As we wrap up the season, it’s always important to reflect upon the highs and lows but sometimes it can be challenging to remember everything that happened. With so much to go through, and inevitably so much that we may have missed, I have decided to make a season in review for each of the top 5 leagues, including some wanted and unwanted awards for each player, as well as a full starting XI and bench. First up is Serie A, in which Italy was not blessed with a season for the ages.

There was not much of a title race, the goals were particularly low across the board, and 2 teams were essentially down since February. However, there has been some bright sparks this year, most notably with the exciting progression of Como, the rise in good defensive structures across the board and the introduction of new talent. On top of this, it is a necessity to note that the season is not complete yet and there are therefore inevitably some things still to play for. The relegation battle is not at its conclusion, with either Cremonese or Lecce (more on them later) still awaiting their fates on Sunday.

There is Champions league football too: Juventus are a big story this year, where their European aspirations are not in their own hands. Roma picked up a massive derby day win which has set up a final day for the ages: my advice is to watch out for Cremonese vs Como, a game with guaranteed disappointment for either side.

But without further ado here is the first season in review: Serie A edition.

Surprise stand out of the year:

Armand Lauriente – Sassuolo

Honourable mention: Anastasios Douikas - Como

When Armand Lauriente bagged 18 goals in Serie B last season to aid Sassuolo to an immediate return to the topflight, I was impressed. But as a former Rennes academy product, he has overall not lived up to the same expectations as some of his former peers. But whilst Lauriente hasn’t come close to those numbers this season a division higher, I have been incredibly impressed with his performances.

7 goals and 9 assists from the wing are great numbers for the 27-year-old and he ranks as the 2nd top assister in the whole division, with only Dimarco’s incredible 17 pipping him to top spot.

The Frenchman has had some memorable performances for a Sassuolo side that have remained solid all season. Just this month, Lauriente grabbed a goal and assist in a 2-0 home win over Italian giants Milan and made 2 assists in a crucial win over Atalanta in February. Sassuolo will no doubt be fighting off competition to keep him this summer after back-to-back quality seasons, which has massively lifted the burden off club legend Dominico Beradi.

A quick shout out goes to Anastasios Douikas of Como who has contributed with 13 goals and largely replacing the more experienced, 2-time Champions League winner Alvaro Morata, in a side that have impressed all round.

Clutch play of the year:

Nikola Stulic vs Sassuolo

Honourable mention: Piotr Zielinski vs Juventus

I appreciate this is the only category based on individual moments, which means that I may miss a defining moment of the season on the final match day, but in some ways it was Nikola Stulic’s goal that has set up an incredible final day. On Sunday, Lecce travelled to Sassuolo, a side they had beaten just once in their last 8 match ups, where a win was essentially required to have a chance of staying up.

Sassuolo, with nothing to play for, almost nicked it at the death but through an incredible sequence, up came Nikola Stulic to steal the 3 points just 30 seconds later in the 96th minute. Without that glorious goal that sent the away section into chaos, Lecce would need to rely on Cremonese to drop points whilst also needing to beat Genoa on the final day, but with that goal their fate is in their own hands.

Only one point separates the sides, but Lecce have a considerably easier game, facing mid table Genoa whilst the northerners welcome Champions League hopefuls Como. The goal came from an unlikely place, a 6 ft 1 Serbian who had mustered up just 3 goals in 20 starts, making it understandable why he only got 10 minutes of action.

In fact, Stulic had just 3 touches of the ball the whole game, and yet with one of them he may have just saved Lecce’s season. Of course, it is all for nothing if Lecce fall short on Sunday, but I still think it is a moment worthy of winning due to the influence it has made upon the final day.

The honourable mention comes at the other end of the table, in which I picked Zielinski’s late winner against Juve in February. I feel like this goal essentially solidified the title for I Nerazzuri, which secured back-to-back Scudetto champions since the Juventus dynasty which ended in 2021.

Signing of the season:

Donyell Malen – AS Roma

Honourable mention: Jacobo Ramon - Como

Donyell Malen is the signing of the season, and he only joined in January. I know that might seem wrong, but I really don’t think there can be many complaints with this pick. Malen joined Roma on loan in January after an extremely underwhelming year and a half in the Midlands with Aston Villa.

The Dutch international has really struggled for form in 2 different leagues, but the change of scenery this time has had a completely different outcome. Malen had an immediate impact when he joined, scoring on his debut and then scoring back-to-back braces in February.

Since then, the former Arsenal academy player has chipped in with notable goals against Juve, Como and a hattrick against Pisa. In the run in he has contributed massively, with 8 goal contributions since the beginning of April, aiding Roma to what will hopefully be their highest league finish since 2018 and retuning them to Champions League football for the first time since then.

There are no doubts in my mind that Roma would be where they are without the addition of Malen at Christmas, and so for pure immediate impact alone he is a deserved winner. And this isn’t even mentioning that he currently sits as 2nd joint highest scorer in the division, sitting only behind Lautaro.

