Who do you support?

England – Tottenham Hotspur (Since 1990)

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Football began for me with Italia 90. England’s run to the semi-final is permanently etched in my memory, as is my first ever Panini sticker book. That was where I discovered that my new hero, Gary Lineker, played for Spurs. It turned out Paul Gascoigne did as well, but that wasn’t as important to my eight-year-old self. An FA Cup victory came immediately in 1991 and since then…two League Cups and a lot of suffering. I also have a soft spot for Portsmouth (where I went to school) and Havant & Waterlooville (my local side), who once led Liverpool at Anfield.

Spain – Celta Vigo (Since 2003)

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I used to like Deportivo La Coruña after Bebeto’s 1994 World Cup heroics, but I then got to study in Vigo for a year and from then on there was no question which Galician side I would be backing. La Liga tickets were 3 Euros a pop and a packet of 3 Champions League group stage tickets (AC Milan, Brugge and Ajax) were an absolute steal at 20. I got to see them take on Arsenal in the next round, too, but a toothless front line led by former Villa striker Savo Milosevic saw them relegated to Segunda at the end of the season. After Celta, I look out for Rayo Vallecano results and then the Yellow Submarine of Villarreal.

France – Lyon (Since 2004)

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I could have been a PSG fan, having been born and gone to school in the capital, but it didn’t end up that way. They’re the opposite of my type of club, so it’s just as well. While working in Lyon over the summer holidays, I got to see Les Gones take on Manchester United in the Champions League and Sochaux in Ligue 1 at the Stade Gerland. This was the time of Juninho, the Brazilian master of free-kicks, and Lyon instantly became my Champions League team, who I’d back over the English “big four” without hesitation. Seven consecutive titles came between 2002 and 2008 before the emergence of the PSG monolith.

Italy – Atalanta (Since 2017)

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I never really had an Italian side that I supported, but I would previously have said Inter if pushed, and I did enjoy Mourinho’s backs to the wall Champions League triumph with Samuel Eto’o leading the line. However, it was the other Nerazzurri that won my heart in the end. My first memory of watching them was their classy dismantling of Everton home and away in the Europa League. Since then, it has been a rollercoaster coming so close to the cup, the league and the Champions League, but not quite making it. As if I didn’t have enough of that as a Spurs fan!

Germany – Union Berlin (Since 2019)

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Yes, a latecomer to this phenomenal story. I was a minor fan of Dortmund when Lewandowski and the rest of the Polish trio were tearing it up for Klopp, but as soon as I watched this short documentary I was hooked on Union. From donating blood to raise money for the club to fans building their stadium with their own hands, the community spirit is unbeatable. Their first season in the top flight was very much about securing safety with set-pieces key, but in the last two years they’ve developed into a real force securing European football twice in a row. Here’s to more of the same!

Serie A Final Stretch Predictions

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CHAMPIONS – AC MILAN
They nearly got there last season, but couldn’t quite match Antonio Conte’s Inter. This time the Rossoneri will finish ahead of their city rivals and claim their first scudetto for over a decade. The perennially underrated Olivier Giroud has been an inspired signing.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – NAPOLI, INTER MILAN, JUVENTUS
There’s a huge gap between these three sides and a faltering Atalanta in fifth. Bringing in Dusan Vlahovic has taken the Bianconeri to another level and they will finish second. Napoli will be just behind them in third, but Inter’s poor recent form will see them slip to fourth.

EUROPA LEAGUE – ATALANTA, LAZIO
It’s not been a good year for La Dea, who have stuttered in the league as the inevitable exodus of star names has continued. Lazio lost the battle against Roma in the derby at the weekend, but they will win the war thanks to an easier run-in.

CONFERENCE LEAGUE – ROMA
The Giallorossi are still involved in European competition and could well qualify for the Europa League anyway with victory in the inaugural Europa Conference League. The question remains whether Mourinho will be there for it? Will Roma want him to be?

RELEGATED – CAGLIARI, VENEZIA, SALERNITANA
Salernitana are as good as relegated on 16 points. Having to play away at all their direct relegation rivals will spell Cagliari’s demise. Venezia have looked good at times, but Genoa have improved and will overtake them in their annual Houdini act.

PROMOTED – CREMONESE, PISA, MONZA
It’s so, so tight at the top of Serie B, but Cremonese, Pisa and Monza are the current top three on points and on form. With six sides involved in the play-offs, none will want to be involved in that lottery. Recent Serie A sides Lecce, Brescia and Benevento will narrowly miss out.

