Rigore! - The Italian Football Podcast

Contrasting fortunes on this final episode of the season as Marco is giddy from his trip to watch Venezia win promotion, while Giancarlo is still smarting at Fiorentina's defeat in the ECL final. Plus - a look ahead to the Euros, with a little hope but low expectations.

Serie A is done and dusted (just about), and we discuss an exciting end to the relegation battle. Plus, we give our views on Spalletti's Italy squad, wonder about the state of Juve, Bologna and more next season, and of course look back at an exciting week in the Serie B playoffs and playouts. And yes - Marco has booked his ticket for the final...

This week we discuss some very, very late goals that could change the fortunes of some teams at the bottom of the Serie A table and help those in the Serie B playoffs. Plus, we discuss Allegri's blow-up at the Coppa Italia final, and look ahead to Atalanta v Bayer Leverkusen.

It's a painful episode this week for one half of the podcast as Marco struggles with Venezia's performance on Friday night that threw away a chance at automatic promotion. Plus, we stick it to all the new Como fans that have suddenly appeared, and look back at a decisive weekend in the top half of Serie A.

Get ready for some Como conspiracies as Marco lets rip after farcical events in the midweek round of Serie B games - although fortunately San Joel was able to partially make up for things against Feralpisalò. In Serie A, Inter help Sassuolo in their relegation battle, while Giancarlo is feeling strangely optimistic about Fiorentina's 2nd leg v Club Brugge (never a good sign on the pod...)

It's all smiles this week as Fiorentina thump Sassuolo and Venezia get a huge win against Cremonese. We also chat about how De Rossi has turned things around at Roma, and look ahead to the big European matches coming up for the Italian sides.

It's all about five - or six? - teams in the Champions League for Serie A this week, along with a look over the relegation battle in the league. Will Cannavaro save Udinese (unlikely)? Is Lopetegui the answer for Milan (probably not)? And much more, including a tight win for Venezia over bottom of the table Lecco in Serie B.

In a weekend of draws in Serie A, we pick out the highlights, including Milan and Sassuolo's humdinger and another controversial use of VAR in Lecce v Empoli. Plus, we wonder about Politano, look back at Italian clubs in Europe (including Atalanta's fabulous win at Anfield), and look at the race for promotion in Serie B, which devolves into a discussion about the richest owners in Italian football (who include the owners of Como and Cremonese...)

We're both frustrated this week as we deal with Fiorentina's loss to Juve and Venezia's goalless draw at Ascoli. Plus, we discuss Juve's potential transfer market and one dubious signing in particular, and Marco launches a new conspiracy theory ahead of the Serie B playoffs.