Page 32 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi converts a penalty
Torino’s Perr Schuurs (C) celebrates after scoring the 1-1 equalizer during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Torino
Sassuolo
The perpetual outsiders enter their 11th consecutive campaign among Italy’s elite aiming to inflict a few shocks on the league’s top clubs again. Coach Alessio Dionisi led the Neroverdi to 13th place in the standings last term and although Sassuolo have achieved greater heights during their Serie A tenure, he would probably settle for a similar result this term.
Influential midfield dynamo Davide Frattesi departed for Inter as the club from Emilia-Romagna invested in younger players including Samuele Mulattieri, Cristian Volpato and Luca Lipani. Club symbol Domenico Berardi will once again spearhead their front line with skilful midfielder Maxime Lopez and talented wide man Armand Lauriente in support.
Torino
Innovative tactician Ivan Juric steered Toro to 10th place in Serie A last season and will strive for the upper half of the table again this term. The fiery Croatian coach will attempt to get the best out of fellow countryman Nikola Vlasic and midfielder Ivan Ilic, who both made permanent moves to the Granata after loan spells at the club in 2022-23.
Summer captures such as 23-year-old right-back Raoul Bellanova and Hellas Verona midfielder Adrien Tameze add depth to a squad which looks strong enough to at least ensure another comfortable mid-table finish.
NICKNAME:
Il Toro (The Bull), I Granata (The Maroons) Il Vecchio Cuore Granata (The Old Maroon Heart)
MANAGER:
Ivan Jurić
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Serie A, 10th
NICKNAME:
I Neroverdi (The Black and Greens) The Watermelon Peel
MANAGER:
Alessio Dionisi
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Serie A, 13th
Udinese
NICKNAME:
I Bianconeri (The White and Blacks)
I Friulani (The Friulians) Le Zebrette (The Little Zebras)
MANAGER:
Andrea Sottil
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Serie A, 12th
Udinese’s Florian Thauvin (R) and Juventus’s Adrien Rabiot fight for the ball
Andrea Sottil’s diverse squad soared to the top of Serie A early on before falling away to what has become their usual berth of mid-table obscurity last term, and it will be an uphill task for the club from the north-east Friuli-Venezia Giulia region
to challenge beyond the middle ground this time around. Imposing target man Beto will once again be a focal point for Le Zebrette who can also count on French veteran Florian Thauvin in attack. New Brazilian forward Brenner and towering Italian under-21 centre-forward Lorenzo Lucca should provide additional firepower for a team which wilted in the latter part of 2022-23 and is aiming to rediscover some momentum.
32 SOCCER360 MAGAZINE
Andrea Sottil
2023-24 SERIE A SEASON PREVIEW