four wins and three draws. Indeed, in their first seven games so far Verona have conceded just one goal and look perhaps poised to make a challenge to return to Serie B, which is really the least that this club deserves. It looks though that it could be a four horse race between Portogruaro, Hellas, Ternana and Pescara. Time will indeed tell.

Lega Pro Focus

My focus on the lower divisions continues today during the International break as I take a look at the Lega Pro, specifically Lega Pro 1A and 1B. For those that are unfamiliar, this division is the one below Serie B. Like any league set up in Europe within the bowls of this division are some famous clubs, clubs that have influenced and indeed even won Scudetto's.

Lega Pro 1A
Perhaps the most famous name, from recent memory at least, in this division is Perugia. That club holds huge significance for me as a Laziale, as there home stadium in May 2000 was where Juventus were beaten on the final day by Perugia, and pouring rain, by 1-0 to leave Lazio top of the table and thus Champions. Currently, Perugia have slipped down two divisions and have only won 1 of their 3 opening games. Another side that have sampled the bright lights of Serie A is Cremonese, and they have started well this season winning 2 out of their 3 games so far this campaign, falling only to their first defeat to Sorrento in the last round. Well, if you are to lose anywhere it may as well be in one of the most beautiful places in Italy. Top of the pile are Novara, a side I know little about but with three wins on the board out of three they look to be going places this season.


Lega Pro 1B
This division contains a number of teams that have fallen from grace in the last decade or so. Hellas Verona have started well, and it would be nice to see the 1985 Scudetto winners get back into at least Serie B this season. Their fans have remained faithful, they still average around 15,000 fans every week in the third division. In mant cases, this is more than Chievo Verona do in the top flight. Hellas remain unbeaten with a win and two draws. Foggia, the former stomping ground of Guiseppe Signori are also in this division and have mirrored the start of Hellas Verona as this former Serie A club looks to at least get into Serie B. Pescara, another side familiar with Serie A also have started well with one win and two draws, but it is Ternana that have done the best. They sit top of the table with three wins from three as they get an early grip on the Division. Its going to be a long and interesting season in the Lega Pro, can any of the former top division sides make a comeback to the respectable pastures of Serie B? Well, we will check back to Serie B and the Lega Pro in October during the next International break. For now, its back to Serie A.