Destination Calcio

2 days ago | destinationcalcio.com | Dan Cancian

Ahead of Sampdoria’s day of reckoning against Juve Stabia, Alberico Evani urged his players to use the fear of relegation to Serie C to their advantage. “I believe that fear must exist,” he told reporters. “Only the unconscious are not afraid. The important thing is to direct it in the right way. “There are those fears that block you, then there are those fears that put you in a position to be afraid of the opponent but put you in a position to overcome it.”This was very on brand for Evani.

2 days ago | destinationcalcio.com | Dan Cancian

And so to the Serie B season finale. After nine months of compelling drama and more twists and turns than The Sopranos box set, it all comes down to this – 90 minutes to determine the play-offs and relegation verdicts. Sassuolo and Pisa have punched their ticket to Serie A, while Spezia and Cremonese have secured a bye to the play-off semi-finals. Juve Stabia, Catanzaro and Palermo are all in the play-offs, with Cesena fancied to hold on to the final spot ahead of Bari.

3 days ago | destinationcalcio.com | Dan Cancian

The setting of two of William Shakespeare’s plays, Verona is no stranger to intrigue, love, drama and tragedy. When it comes to gloriously unrestrained, all-consuming romance, however, nothing matches Verona’s fairytale run to the Serie A title in 1985. A feat so improbable and built on so many fascinating characters, you could be forgiven for thinking it had been written by the Bard himself.

3 days ago | destinationcalcio.com | Harry Slavin

And so it comes down to this. 270 days, 37 games and four head coaches later, a season that was supposed to bring with it a shot at a return to the big time ends with Sampdoria clinging on for dear life a the foot of Serie B. It has been a campaign to forget for the Blucerchiati, with all enthusiasm of starting it off with Andrea Pirlo at the helm swiftly washed away by struggles on the pitch, despite plenty of fresh faces on both sides of the white line.

5 days ago | destinationcalcio.com | Alasdair Mackenzie

It’s that time of the year again. In Rome, it’s not just the brightly blooming flowers and ever-warming rays that suggest summer is on the way – but the arrival of the world’s leading tennis stars for the Italian Open. They stare down at you from billboards across the city, while a temporary clay court has popped up in Piazza del Popolo for lucky players competing at the Masters 1000 event to enjoy the most visually spectacular practice session imaginable.