Between the Champions League jingle and the transfer market rumors in Bologna they try to keep their feet planted on the ground. Dreaming is good for your health, but in the information leaflet they write very small to you that deluding yourself is also seriously harmful to your health. Bologna is a “football sick city”, the older ones remember Baggio and Signori wearing the Bolognese shirt in Europe, the younger ones imagine Zirkee and Ferguson playing in a full stadium against Real Madrid or PSG.
A Scotsman in Bologna, but not for long…
Lewis Ferguson, indeed. 24 year old boy who comes from gray Scotland directly to Bologna in the summer of 2022, he made his debut at San Siro like in a fairy tale and in a few months he became irreplaceable. Contract expiring on 30 June 2027 for the Scottish midfielder, Juventus has already been on the case for a while even if the Bianconeri do not go beyond 25 million euros. Different story for Manchester United who could reach up to 40, offering Ferguson much more money than the Juventus club can make. Bologna is cradling their Champions League dream and pampering themselves with one of the currently strongest midfielders in Serie A, but perhaps not for long.
Juve are thinking of the Scot from Bologna, but United are there
Everyone prays to God Ballardini
Black crisis for the Sassuolo who risks saying goodbye to Serie A like never before this year, with the esthete Dionisi out and the specialist Ballardini in. The iron-fisted sergeant called to yet another desperate career saver this time has a suicide mission on his hands. A team without a soul that has also lost Berardi (best wishes for a speedy recovery to the boy) and is unable to score points. An always empty stadium is another point against a team that for years has gravitated between the right and left sides of the table, without ever taking on a precise appearance. There are those who spoke of a Sassuolo in the Europa League, but at this point in the season Serie B is really at risk. The few fans in the stadium are praying to God Ballardini.
The Ballardini God – Photo by Telenord
the Via del Mare like the Santiago Bernabeu
A Verona they believe in it, they hope in it, and they will fight until the last point to maintain the category. Hellas winning 1-0 against Sassuolo is like a repeating student who hasn’t lost the habit of skipping school, gets distracted in class but then manages to cheat during the math test. Six is an acceptable rating. Verona won narrowly, just enough to not feel guilty with a stadium that believes in it. The Scaligeri climb to 23 points and stick their heads above water, breathe and survive at least until the next match. Lecce – Hellas Verona is a classic Italian survival clash. There would be other matches to watch, at least for those who believe that from tenth position onwards Serie A is on par with the Bulgarian championship, but for the people who support Verona the trip to Salento is worth as much as the Champions League final.
Hellas Verona chasing safety points – Photo by Il Corriere Della Sera
Nightmares
In Udine they haven’t been sleeping well lately, the nightmare of Serie B is a monster that comes to visit you late at night and kidnaps you. This is the horror story that has been handed down in Friuli since the beginning of the season, yes because from the beginning of the championship theUdinese is among those likely to be relegated.
Nightmares Udinese – Photo by Lazio News 24
Once upon a time the European Cup was played in these parts and Barcelona had a hard time, now the wind has changed and the management invests little or nothing. The fans would have liked a more prolific striker from Lucca, a midfielder with personality and perhaps a few more victories. Udinese is content with a miserable point against Salernitana, hoping that in the next match at Lazio’s home coach Sarri will make a mistake in his formation. Hard times.