The honourable mention goes to Jacobo Ramon of Como, who was brought in for 2.5 million euros from Real Madrid in the summer, and who has contributed to the best defence in the league, conceding just 23 goals whilst he was on the pitch.

Young player of the year:

Nico Paz

Honourable mention: Kenan Yildiz

Was there any doubt? Well, actually yes there was as I very much considered choosing Kenan Yildiz, but the Old Lady star will have to settle for second best. But back to Paz: it is no secret that we are large admirers of Paz and this season was no different. Paz has great numbers yes, his team are the surprise package of this year, yes. But forget all the numbers and stats for a second: this boy is truly brilliant to watch.

The Argentine is a Bonafide wonderkid, a star already made. In fact, he’s so good I nearly put him as the player of the year, but I resisted because I think this isn’t even him at his best yet.

Paz is undeniably unique; he stands at 6 ft 1 and yet he glides past defenders with ease. His dribbling is unbelievably refreshing, and his passing is second nature for him. But what I really didn’t expect was the goals to go up. Paz is the 3rd highest goal scorer in Serie A this year and has the 2nd most on his team.

If Como end their fairytale season with Champions League football, then it can be accredited to him before anyone, and even after Sunday’s game we still have a world cup to look forward to. The only downside and somewhat bittersweet taste that Paz’s season gives is the fact that it will most likely be his last in Como and indeed in Italy.

Madrid have already confirmed their intentions to re-sign Paz through their buy back option, which is a ridiculously low 9 million euros. And Madrid is not exactly a welcoming destination for any player right now, with the state that they are in, added to the fact that Los Blancos don’t exactly have a clean record with the management of young talent. But for now, Paz is the king of Como.

The honourable mention of course goes to Yildiz, who has been a beacon of light amongst an incredibly dark and dull season for Juventus.

Disappointment of the season:

Lorenzo Colombo

Honourable mention: Edon Zhegrova

The disappointment of the season was arguably the hardest category to choose, mostly because there has been a myriad of underperformers all round. But I have gone with Genoa loanee Lorenzo Colombo, a player who is frustrating at every turn. The 24-year-old was billed for big things coming through the AC Milan academy with high hopes, but the former Italy U21 striker has made just 9 appearances for the Milanese club since 2020. Loan moves to Cremonese, SPAL, Lecce, Monza and Empoli have followed with varying levels of success.

The latest one is perhaps his most high profile, a year loan at Genoa, a final chance to really establish himself in Italy. But what he has returned in 29 starts and over 2,000 minutes of football is extremely average. Colombo is a 7 goal a season striker, and a wasteful one at that. He has one of the highest xG on target in the division, but with single digit returns.

Colombo turned 24 in March, and it seems like his window of ‘coming good’ is rapidly running out. His contract runs out in 2030, but it would shock nobody if Milan cashed in on him this summer after he returns to the club for the 6th consecutive season.

The (dis) honourable mention could’ve gone to Moise Kean but I am sticking with Zhegrova who has seen a grand total of 0 starts, 0 goals and 0 assists since the Kosovan swapped the north of France for the north of Italy. The former Lille player is obviously not the problem with Juve’s lacklustre season but it’s yet another failed move for I Bianconceri that follows a downward trend.

Player of the season:

Federico Dimarco

Honourable mention: Lautaro Martinez

I don’t think any drum role is required to pick out the player of the season, mostly because it is so obvious. Inter have been the standout team in Serie A all season and despite their shock exit to Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt, Inter have secured a cup double: their first since their infamous treble guided by Jose Mourinho in 2010. Inter have stood out with an impressive goal tally, a figure that sits at almost 30 more than Napoli in second. Of those 86 goals, Dimarco has provided 23 goal contributions, including a notable 17 assists (the most in the division by some distance).

Dimarco has arguably produced his greatest season, hitting his prime, which unfortunately for Italy will not be taken advantage of this summer. Dimarco has come through the Inter academy, having made his debut all the way back in 2014, but had a string of loan moves before establishing himself in the 2021/22 season.

Playing much further forward, Dimarco has excelled in his attacking output, topping the league in big chances created (almost double Charles De Ketelaere’s 18 in second place), chances created, at 94, and expected assists. Inter are the deserved champions and Dimarco is surely the deserved MVP this year.

The honourable mention goes to his teammate Lautaro Martinez who tops the league’s scoring charts, in what, admittedly, has largely been a bad season for strikers across the country.

Starting XI:

Bench:

GK: Jan Sommer – Inter

GK: Mike Maignan – Milan

DEF: Lloyd Kelly – Juventus

DEF: Jacobo Ramon - Como

DEF: Tiago Gabriel – Lecce

MID: Arthur Atta – Udinese

MID: Luka Modric – Milan

MID: Charles De Ketelaere – Atalanta

FWD: Armand Lauriente – Sassuolo

FWD: Donyell Malen – Roma

FWD: Marcus Thuram – Inter

A year of wasted chances: Serie A year in review

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