Football Season Guide

Returning to the Serie after a 50-year-long absence, in the past season SPAL proved to be a tougher side than most people might have expected and they eventually reached a well-deserved salvation right at the very end. Coach Leonardo Semplici, who took the reins of the team when they were in Serie B, was confirmed at the helm for the fifth season in a row and he will be asked to repeat all the good done in the past campaign. For sure, they will have to have a better start to their season than last year, when they were floating just above the bottom three by a thin hair. Besides that, they will also have to improve their away performances as, in the past campaign, they recorded better results just than the three relegated sides and Chievo Verona, who also reached safety at the very last moment. During the summer, SPAL lost one key player and a couple of regulars. It was widely known that Alex Meret would have returned to his parent club, Udinese, following two fantastic seasons in Ferrara; in fact, he left and even ended up in Napoli after a bit of an auction sale. Meret will be replaced in goals by Alfred Gomis, who showed some skills last season while the new Napoli keeper was injured. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic arrived from Torino and he should provide some cover for Gomis. SPAL also saw Federico Mattiello’s departure. The right-back returned to Atalanta, and then went to Bologna, after some positive displays. Mohamed Fares, one of the few players to have constantly shown some skills in the past Hellas Verona campaign, will be expected to replace him on the left flank of the midfield in a 3-5-2 formation. In the middle of the park, Alberto Grassi returned to Napoli once his loan expired but SPAL are trying to get him back with them before the new season begins. In terms of new signings, SPAL also acquired the Swiss defender Johan Djourou, who has plenty of experience but might be a bit worn out nowadays, and, most than anything, Andrea Petagna, from Atalanta. The latter is a great fighter in the box but has not been particularly prolific on his career: he will be expected to do the job Marco Borriello never did last season, as Mirko Antenucci's partner. Moreover, Mattia Valoti could represent a valid alternative for the midfield.