Serie B: Pescara off to a great start while Nocerina hold on in first Serie B home game for 32 years

Zdenek Zeman steared Pescara to a second consecutive win to take the Abruzzo based side top of the Serie B table. Pescara fans have a right to be excited right now, not least because Juve man Ciro Immobile fired twice tonight in a 3-2 win over Serie B heavyweights Empoli. With Sampdoria stalling again in Livorno in a 0-0 game, Pescara have steamed away at the top with Sassuolo on six points. It is early day but with Zeman in charge Pescara will certainly be entertaining to watch this season. 

Joining them in the win column tonight was Bari winning 1-0 away at Modena while Ascoli were also victorious, chipping away at their six point penalty which they were given at the beginning of the season. Not every team in Serie B played tonight but Nocerina did and they entertained Brescia in a packed Stadio San Francesco D'Assisi in their first Serie B game for 32 years, having been promoted from the Lega Pro last year. This is something of a fairytale for this club and they did not disappoint, taking the lead after Castaldo headed in a deflected shot after 40 minutes. The lead did not last long however as Ignacio fired home a superb low strike from outside the area on the stroke of half time. It finished 1-1 after an entertaining second half with Brescia twice hitting the woodwork. Tomorrow Torino and Hellas Verona are both in action and will be looking to pick up three points against Cittadella and Juve Stabia respectively.

Serie B: Hellas Verona back up into Serie B

Finally Hellas Verona have something to cheer about. After spending time in the depths of Serie C Hellas Verona, Champions of Italy in 1985, have today secured promotion back into Serie B despite losing 1-0 away at Salernitana. Their 2-0 win in the first leg was more than enough in the end to send the Gialloblu back into the second division. Serie C was however a purgatory that they had been exposed to since 2007 when they were relegated from Serie B after 64 seasons of football in Italy's two highest divisions. And, as if that was bad enough, they have had to endure city rivals Chievo going from strength to strength in Serie A, pretty much confirming themselves as a mid table club. But today belongs to Hellas and one wonders with Novara doing the double jump from Serie C to Serie A whether Hellas can do the same next season. 

Milan Champions of Italy

Milan arrived in Rome tonight needing a point and that's exactly what they got as they played out a 0-0 draw in this tight, tense and emotional affair. Milan embodied all their defensive quality in this match up as Abbiati, Nesta and Silva shut down everything Roma had to offer as they themselves almost took the three points with a superb Robinho effort that cannoned off the post just after half time. Ibrahimovic returned, and played his part in holding up the ball and could have had a penalty, perhaps should have had a penalty when Doni brought him down when through on goal. It was not given, but in the end it mattered not as they got what they needed to win their 18th Scudetto, taking them level with Inter who also have been Italian Champions 18 times.

Both Milan giants still sit someway behind Juve's huge 27 title wins, and with their new stadium ready for next season they will also look to get back in on the act as well. But this is Milan, and Allegri's night, and credit must go to the coach for turning them into a defensive rock rather than a porous sponge that was so often the case under Leonardo.Congratulations Milan.

Elsewhere, both Atalanta and Siena returned to Serie A today after securing promotion from Serie B. They'll be lots of wine drunk in Italy tonight. 

Serie B focus: Return of Atalanta and Siena?

It's getting to the business end of the season. The time where points really do mean prizes, but not just in the top flight. This time last year both Siena and Atalanta were heading out of Serie A. Outdone by the new arrivals from Serie B, Parma and Bari to be precise, Atalanta and Siena were preparing themselves for a year in the Cadetti. It's still to early to say whether they will both return for sure especially given that as of now Siena sit in a playoff position. But Atalanta look strong and with 20,000 roaring them on every other week in Bergamo a return to the top flight looks a distinct posibility. 

Unbeaten since a 2-0 home defeat to Livorno in late November last year Atalanta have demonstrated the sort of form that will push them towards an immediate return to Serie A and thats a good thing for the league in general as they are a club that has played 50 seasons in Serie A, more campaigns in the top flight than Udinese, Cagliari and even former league champions Genoa. In this unbeaten period Atalanta have racked up six wins and four draws. 

The next few rounds however could have a huge bearing on where they ultimately finish in the table as they clash with fallen giants Torino and surprise package Novara who, after being promoted to Serie B last season, look set to make the double jump to Serie A as well . They currently sit second in the table after having led the league for some time in the early going and clearly are a side to be taken seriously in the race for promotion given that they still, after 27 games, are unbeaten at home.

It may be only week 27 in the Serie B calender, but give the experience of Atalanta and Siena and the sheer determination of Novara who have sat high up the table since the seasons beginnings it would take a brave man to be against these three being the sides that ply their trade in Serie A next season.

