Certainly, solely 4 factors separate the 2 groups, who will battle it out to the top to see who can declare the 2024/25 Scudetto.
With heavyweights Milan and Juventus struggling this season, already sacking one supervisor apiece, the door has been opened for others to sneak into the Champions League locations.
Atalanta could have seen their title hopes falter following consecutive defeats towards Lazio, Fiorentina, and Inter, however they need to nonetheless hope to complete in third place.
Elsewhere, Bologna have come good at simply the suitable time, beginning the day fourth in Serie A having gained their earlier 5 league matches, which included a formidable 2-1 victory over Milan.
That each one set us up properly for the Monday evening sport: Bologna vs. Napoli. Solely eight factors separate the golf equipment. A win for Napoli will enable them to maintain the stress on Inter, whereas Bologna can bolster their possibilities of qualifying for the Champions League for the second 12 months in a row by extending their run of victories.
Antonio Conte vs. Vincenzo Italiano. North vs. East. Scott McTominay vs. Lewis Ferguson.
The match is hotly anticipated and the main target will likely be on two Scotsmen who’ve held their very own in Serie A since their respective strikes to Italy.
Scott McTominay has been a breath of recent air for Napoli
McTominay was maybe underappreciated throughout his time with Manchester United, regardless of making 255 appearances for the Pink Devils.
The midfielder began solely 27 of his 43 video games for United in the course of the 2023/24 season, with Erik ten Hag usually preferring to convey him into the sport in its place.
This labored to perfection on a number of events, most notably towards Brentford in October 2023. McTominay scored twice in damage time to seal a comeback victory.
One other late aim towards Aston Villa bailed out United as soon as once more a number of months later and he netted important objectives towards Liverpool and Coventry within the quarter-final and semi-final of the FA Cup.
A £25m transfer to Napoli final summer time got here as a shock, then, particularly given his performances for United. He hasn’t appeared again, starring beneath Conte because the membership search a second league title in simply three seasons.
Throughout 28 video games for the membership, McTominay has already registered 11 aim contributions – seven objectives and 4 assists – proving his value from the center of the midfield.
Solely Romelu Lukaku has recorded extra contributions in entrance of aim this season for Napoli. The Scot ranks within the prime 3% for objectives(six), complete photographs (58), profitable dribbles (29) and touches within the opposition penalty space (90) in Serie A this season.
Not solely can he management the midfield and be stable from a defensive perspective, however the Scot is clearly at his finest when he makes these trademark late runs into the opposition field.
It will likely be attention-grabbing certainly to see how he copes taking part in towards worldwide teammate Ferguson when Napoli tackle Bologna.
Lewis Ferguson is again to his finest following damage
Ferguson had the world at his toes in the direction of the top of the 2023/24 season. The previous Aberdeen starlet had featured in all however considered one of Bologna’s league video games forward of a conflict towards Monza, scoring six objectives within the course of.
Throughout that sport, he suffered an ACL damage which not solely dominated him out for the rest of the membership season, however ended his possibilities of representing Scotland at Euro 2024.
Given how properly he had carried out in his second season for Bologna, it was a serious blow for Scotland, who naturally didn’t make it out of the group levels in Germany.
The 25-year-old recovered properly from the intense damage, making his first look of the season towards Lecce in the beginning of November, that includes for eight minutes.
Since then, the Scot has performed an additional 20 video games for Bologna, scoring as soon as within the league whereas additionally chipping in with an help too.
After all, it was going to take him a number of months to get again to full health given the severity of his damage, however after returning to the fold for Scotland throughout the newest worldwide break, he is able to propel his membership to a top-four end. He’s additionally been integral to Bologna’s Coppa Italia marketing campaign, the place they’re presently three objectives up towards Empoli after the primary leg of their semi-final.
Ferguson will not be as efficient as McTominay this season when it comes to contributions in entrance of aim, however he does rank within the prime 26% for cross accuracy (88.5%) and within the prime 23% for profitable passes per 90 (49.49) within the Italian prime flight this season.
Contemplating he missed almost 4 months of the marketing campaign, these statistics present he can nonetheless dictate the play in one of many hardest leagues in Europe.
With McTominay changing into the newest Scotsman to shine in Serie A following his transfer from Man United, plus Ferguson returning to motion in current months, the conflict between Napoli and Bologna may come down as to whether these two are at their finest.
Not because the halcyon days of the Eighties has the Italian prime flight seen as many Scottish internationals ply their commerce. Again then it was Graeme Souness and Joe Jordan lighting the flame for Scotland on the continent.
Now, each Ferguson and McTominay have the prospect to eclipse their predecessors achievements ought to they lead their respective groups to Coppa Italia or Serie A glory this season.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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