Fans of Serie A were treated to many memorable moments over the course of 2015 and 2016 promises to bring as many if not more.
Key moments
Juventus' run to the Champions League final will undoubtedly be looked as the greatest success in Calcio in 2015. The Old Lady just squeezed through the group stages by a single point in a group consisting of the season before's runners up Atletico Madrid, the ever present Greek's Olympiacos and Malmo of Sweden. They met Borussia Dortmund in the first knockout stage and spanked them 5-1 on aggregate to set up a quarter final clash with noveau riche Monaco whom they slipped past 1-0 on aggregate. Juve could've very nearly met with Atletico again in the semi-finals but they were defeated by reigning champions Real Madrid. Juventus shocked many and progressed to face Barcelona in Berlin. The final however proved a step too far as the Bianconeri were second best to a flawless Barcelona boasting a front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
Parma ceasing to exist will be widely considered the saddest story of the year. The one time UEFA Cup winners failed to overcome crippling debts and were docked points over the course of the season for failing to pay players. A series of failed takeovers and false promises meant one of Italy's most famous clubs - in the 90's and early 00's - were declared bankrupt despite almost every measure to save the club being taken. However, like they had previously, Parma rised again and a phoenix club were born in the summer and started life in Serie D, most importantly with all their honours, which, at one point were set to be sold off to make funds. Going into the turn of the year, Parma were undefeated in Serie D's Group D and look destined for a return to Lega Pro next season.
This season, many a "shock" has sprung up. While nothing comes as too big a surprise at the bottom of the table, going up the table there certainly has been one or two! Empoli for example were expected to cripple after the departure of Maurizio Sarri alongside many key players but they're by far exceding expectations and challenging for a Europa League berth. Juventus, fresh of another title had a ropey start. Inconsistency and injuries plagued the start of their domestic season. Alongside this, questions were asked whether the departures of Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal had a bigger impact than expected with their replacements not firing on all cylinders until recently where they've shot up the table and are again challenging for yet another title. While Juventus struggled, other clubs capitalised and really showed that Juventus won't just have the challenge of Roma to worry about. The likes of Fiorentina, Inter Milan and Napoli have taken the league by storm and occupied the top 3 spots going into the break playing some absolutely fantastic football.
Game of the year
Having confirmed his departure three days earlier, Rafa Benitez's tenure as Napoli boss hinged on one winner-takes-all clash with Lazio at the San Paolo.
Lazio, having established themselves as a force in Serie A with a blend of attacking flair and individual brilliance, had surrendered the opportunity to secure Champions League football six days earlier when they found themselves on the receiving end of a 2-1 scoreline against bitter rivals Roma. Francesco Totti and Alessandro Florenzi, Romanisti by blood, had paraded around the iconic venue at full-time donning shirts that read "Game Over" - 2nd place may have become mathematically unattainable but third, and entry to the qualifying stages of club football's blue riband for the first time since 2007, was within the realms of plausibility.
Presented with a symbol of luck prior to the game, Napoli, buoyed by a voluble home faction inside the stadium, began strongly but found themselves 2-0 down at the interval. Marco Parolo netted his tenth of the season before Antonio Candreva compounded the hosts' miserable half by striking in stoppage time. Benitez's reign, hitherto marked by a Coppa Italia success and progression to the semi-finals of the Europa League, would be defined by the following 45 minutes.
The Partenopei rallied. Lazio's defensive frailties had been exposed by Inter weeks earlier and, thanks to a quick fire brace from talisman Gonzalo Higuain, the hosts restored parity. Parolo was dismissed on the hour mark yet, just as Napoli began to press home their advantage, Faouzi Ghoulam was issued the same punishment.
Benitez's side were bristling with intent and the Argentine was presented with a chance to salvage all three points when Christian Maggio was adjudged to have been felled by Senad Lulic inside the area. Agonisingly, Higuain blasted his effort over the crossbar.
Apprehension began to seep into the crowd and, as the ease in which Ogenyi Onazi's burst through the heart of the Napoli reargued to notch Lazio infront attested, it manifested onto the field. Few inside the San Paolo could believe what was unravelling, though many were making a beeline for the exits minutes later when Miroslav Klose punctuated the visitors' historic win.
Unchecked at the back post, the German ensured there would be no fairytale ending for Benitez as the now Real Madrid boss departed to a chorus of jeers.
Summer Transfer review
The best signing award can arguably go to a few players. Nikola Kalinic joined Fiorentina from Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and has been free scoring as La Viola dream of the scudetto. Inter Milan's Jeison Murillo and Miranda have arguably been the best defensive duo of the season and have been one of the biggest reasons behind the Nerazzurri conceding just 11 goals - four of which came against Fiorentina as they were crushed 4-1 at home with Kalinic grabbing a hat-trick on matchday six.
While those behind him excel, Geoffrey Kondogbia has largely disappointed in the Inter midfield and has showed nothing to suggest that the bumper transfer fee was worth it. Luiz Adriano has also failed to meet up to expectations. The Brazilian has a mere three goals in 16 games while fellow summer signing and teammate Carlos Bacca is some five goals ahead of him.