As the summer progresses, Serie A teams are gearing up for the upcoming season with a series of friendly matches. Several clubs, including Atalanta, Udinese, Torino, Genoa, and Cremonese, took to the field on July 26 to test their skills and strategies.
Atalanta, under new coach Ivan Juric, faced their own Under-23 team in an internal match. The game proved more challenging than expected, with Atalanta securing a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to a late goal from substitute Charles De Ketelaere, assisted by Mario Pasalic. Notably, Inter transfer target Ademola Lookman was absent due to reported muscular issues.
Udinese demonstrated a stronger performance, defeating the Qatar national team 3-0. Goals came from Keinan Davis, Iker Bravo, and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, showcasing the team`s offensive capabilities.
Torino dominated their match against newly-promoted Cremonese, securing a 4-1 victory. The highlight of the game was an impressive long-range volley from Ivan Ilic. Other goals for Torino were scored by Che Adams, Adrien Tameze, and Bianay Balcot. Despite the rainy conditions, Cremonese managed to find the net once through De Luca, but their defense struggled throughout the match.
Genoa faced a tougher challenge against Mantova, ultimately prevailing 3-2. After trailing 1-0 at halftime, Genoa mounted a comeback with goals from Alessandro Marcandalli, Lorenzo Venturino, and Morten Thorsby.
These friendly matches provide valuable insights into the teams` preparations and potential lineups for the upcoming Serie A season. As the pre-season continues, fans and analysts alike will be closely watching these performances to gauge the readiness of their favorite clubs.