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5 things to watch for in Serie A this season

By Clemente Lisi

NANJING, CHINA - JULY 24: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus celebrates scoring his side's first goal from a free kick during the International Champions Cup match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at the Nanjing Olympic Center Stadium on July 24, 2019 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Yifan Ding/Getty Images)
NANJING, CHINA - JULY 24: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus celebrates scoring his side's first goal from a free kick during the International Champions Cup match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at the Nanjing Olympic Center Stadium on July 24, 2019 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Yifan Ding/Getty Images) /
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Ciro Immobile of SS Lazio compete for the ball with Jack Simpson of AFC Bournemouth during the Pre-Season Friendly match between AFC Bournemouth and SS Lazio at Vitality Stadium on August 2, 2019 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Marco Rosi/Getty Images)
Ciro Immobile of SS Lazio compete for the ball with Jack Simpson of AFC Bournemouth during the Pre-Season Friendly match between AFC Bournemouth and SS Lazio at Vitality Stadium on August 2, 2019 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Marco Rosi/Getty Images) /

1. Look for Italian strikers to lead the league in goals

The Italian league is loaded with offensive talent from around the planet, but the country’s best strikers still play domestically. The list of players who can win the capocannoniere (the Italian word for top scorer meaning “top gunner”) award are many. Leading the pack could be strikers Ciro Immobile (Lazio) and Andrea Belotti (Torino). Both finished tied for 10th in the top scorers’ table last season with 15 goals apiece.

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Last season’s top scorer was a surprise. Sampdoria’s Fabio Quagliarella, who turned 36 in the middle of last season, tallied a staggering 26 goals and added eight assists. The following five players on the scoring charts were foreigners.

This season will also see Italy looking to clinch a spot to next year’s European Championship. Any striker with an Italian passport needs to get the attention of national team manager Roberto Mancini if they want a spot on the roster.

It is worth noting that there is some history on the side of Italian players. Six of the last 10 editions of Serie A have featured an Italian top scorer. Furthermore, nine Italians are in the top 10 list of all-time league scorers. Swedish striker Gunnar Nordhal, who played in Italy throughout the 1950s, remains the exception. Quagliarella, meanwhile, will return for Sampdoria in what will be his 18th Serie A season. There’s no ruling out what this ageless wonder can do.

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