Mixed fortunes were in store for the three Serie A newcomers – Pescara, Torino and Sampdoria – in their first two outings of the new Serie A season that got underway late last month before the first stop for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
Pescara, the Serie B table-toppers and back in the top division after a 19-year absence, are still without a point after conceding identical 3-0 defeats to Inter and Torino.
On the opening day, Torino held on to a valuable 0-0 draw away at Siena in their first showing in the top flight after three years in Serie B.
Sampdoria, who only won promotion via the play-offs, caused the biggest sensation on match-day one after shocking Milan at the San Siro 2-1.
Samp then edged Siena 2-1 at their own Luigi Ferraris stadium to clinch maximum spoils from two outings and the calendar looks favourable in the next two fixtures as they will cross swords with Pescara away before hosting Torino in Genoa.
This summer, Pescara lost the services of coach Zdenek Zeman (Roma) and arguably their best three players in Marco Verratti (PSG), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli) and Ciro Immobile (Genoa).
To complicate matters for them, new coach Giovanni Stroppa was not handed enough cash to replace quality with like in the transfer window.
However, Torino and Sampdoria were active in the summer dealings and signed several new players.
Torino decided wisely to keep hold on to Italy defender Angelo Ogbonna and veteran striker Rolando Bianchi besides bolstering their squad with the signing of experienced players who were surplus to requirements at bigger clubs, the likes of Roma’s Matteo Brighi and ex-Fiorentina player Alessio Cerci.
Sampdoria effected a number of quality additions among whom Maxi Lopez from Catania, Paraguay striker Marcelo Estigarribia from Juventus, and Enzo Maresca who is back in the Serie A after seven seasons outside the country with Seville, Olympiakos and Malaga.
Samp, under the charge of ex- Italy U-21 coach Ciro Ferrara, have also retained the services of Sergio Romero – the Argentina goalkeeper, up-and-coming defender Andrea Costa (scorer of the winning goal against Milan), former Inter midfielder Andrea Poli and striker Nicola Pozzi, 20 goals in 32 appearances for Samp last season.
All in all, it looks like Samp have the potential to do well this season.
Although Ferrara is playing down his team’s achievements so far, it would be a serious mistake for the others to underestimate the 1991 Italian champions who are more equipped than mid-table sides like Atalanta, Siena, Palermo, Bologna, Cagliari and Chievo.
On the other hand, a sense of anticipation and excess pressure by supporters may leave a negative impact on the team.
Samp need to take it step by step.
A safe position is a must before other projections come to mind as they may embark on a quest for European football next season.