Team Overview: Chievo Verona is fairly new to Serie A competition, having only first reached the summit of Italian League Football in 2001. Though they have only had a short stint in the top division, they have been moderately successful. They returned to Serie A this year, and they had a nice season, finishing in 16th.
Top Performers: Chievo was led by the fantastic play of Sergio Pellissier, who notched 13 goals and added 3 assists. Mr. Marcolini also had five goals, and the defense was actually not too shabby. In fact, Stefano Sorrentino only ceded 1.25 goals per game for the entire season. But, these men still couldn’t get Chievo to win consistently.
Highest Highs: Chievo finished the season on a strong note, but March was their best period. They thrashed Lazio 3-0 and tied Juventus 3-3 (due to a majestic hat trick from Pellissier). In fact, the Flying Donkeys picked up 29 of their 38 points in the second half of the season. Their solid finish bodes very well for the 2010 campaign.
Lowest Lows: Chievo’s strong finish allowed them to avoid relegation, but that means the beginning of their season was absolutely awful. They only picked up a pitiful nine points in the first four months of the season. At one point, the club was 2-3-12 and had a winless streak that lasted a whopping twelve games. They started very slow.
Future Outlook: Chievo has proven in the past that smaller and unproven clubs can come into Serie A and make an impact. But, to stay afloat in 2010, the Flying Donkeys need to maintain the level of play they experienced at the end of the season. Their defense is improving, and if someone can help Pellissier out, they can move up next year.