COPPA ITALIA WINNERS – JUVENTUS
Rare is the season when the Old Lady finishes with nothing, and this will not be one of them. They hold the lead over Fiorentina going into their semi-final second leg and experience will count in the final against one of the Milan sides as they claim their fifteenth Coppa Italia.

TOP GOALSCORER – DUSAN VLAHOVIC
The race to be Italy’s capocannoniere has been neck and neck all season long between Dusan Vlahovic and Ciro Immobile, but the Serbian now has all of Juventus’ creative power to tee him up. That will be the difference, but Lazio’s all-time record goalscorer will run him mighty close.

CONTINUE READING…
BUNDESLIGA FINAL STRETCH PREDICTIONS

LA LIGA FINAL STRETCH PREDICTIONS
LIGUE 1 FINAL STRETCH PREDICTIONS

PREMIER LEAGUE FINAL STRETCH PREDICTIONS

Serie A – 10 games to go (2020/2021)

Teams are in reverse order. Last five games begins with the most recent.

20th – Crotone – 15pts – LLWLL
It’s been a predictably rough ride for Crotone with 70 goals shipped already. With a defence that leaky, Serse Cosmi is on a hiding to nothing trying to keep them up.
Next 5: Napoli (A), Spezia (A), Udinese (H), Samp (H), Parma (A)

19th – Parma – 19pts – LWDLDTeam Profile
Parma face the rest of the bottom five in the next six games. Ex-Italy star Graziano Pelle has been brought in from China to bolster the worst attack in the league.
Next 5: Benevento (A), Milan (H), Cagliari (A), Juventus (A), Crotone (H)

18th – Cagliari – 22pts – LLDWWTeam Profile
The Sardinians’ 5 year stay in the top flight could be coming to an end with a tough set of run-in fixtures. Diego Godin hasn’t been able to shore up the defence.
Next 5: Hellas (H), Inter (A), Parma (H), Udinese (A), Roma (H)

17th – Torino – 23pts – LWLLWTeam Profile
Il Toro are a point clear of the drop zone with a game in hand. They seem the most likely of the bottom four to secure safety with Belotti leading the line.
Next 5: Juventus (H), Udinese (A), Roma (H), Bologna (A), Napoli (H)

16th – Benevento – 29pts – WLDLL
Filippo Inzaghi has been working wonders with Benevento culminating in a shock 1-0 win at Juventus that all but ended the title challenge of the Bianconeri. Looking good to stay up.
Next 5: Parma (H), Sassuolo (H), Lazio (A), Genoa (A), Udinese (H)

15th – Spezia – 29pts – WLDLD
Spezia are another promoted side who’ve enjoyed a better than expected first season. Victory over Cagliari last time moved them seven points clear of danger.
Next 5: Lazio (A), Crotone (H), Bologna (A), Inter (H), Genoa (A)

14th – Fiorentina – 29pts – LWDLLTeam Profile
La Viola have endured a disappointing year with occasional dashes of brilliance from Franck Ribery. Cesare Prandelli has just stepped down due to mental health reasons.
Next 5: Genoa (A), Atalanta (H), Sassuolo (A), Hellas (A), Juventus (H)

13th – Genoa – 31pts – WDLDLTeam Profile
Il Grifone are in much ruder health points-wise than they have been in recent years. A huge comeback win over Parma last time out should suffice to keep them up.
Next 5: Fiorentina (H), Juventus (A), Milan (A), Benevento (H), Spezia (H)

12th – Udinese – 33pts – LDWDWTeam Profile
An ex-Premier League front three of Fernando Llorente, Gerard Deulofeu and Roberto Pereyra with De Paul in behind have kept the Zebrette in familiar mid-table mediocrity.
Next 5: Atalanta (A), Torino (H), Crotone (A), Cagliari (H), Benevento (A)

11th – Bologna – 34pts – WWLLWTeam Profile
Sinisa Mihajlovic’s fantastic tartan cap is in danger of overshadowing what has been another solid season for the Greyhounds. A tougher nut to crack than previously.
Next 5: Inter (H), Roma (A), Spezia (H), Torino (H), Atalanta (A)

10th – Sampdoria – 35pts – WLDDLTeam Profile
After comfortably rescuing them from relegation, Claudio Ranieri has done as well as could be expected this year. Loanee Antonio Candreva has added a touch of class.
Next 5: Milan (A), Napoli (H), Hellas (H), Crotone (A), Sassuolo (A)

