Assessing the 2021/22 Serie A title contenders

NAPLES, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 11: Kalidou Koulibaly and Giovanni Di Lorenzo of SSC Napoli and Manuel Locatelli of Juventus FC in action during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Juventus at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 11, 2021 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 11: Kalidou Koulibaly and Giovanni Di Lorenzo of SSC Napoli and Manuel Locatelli of Juventus FC in action during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Juventus at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 11, 2021 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
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The outsiders – Fiorentina

Fiorentina have a superb coach in Vincenzo Italiano. (Photo by Vincenzo Izzo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Fiorentina have a superb coach in Vincenzo Italiano. (Photo by Vincenzo Izzo/LightRocket via Getty Images)

League position after Matchday 7: 5th (12pts)

Top scorer: Dusan Vlahovic (four goals)

Early star: Vincenzo Italiano

Key man in title charge: Dusan Vlahovic

After escaping a relegation dogfight last time out, Fiorentina have emerged as the division’s dark-horses to start 2021/22. Buoyed by the mind of new manager Vincenzo Italiano, La Viola currently sit fifth in the table.

Italiano has got the best out of what was always a talented group of players, with his modern, progressive ideals working in harmony with Fiorentina’s impressive crop. They’re a fantastic watch.

We’ve seen them thwart the likes of Napoli and Inter Milan through shrewd pressing, although their record against superior opposition suggests they’re not quite ready to mount a Serie A title charge. La Viola have lost to Roma and the two aforementioned sides already thus far, but they did overcome Atalanta in Bergamo.

Nevertheless, there’s no doubting that this Fiorentina side are on the right track with a brilliant coach at the helm. Their ambition will be Europe this season, though. Not the title. Let’s just hope Dusan Vlahovic’s situation doesn’t stall their impressive start.