Serie B: Novara set to make the double jump

It was only a year ago that Novara had put themselves back on the calcio map once again. Having finished 8th in Serie A in 1952 success for the piedmont based club has been quite hard to come by. Indeed, the club had spent years rotting in Serie C2 until winning that division in the 2002-2003 campaign. However, last year saw them play Milan in the Coppa Italia. The occasion didn't mean much to the Rossoneri but for the Novara it meant everything to play at one of the cathedral's of European football and it seemed as if ther whole of their fanbase had come along as they packed the lower tier of the Curva Nord. This day in the sun ended in a 2-1 defeat, but promotion to Serie B, for the first time in 33 years, put the icing on the cake of a fine season and put Novara back on the map. However, it seems this smattering of success has not ended here. Back into Serie B Novara are running away with the Championship and and sit three points clear of Atalanta and five points clear of Siena, both of which were in Serie A last season. Along with Siena they have the best home record in the division, 8 wins and 2 draws, but they've also won four games on the road as well as their campaign approaches the half way stage.

Looking at Novara's squad it's hard not to notice the name of the once Inter Milan forward Nicola Ventola on their books, a player who was in their promotion campaign from Serie C1 last season. Nonetheless, Forwards Cristian Bertani and Argentine Pablo Gonzalez have both scored 11 goals a piece this season forming the most deadly partnership in the division. It's statistics like this that point towards a promotion this campaign and not one of survival which surely would have been the target at the start of the season.

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.

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: Lecce B-elieve in return

Another week, another win for Lecce as they continue their trot towards a return to Serie A. This time Grosetto were the victims as Lecce ran out 3-0 winners away from home and kept the divisions top scorer, Pinilla, quiet to move up to 67 points in the division, six points clear, with five rounds to go. Danielle Corvia has been the focal point up front for them weighing in with 15 goals and now it seems inevitable, with such a gap, that they will contest Serie A football next season. One thing certainly gets me excited about this prospect, seeing them take on hated rivals Bari in the Puglia derby. Derby's have really lit up this Serie A season. Lazio v Roma is a cast iron certainty to entertain on the rivalry front but the Lanterna derby really has stepped up a notch in the last few encounters in terms of the passion ultimately what has been on the line for both sides in terms of qualifying for European competition. Whilst Bari v Lecce probably won't be contesting that, it will be a heated affair and one that should be full of colour, passion and a huge desire to win on the pitch.

Elsewhere in Serie B, the remaining places for promotion are still up for grabs. With five games left 15 points are up for grabs for all the sides, so even Ancona on 50 points currently may have a say in the playoffs for the third Serie A spot, and there should be playoffs as the third team is not 10 points clear of the fourth placed one. In the mix remain Sassuolo, Brescia, Cittadella, and Cesena all within two points of each other, while Grossetto, Torino and Empoli are at worst only four points back. Much like last year it is very very tight, so expect it all to go down to the last day in Serie B.

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.

Serie B Focus: Frosinone lead the way

Frosinone lead the way in the race for promotion to Serie B. Three wins out of three is an impressive start for the Lazio based side, but even more impressive was the manor of their win in Lecce at the weekend. A 3-1 away win down south confirmed perhaps that Frosinone will be a side to be reckoned with over the coming season.

In the rounds big game, Brescia defeated Torino to end their 100% record in the division by 1-0 thanks to goal scorer Francesco Flachi. The former Sampdoria ace, who netted over 100 goals for the Genoa based club, gave Brescia the three points to move them up to third place in the division. Could this be the season when Brescia return to Serie A after coming so close over the last two seasons?

Empoli, another yoyo club in Serie B, have given themselves a good start to their campaign by beating Crotone by 3-1, although they left it late to do so by scoring two of their three goals in the last 12 minutes of the game. Ancona are level also with Empoli on six points, picking up their second win of the campaign by beating Bergamo side Albinoleffe again by 3-1.

Ascoli, in Serie A a few seasons back, are perhaps galvanising themselves for a return as they remain undefeated this season by beating Mantova at home by 2-1. Former Arsenal youngster Lupoli converted the winner in the 94th minute after they had equalised in the 89th minute.

Last seasons suprise package Grosetto continue to struggle, managing only a draw at home to Gallipoli while Sassuolo again continue to do well, registering four points so far this campaign.

Reggina, perhaps one of the favourites to go up, are sitting on four points after a win and a draw but have a game in hand against Vicenza, who themselves remain unbeaten registering two draws so far. Indeed, it has been a while since the northern outfit have been in Serie A so perhaps it would be nice to see Vicenza back in the big league.

Piacenza, another side that has been in Serie A since 2002, has so far registered one win and one defeat. With a game in hand against Padova away from home a win here could give them the platform to succeed this campaign.

It looks like it is going to be an interesting season in the Cadetti with a number of teams in contention for promotion for Serie A. Torino in all honesty are likely to return, but will one of the classic clubs like Brescia, Piacenza, or Vicenza make a welcome return back to the top flight? Time will tell.