9th – Hellas Verona – 38pts – LLLWDTeam Profile
A miserly defence has kept Hellas in the top 10, but a toothless attack has stopped them going any further. Kevin Lasagna has been brought in, but has only scored once.
Next 5: Cagliari (A), Lazio (H), Samp (A), Fiorentina (H), Inter (A)

8th – Sassuolo – 39pts – LWLDDTeam Profile
It looked like the always entertaining Neroverdi might threaten the Big 7’s dominance early on, but they have fallen away. Domenico Berardi is one goal away from his club century.
Next 5: Roma (H), Inter (A), Benevento (A), Fiorentina (H), Milan (A)

7th – Lazio – 49pts – WWLLWTeam Profile
2020/2021 has not been great for the Biancoceleste with Immobile much quieter than last year. Mussolini’s great-grandson has just joined the first team…playing on the right.
Next 5: Spezia (H), Hellas (A), Benevento (H), Napoli (A), Milan (H)

6th – Roma – 50pts – LLWWLTeam Profile
Next 5: Sassuolo (A), Bologna (H), Torino (A), Atalanta (H), Cagliari (A)
The Giallorossi are still going strong in the Europa League and will face Ajax in the last 8. With their current league form, they’ll probably be in the same competition next year.

5th – Napoli – 53pts – WWWDWTeam Profile
Wins at Milan and Roma after a shock Europa League defeat to Granada have seen Napoli sneak back into Champions League contention. The next five games are critical.
Next 5: Crotone (H), Juventus (A), Samp (A), Inter (H), Lazio (H)

4th – Atalanta – 55pts – WWLWWTeam Profile
The departure of talisman Papu Gomez has barely affected Gasperini’s men with Luis Muriel scoring at will. A cup final against Juve awaits and a great chance at another top 4 finish.
Next 5: Udinese (H), Fiorentina (A), Juventus (H), Roma (A), Bologna (H)

3rd – Juventus – 55pts – LWWWDTeam Profile
Defeat to Porto in the Champions League and a home loss to Benevento last time out have the Old Lady in crisis. The title is gone and top 4 is far from guaranteed. Will Ronaldo be packing his bags?
Next 5: Torino (A), Napoli (H), Genoa (H), Atalanta (A), Parma (H)

2nd – AC Milan – 59pts – WLWDWTeam Profile
Taking into account Milan’s recent history, a second place finish would be a wonderful achievement with Ibrahimovic rolling back the years. If only they hadn’t led it for so long.
Next 5: Samp (H), Parma (A), Genoa (H), Sassuolo (H), Lazio (A)

1st – Inter Milan – 65pts – WWWWWTeam Profile
Romelu Lukaku has been on another planet this year and Lautaro Martinez has proved the perfect foil in Antonio Conte’s master plan. The win over Atalanta was the coronation. Deserved champions.
Next 5: Bologna (A), Sassuolo (H), Cagliari (H), Napoli (A), Spezia (A)

# Team MP W D L F A G P
1 Inter Milan 29 24 4 1 71 14 +57 76
2 AC Milan 29 19 5 5 55 33 +22 62
3 Juventus 29 17 8 4 44 23 +21 59
4 Bologna 29 15 9 5 42 25 +17 54
5 Roma 29 15 6 8 55 35 +20 51
6 Atalanta 28 14 5 9 51 32 +19 47
7 SSC Napoli 29 12 9 8 44 33 +11 45
8 Fiorentina 28 12 7 9 41 32 +9 43
9 Lazio 29 13 4 12 36 33 +3 43
10 Monza 29 11 9 9 32 36 -4 42
11 Torino 29 10 11 8 28 26 +2 41
12 Genoa 29 8 10 11 31 36 -5 34
13 Lecce 29 6 10 13 26 45 -19 28
14 Udinese 29 4 15 10 28 44 -16 27
15 Verona 29 6 8 15 26 39 -13 26
16 Cagliari 29 6 8 15 29 50 -21 26
17 Empoli 29 6 7 16 22 43 -21 25
18 Frosinone 29 6 6 17 37 60 -23 24
19 Sassuolo 29 6 5 18 33 56 -23 23
20 Salernitana 29 2 8 19 23 59 -36 14

Why not check out:
Bundesliga – 10 games to go
La Liga – 10 games to go
Ligue 1 – 10 games to go
Premier League – 10 games to go