5 strikers to watch out for in Serie A this season
Italian football is no longer the peak of European football. Scandals, corruption allegations and the resurrection of Spanish clubs as well as the money power of England has constantly chipped away at the Serie A, effectively making it a one-team league with Juventus the only club from Italy currently a real force in the UEFA Champions League.
However, the factors that made Italian football unique- the tactical nous, the defensive and dogged determination and teams that are notoriously difficult to score against for the average player have remained.
While the quality of players and the league have reduced a little, the prestige of the past has ensured Italy is still third on the UEFA coefficient table - not quite the top, but still, pretty close.
Here we take a look at some strikers who have impressed in the Serie A recently and could go on to scale greater heights:
#5 Diego Falcinelli (Crotone)
Diego Falcinelli isn't a household name yet even in Italy. But, scouts have noticed the role the 26-year old played in Serie A first-timers Crotone FC's survival with 13 goals. The Italian has had a mixed career, generally scoring goals at a low goal-to-game ratio.
But last season could be a sign of him finally maturing as he scored crucial goals through the season for a team not fancied to stay up.
He scored a double against Inter Milan which boosted confidence in the Crotone ranks. He has failed to score so far this season, but it could be argued that Sassuolo have had a miserable start to the season, scoring just three times with barely any chances being created.
Falcinelli might not become a Champions League-winning player, but could become a crucial player for middling and lower clubs - no mean task considering the nature of the Italian game.