With all eyes on Italy this past week (because of the Rome Masters), I thought it’d be a good time to check in on what’s going on in Serie B. Here’s what we’ve got —-
Sampdoria has fallen further into the abyss.
The 1991 Scudetto winners were relegated from Serie B on Saturday, marking the first time in the club’s history that they will compete in Serie C.
It’s a further fall from grace for the Genoan club, which was Harry Winks’ loanee club during the 2022-23 season.
This was a disastrous season for Sampdoria. The club brought in Andrea Pirlo as a key part of their project. He was sacked three games into the season after failing to secure promotion last year. They went through a few more managers after that, only to finish 18th in the league.
It’s an even tougher road for Sampdoria from here.
Serie C is composed of 60 clubs in three different tables: North, Centre and South.
Only the top team from each table gets automatic promotion to Serie B (after a 38-game season). An additional 28 teams compete to achieve the final promotion spot for Serie B. It lasts a total of six rounds.
It looks like an absolutely miserable time. There are some interesting clubs here too: Crotone, Benevento, Pescara and SPAL.
We’re only in the second round of the playoffs, which begin this weekend. Here are the remaining clubs competing for the final spot to Serie B: Crotone, Vicenza, Giana Erminio, Ternana, Atalanta U23, Audace Cerignola, Vis Pesaro and Pescara.
And now for a quick Rome Masters recap: Because you all asked for it, we need to check in on the latest tennis scores. The Rome Masters is the last big tournament before Roland Garros (don’t worry, we’ll preview that soon), and players are going to be itching to get into form before hitting the famed red clay.
Men’s singles: Jannik Sinner decimated Madrid Masters champion Casper Ruud upon returning to the tour after serving his three-month ban. It’s hard not to see how Sinner won’t be entering RG as the odds-on favourite to win. But keep an eye on the Italian one-handed wonder in Lorenzo Mussetti, who’s already claimed four top-10 wins on clay this season.
Women’s singles: Aryna Sabalenka is out. Coco Gauff is cementing her position as the World No. 2, but will face a difficult test against last year’s French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini. It’ll be an even more difficult task playing against the hometown favourite in front of the Italian crowd.
Fitzie’s track of the day: I Miss That Feeling, by Tennis
And now for your links:
Alasdair Gold: “Ange Postecoglou won’t rule out radical Pedro Porro move amid Tottenham problems”
Dan KP: “Ange Postecoglou hints at ‘creative’ solution to injury crisis ahead of Europa League final”
ESPN: “Barcelona clinch LaLiga title, domestic treble with win at Espanyol”