Because Serie A risks not having a winter champion

Because Serie A risks not having a winter champion
Because Serie A risks not having a winter champion

ROMA —The statistics speak for themselves: two times out of three (in 67% of cases) those who have graduated winter champion he then won it scudetto. That’s why the mid-season title race isn’t all that platonic. With three matchdays remaining in the first round, the fight, after Inter’s clear success in the postponement against Lazio, appears increasingly intricate and intriguing.

«the Serie A standings»

Six teams competing

In contention (with equal points, goal difference would be taken into account, ndr) there are still, in fact, five teams: Atalanta (37 points), Napoli (35), Inter (34 but with one race less), Fiorentina (31 with the match against Inter to be recovered) e Lazio (31). On paper, to be honest, it isn’t left out either Juventus (28), 9 points behind the top, but its chances of finishing in the lead, after the 2-2 draw with Venezia, are merely arithmetic given that, in addition to three victories, it should hope, just to give two examples, that Gasperini’s team doesn’t win a single point in the next three matches and Napoli doesn’t win a single one.

«The Serie A calendar»

Winter champion in February

The problem this year is that we risk reaching the halfway point without being able to officially elect the winter champion. To complicate everything, in fact, there are two factors: first of all the Super Cup, scheduled from 2 to 6 January, which will force Atalanta and Inter, playing at home against Juventus and Bologna, to close the 19th matchday on 14 and 15 January respectively , after the return premiere has already taken place. And then there is the issue of recovery between Fiorentina and Inter, suspended due to Bove’s illness, which will not be resumed before mid-February.

Atalanta’s tough schedule

Leaders Atalanta, momentarily alone, might appear to be favorites on paper but in reality they do not have a calendar which does not help them in the race for the winter title: after the match in Bergamo next Sunday with Empoli, they first have to face away game in Rome with Lazio and then, as mentioned, ends with Juventus.

Inter have the easier calendar

Inter, who could virtually catch up with them in the event of a victory in the match in Florence, in theory have a few more chances given that, before finishing the first leg against Bologna, they are expected to play the Lombard derby at the Meazza next Monday with Como and then from the trip to Cagliari. Napoli, in addition to being two points behind the top, have the small complication of two out of three away matches: they start on Saturday at Marassi against Genoa, then they host Venezia, and finally, on 4 January, they have the delicate match at the Franchi with Fiorentina.

Fiorentina challenges Napoli, Lazio awaits Atalanta and Roma

Fiorentina, for its part, has Udinese at home on Monday, then goes to the Stadium to challenge Juventus and closes again at the Franchi against Napoli. Similar discussion, although more complex, for Lazio who will be on stage in Lecce on Saturday but will then have two truly difficult matches: the direct clash at the Olimpico with Atalanta and the derby with Roma. Finally, Juventus is called upon, to hope, for a streak in the away games in Lombardy against Monza and Atalanta and in the home clash with Fiorentina.

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