Top Four
James – Inter, Juventus, Atalanta, Napoli
As I just noted, I’m backing Juventus to be Inter’s closest rivals this season. They’ll certainly be improved from 2020/21 as a result of Manuel Locatelli’s impending arrival, Rodrigo Bentancur’s role change and, hopefully, a ubiquitous Paulo Dybala. Alongside Inter and the Bianconeri, I have Atalanta and Napoli making up the top four. There’s no reason to foreshadow La Dea’s demise under Gian Piero Gasperini, while Luciano Spalletti will prove a superb appointment for the Neapolitans, with a certain striker firing them back into the Champions League. More on that later.
Jo – Juventus, Atalanta, AS Roma, AC Milan
With Juventus being my pick to top the league this season, Atalanta, AS Roma, and AC Milan should follow the trail. Now, just to clear things, the aforementioned sequence doesn’t suggest the final standings or what I think would be the final standings on the points table, but the names of teams I believe would finish in the top four this season have been mentioned. Now, let me justify my choices. First of all, despite losing 3-1 to Juventus on their final friendly game and allowing Cristian Romero (Serie A’s best defender for the 2020/21 season) to leave this summer, Atalanta, in my opinion, have enough artillery to finish behind Juventus and above the rest. I expect Jose Mourinho to run his magic and carry Roma back to the Champions League next season, why? I will explain that later. AC Milan, meanwhile, will enjoy fruit for their patience with Stefano Pioli after finishing second last time around.
Relegated
James – Hellas Verona, Spezia, Salernitana
My surprise relegation candidate is Hellas Verona, who’ve overachieved considerably over the past two years with Ivan Juric at the helm. However, Juric made the switch to Torino in the summer, Ieaving the enterprising Eusebio Di Francesco with this undermanned Hellas squad. The new boss is bound to struggle following failures at Sampdoria and Cagliari. Elsewhere, Vincenzo Italiano’s departure from Spezia leaves them in a heap of trouble, while Salernitana, as busy as they’ve been in the transfer market, simply don’t have enough to enjoy a second consecutive campaign in Serie A. They’ll finish rock bottom.
Jo – Salernitana, Venezia, Spezia
Predicting the relegated sides is not an easy job. This time, Salernitana, Venezia and Spezia are my picks for the last three spots on the points table. Making the leap from the second-tier to the top-tier of Italian football needs courage and the blessings of fortune. Salernitana and Venezia had it all. While I believe Salernitana have made too many new additions which would probably work against them, Venezia, going against all odds, were blessed last season to secure the Serie A qualification in the first place. Playing in Serie A would be a huge achievement for the Venice-based club. They would partner Spezia, the regelation-dwellers from the last campaign. That said, I hope these teams do well in reality.
Capocannoniere winner
James – Victor Osimhen
Injuries prevented Napoli’s record signing from catching fire last season, although the gangly forward did finish with a respectable ten goals from 24 Serie A appearances. This time around, expect Victor Osimhen to be Spalletti’s protagonist in Naples as Dries Mertens gets a year older and Lorenzo Insigne stalls over a new contract. The 22-year-old is Napoli’s present and future, and he’ll pay off some of his monstrous price tag with a goal-laden campaign in 2021/22.
Jo – Dušan Vlahović
Racking up eight goals fewer than last season’s Capocannoniere, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dusan Vlahović finished fourth on the respective list while playing a subpar Fiorentina side. The 21-year-old Serbian professional possesses the potential of leading the list, and I expect him to do so sooner rather than later. He had an extraordinary pre-season, where he amassed a couple of goals. In fact, he scored seven times in Fiorentina’s 11-0 win over Polisportiva C4 Foligno. Similar to Erling Braut Haaland in my eyes, Vlahović deserves a Capocannoniere to vindicate his talent.