Serie B round up: Fallen giants and next big thing | OneFootball

Lega B is perhaps one of the most entertaining leagues in Europe depending on your persuasion. The stadiums have character, but not often the best facilities and the football can be basic at times even though beautifully enthralling at other points.

The next big thing?

Remember this name, Cristian Shpendi. He is 21 years of age and of Albanian background but was born in Ancona. He plays at Cesena and is taking Serie B by storm this campaign. Since 2021, he has scored 31 goals in 67 appearances for his club, and 10 of those have come in this Serie B campaign. He is from a talented family, his twin, Stiven, started at Cesena, now owned by Empoli he is loan at Carrarese, he also a forward and is very talented. However, this season as Cesena sit in fifth with 25 goals, you can see how much the rely on their youthful ‘bomber’.

Top scorer in 2023-24, it is perhaps strange he is not already in Serie A. This lad is quick with the ball, very quick with the ball, and his footwork is exemplary. He does not push the ball out, relying on speed and a slalom effect to take on his defenders. He is more ‘Gascoigne-like’, choosing more touches, but with the ball, it’s impossible to see what he will do next. He is to some extents and old school number nine, he needs a minute to some it all up and has an instinctive finish. This man is one to watch and it would not be a surprise to see him in Serie A soon.

Fallen giant

Sicily is a crazy place, that is true, but it was Sampdoria who made all the people watching at the Stadio Enzo Barbera scratch their heads. The 1-1 draw typified their season so far, as the team from Genoa continued to underwhelm with an abject performance that provided more examples of poor defending. This could have ended 4-1 if Samp keeper Marco Silvestri had not been so electric. Andrea Sottil, since replacing Andrea Pirlo is finding many of the same problems. A lack of identity, a lack of talent at the back and yet (what must infuriate the fans) they show glimpses of progress.

Sottil knows that their form has been a shambles. Massimo Coda and Genaro Tutino cannot hide the lack of cohesion with their odd goal. They lie in the 12th spot, winning four, drawing four and losing six. Their recent form has been bizarre; they beat high-flying Cesena 5-3 and then Mantova, but since then, they have not won, drawing at Cittadella, losing at Brescia and being outclassed by Pisa. The following 3-3 draw with Catanzaro was messy, especially when Sampdoria had a man advantage. It should have been better. Much needs to change for the once mighty Blucerchiati to return to Serie A, where they think they belong. This may take investment, but can Andrea Radrizzani supply it?

Battle of the bottom

It seems that nobody wants to stay up! The bottom of Serie B must be hell for the fans of those who follow the teams embroiled in this battle. Each participant seems transfixed on giving their opponents an opportunity rather than battling to stay out of the skirmish. Sud Tirol, perhaps, were expected to do slightly better, but recent form suggests that they are competing only with Cittadella for the ‘honour’ of finishing bottom; it’s hard to watch them because last season, they at least showed something. Frosinone have completely been in free fall until last weekend and are always a surprise to be down there, as are Salernitana.

The fact is that, arguably, Cosenza in 13th is not safe. Maybe Sampdoria (as mentioned in 12th)? The fact is that only six points separate the 20th position and those on the 8th. Having this play out will be one of the most interesting things about the campaign. This league is now a gladiatorial fight where nobody seems to, take the advantages that they have, it is almost like a large proportion of Serie B do not seem to understand the tight rope they are walking on. It will be fun, if nothing else