In Serie A, Salernitana, Lecce, Spezia and Verona are fighting to avoid relegation. In theory, Verona has the least chance of salvation. But history tells a different story. Favourites to relegate to Serie B is the newest team: Spezia.
Italian football remains a paradox. The national team is the reigning European champion but hasn’t reached a World Cup since thirteen years ago. It has three teams in the Champions League quarterfinals and at least one (but more likely two) in the semi-finals (which would automatically mean one in the final). Italy has given the most players – two dozen – of any country in the world to the quarterfinals of the continent’s most successful competition. Yet Serie A continues to be lopsided. Napoli won the title before the first flowers of spring were blooming. Lazio seems favourite to take the second place. Roma and Milan want to finish in top 4, to reach the next season of the UEFA Champions League. Inter are teetering (although they can still win the Champions League, but they made a fool of themselves at home against Berlusconi’s Monza).
Sampdoria and Cremonese are doomed to relegate (although Cremonese showed signs of life in the match against Empoli). That leaves four teams fighting to avoid the last relegation spot: Verona, Spezia, Lecce and Salernitana. Verona had a good game at Napoli, Spezia was slammed by Lazio at home, Lecce drew at home against modest Sampdoria, while Salernitana took a point off AC Torino and look the fittest of the relegation candidates.
Liguria’s footballing woes
Despite the standings, Verona still has a better chance of salvation. Because Spezia is a recent team (although the club has been in existence since 1906), recent in terms of performance in Serie A, not even comparable to Verona (once champions of Italy).
Spezia represents Liguria, an Italian region that is suffering in football (the passion of the teams from Genoa is well known). Economically, Spezia is doing well in the wake of the formidable tourist success of the Cinque Terre, that Italian paradise on the Tuscan border. The money that keeps pouring into Cinque Terre also flows through Spezia – so the team has some financial potential. But for Spezia, history is not playing. And in Italy history decides everything, not just who wins titles, Champions Leagues (Milan are favourites against Napoli because of a richer history) and other things at the rich table. In Italy history also decides who stays and who leaves the top league. Don’t forget that when you bet.
