Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[Battista Minola 1616]

The first round of Serie A 2021-2022 has been pretty sparkling and exciting, with many goals and good games, but most of all it has been... a big show for referees, lol. Seven red cards, seven penalties, and quite a number of VAR interventions to assign (or not) goals.

I am a bit disappointed that Spezia squandered the advantage it had built against Cagliari and only ended with a draw. In any case there's always this:

At least, we can laugh at Juve. Big wow. Downright pathetic that the stars were brought on to protect a lead and failed. Inter dynasty (despite significant turnover) in the making

[Battista Minola 1616]

Yesterday Giovanni Simeone, striker for Verona and son of Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone, had a moment of glory and destroyed Lazio by scoring four goals - something that I think happens a couple times a year or so in Serie A. The match ended 4-1 as Ciro "clockwork" Immobile did not fail to put his name on the score sheet.

[Battista Minola 1616]

Yesterday Giovanni Simeone, striker for Verona and son of Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone, had a moment of glory and destroyed Lazio by scoring four goals - something that I think happens a couple times a year or so in Serie A. The match ended 4-1 as Ciro "clockwork" Immobile did not fail to put his name on the score sheet.

Wasn't Mussolini's great grandson in the Lazio squad for the match?

Lazio is such a great club.

As Al is wont to say, the north end of Rome [spoiler: very much not a leftist place] is full of Lazio fans.

[Battista Minola 1616]

I have not followed much in the last months, but at the end of the first half-season Inter leads the Serie A, Spezia is not in a relegation spot, and Ciro Immobile keeps winning scoring (although amazingly not as much as Dušan Vlahović) so I guess this football season is being good enough for me.

[Battista Minola 1616]

Being eliminated by North Macedonia is embarrassing, but there could be worse years to skip the World Cup than the year it is hosted in Qatar in December...

[Battista Minola 1616]

I only occasionally remember this thread exists, but I just want to pop in to express my appreciation for this year's Napoli - absolute steamroller. Maybe this time is the lucky one, smilo! Not to mention Salernitana is doing surprisingly well so far. Campania Revenge Tour?

[Battista Minola 1616]

Not a bad year for Italian teams in Europe, shall we say... (actively hilarious that we eliminated all three of the Portuguese big ones, especially to me as a noted Lusophile).

[Battista Minola 1616]

3 European finals, 3 Italian finalists. Serie A isn't done yet.

Three Italian teams in European finals but both Juve and Milan eliminated (and Napoli, but at least Napoli won the Serie A)? I couldn't ask for more!

[Battista Minola 1616]

That was a crazy Serie A finale! In the end, Spezia will go to a relegation playoff with Verona. Funnily enough that's also how the first football year I remember (2006/2007) ended, although in that case it was in Serie B. Spezia won.

[Battista Minola 1616]

3/3 lost finals for the Italian teams and now Spezia has just been relegated, truly a bummer end of season as far as I am concerned.

[Battista Minola 1616]

Victor Osimhen's agent is furious after an official Napoli social media account posted a video mocking the team's own star striker for missing a penalty in the fifth day of Serie A (the post was deleted shortly thereafter, but still) and today suddenly there are reports that Osimhen will not renew his contract and leave as soon as possible. One of the most embarrassing and petty scandals I've heard of.

[Battista Minola 1616]

TWO STARS FOR INTER MILAN! This has been an amazing Serie A season for the team, although in terms of other competitions it was a pale shadow of 2022/2023. My pick for the squad's MVP is Federico Dimarco, a wing-back who leaves his mark on so many goals and has an amazingly yellow-card-free record.

[Battista Minola 1616]

Leverkusen simply refuse to lose. Incredible.

I was not going to watch the game, then I saw Roma was ahead 2-0 and I got excited and switched on my television, and then... that. Such a bummer!

[Battista Minola 1616]

Anyway, after what happened last year I start from the assumption that Italian teams will manage the ridiculous feat of losing five European finals in a row. I hope to be pleasantly surprised - especially by Atalanta, for whom a win would be a magnificent coronation to this unprecedented cycle.

[Battista Minola 1616]

Empoli - Udinese battle for 17th was so dull until stoppage time:

A high boot on the very edge of the box granted Empoli the PK they needed to take the lead and overtake Udinese in the classification.

Then in the 96th minute, a clear and blatant foul to hold and tackle the Udinese attacker from the open net went uncalled initially. The game was blown over until VAR overruled that.

In the 104th minute, Udinese finally converted from the spot for the draw. 1-1.

Udinese leads Empoli by a point heading into the final match. Empoli appears headed for relegation though still control their own fate, albeit with a win needed against Roma. They will need help from Frosinone if they only manage to draw.  All eyes on Udinese - Frosinone as Udinese looks to avoid relegation for the first time in 30 years.

This result also officially sends Sassuolo to Serie B.

I can't say that I'm done with this game because it wouldn't be true (at all) but I am so annoyed. 15 minutes of stoppage time!!! That's literally one leg of extra time.

[Battista Minola 1616]

ATALANTA WINS THE EUROPA LEAGUE (3-0 TO BOOT)! This is incredible. Gian Piero Gasperini deserves a place in the greatest football managers ever.