The start of the 2024/25 Serie A season has been a wild ride. In the opening weeks of the new season, AC Milan managed to knock off reigning champions and cross-city rivals Inter, snapping a six game Derby della Madonnina losing streak courtesy of goals from Christian Pulisic and Matteo Gabbia. The Rossoneri couldn’t build on the victory though, losing their next clash away at Fiorentina, missing two penalties and suffering a red card as a 2-1 defeat saw them slump to sixth in the table.
With the international break now here, a number of teams are better positioned than others before returning to domestic matters in a fortnight’s time. But who are they, and how far can they go this term?
What To Do During the International Break
For Serie A fans missing the thrill of league action during the international break, playing online soccer slot games online can provide the perfect way to remain as close to the beautiful game as possible. Australian platforms, such as Ignition Bitcoin Casino offer a range of bitcoin-friendly slots to keep the excitement alive, allowing users to deposit with cryptocurrencies to remain safe and anonymous at all times when making payments.
Dive into the excitement with Zombie FC, a Bitcoin-powered slot game that combines the unpredictability of the undead with the tactics found out on the pitch. With its unique storyline, players must lead their team of zombie athletes to victory, navigating through thrilling challenges and unpredictable twists to score big wins.
Then there’s World Cup Soccer, an exciting slot title that encapsulates the global fever of the World Cup, bringing the international tournament’s grandeur to your screen. With international action taking centre stage in real life, this pokie offers the perfect way to remain in tune with what’s unfolding in real life, and it’s dynamic features that mimic the tension and drama of a real World Cup match, allowing you to experience the euphoria of scoring last-minute goals and claiming victory for your virtual team.
Beyond these slot games, Ignition Casino introduces virtual football, an innovative experience that allows you to engage with the sport in a new dimension. This feature provides a real-time simulation of soccer matches, offering you the chance to bet on the action as if it was real. With a lack of real Serie A action available right now, betting on Milan Red or Turin (Pro Evolution Soccer anyone?) may be the best way to go.
Once the break is over, attention turns back to domestic matters, and here are three teams that will be licking their lips at the Serie A’s return.
Napoli
Napoli has made an impressive start to the season, surprising everyone to rise to the top of the table, even their manager Antonio Conte. The Italian tactician arrived at the club in the summer and proceeded to state that it could take a while for success to return to the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona. However, five victories in their first seven has seen them take over at the Italian top flight’s summit, sitting two points clear of reigning champions Inter.
The first task at hand for Conte was figuring out what to do with wantaway striker Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian sensation was a key reason as to why the Ciucciarelli won the Scudetto the season before last however, he made his wishes to depart the club well known. The new boss heeded his call and duly shipped him out of Naples, with Osimhen ultimately ending up out on loan with Turkish giants Galatasaray.
In his place came Romelu Lukaku, one of Conte’s loyal soldiers during the title-winning Inter team of 2020. The Belgian striker has led the line impeccably so far this term, chipping in with crucial goals against Parma, Cagliari, and Como. He has been supported by the addition of former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, who has already become a fan favourite despite only arriving a couple of months ago.
The Scotsman’s ability to control the midfield and Lukaku’s prowess in front of goal have been critical factors in Napoli’s success. Their attacking strategy, characterized by swift counter-attacks and clinical finishing, has made them a formidable opponent for any team. Looking ahead, Napoli aims to secure a return to the Champions League, but on current form, a title challenge certainly doesn’t look out of the realm of possibility.
Udinese
Meanwhile, Udinese has emerged as one of the surprise packages of the season. Their solid defence and effective counter-attacks have earned them a string of impressive results that have seen them rise up to fifth place in the table, just one point behind second place Inter and three points behind leaders Napoli. Le Zebrette avoided relegation by just two points last term, and their early season performances have defied the bookies expectations that they could struggle once more.
New signing Lorenzo Lucca has been instrumental to his side’s success. The former Pisa man has been highly touted for some time, and it was indeed Udinese that won the race for his signature in the summer. He has responded with five goals so far this season, and if he can continue in a similar vein of form, don’t be surprised to see Udinese battling out for a spot in Europe come the end of the season.
