Verona and Pisa sit last in the standings with 15 points, each with three losses and two draws in their last five matches, results that have likely sealed their fate. So far, they have failed to collect the points needed to stay in Serie A, and it seems unlikely they can do so now, but in football, as we know, anything is possible.
Fiorentina revival
Fiorentina have 21 points after a surprising away win at Como last weekend. Nicolo Fagioli and Moise Kean, the latter finally growing into a leadership role, decided the match. It was three crucial points for the Florence side, but they remain third from bottom and winning consistently will not be easy, especially given their lack of stability so far.
On Monday they face Pisa in a delicate clash that could mark a turning point, though first they must play in the Conference League on Thursday. Most likely, their focus will be on the league.
Staying in Serie A after such a dramatic start would be a significant achievement, even if the squad is clearly stronger than its direct rivals. For players unaccustomed to battling for survival, these challenges are particularly complex. Their opponents are used to constant pressure, to playing with the fear that a single defeat could make everything collapse, often with their backs against the wall.
Fiorentina have managed to get back on their feet, but the road ahead is still long and a clear direction will be needed. The final stretch of the season will be demanding, so the Viola must secure the necessary points now, starting with the match against Pisa.
Three locked in battle
Three teams sit on 24 points: Lecce, Cremonese, and Genoa, each in a very different situation. Eusebio Di Francesco’s Lecce earned three vital points away at Cagliari on Monday evening, shaking up the lower part of the table. It was an impressive win that can give the team confidence for the remainder of the season, especially as it followed victory against Udinese.
Eusebio Di Francesco’s career has stalled in recent years, but he has previously shown he can build strong projects and develop talent. His Lecce side appears well prepared mentally.
Cremonese, by contrast, are in deep trouble. They have lost three of their last five matches and now face Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma. After an excellent start, Davide Nicola’s team have lost their direction and may be the side in the greatest difficulty. After Roma, they will face Milan, Lecce, and Fiorentina, a daunting run of fixtures.
Can De Rossi inspire Genoa?
Emerging with positive results from the next three matches will be essential to keep their hopes alive. Consecutive defeats, or only a handful of points from this brutal sequence, could prove fatal for the team’s future and perhaps even more so for coach Nicola, who has often demonstrated his ability to excel in desperate situations, especially when taking charge during a season.
Finally, there is Genoa, currently in a slight slump. After unfortunate and undeserved defeats against Lazio and Napoli, they drew with Cremonese, a match that they could and probably should have won. Daniele De Rossi’s team deserved at least five points from those three games but collected only one (with several errors made by the referees, one in particular against Napoli).
They must start earning points again, because slipping into danger would be a real shame given the effort made by De Rossi and his players to turn their season around. Torino, with 27 points, appear relatively comfortable for now, as do Cagliari on 28, but in this Serie A it takes very little to find yourself in trouble. The fight continues. Save yourselves if you can.