Serie A Fantasy Promoted Teams: Best Picks and Predicted Line-ups

In this article we take a look at the Serie A Fantasy Promoted teams. We bring in our Serie A expert and regular contributor @FPL_Crisk to talk through how he thinks Como, Parma and Venezia will line-up, as well as picking out their best assets.

Our Serie A Fantasy promoted teams insight could be extremely helpful for managers. Promoted sides can offer fantastic value for money during the season but also help fit in the more expensive players when it comes to building our squads.

Como

Como are a club that have created a lot of buzz around themselves in the last calendar year. Their owners are the richest in the Serie A, while names like Thierry Henry on the board and Cesc Fabregas as head coach give them the aura of a big club in the making.

After being promoted with second place from Serie B, Como have been extremely active in the transfer market. In fact they have made impressive key additions to the squad including former World Cup winner Raphael Varane and Serie A veteran striker Andrea Belotti.

Predicted XI

Fabregas is expected to field a 4-2-3-1 / 4-4-2 formation. Former Inter goalkeeper Emil Audero (€4.4m) should start between the posts despite the presence of the experienced Pepe Reina (€4.4m).

The defence is led by Varane (€5.6m, maybe a bit overpriced), who will pair at CB with Alberto Dossena (€4.6m). He had a very positive season at Cagliari last year. The two fullbacks are former Liverpool player Alberto Moreno (€4.8m) and Alessio Iovine (€4.4m). The latter is listed as a midfielder and is suspended for Round 1, so I don’t see him as a viable option.

In the middle of the pitch Mazzitelli (€4.8m) and Engelhardt (€4.6m) won’t be very offensive. The two wingers are much more interesting fantasy wise. Strefezza (€5.2m) will be on most set pieces and will often cut inside from the right wing. On the left I’m expecting Lucas Da Cunha (€4.6m) to get the edge at the start of the season (and not new signing Ali Jasim whom lots of people are excited for). Simone Verdi (€5.4m) could also fight for a spot.

In attack we obviously have Belotti (€7m). He is also a bit overpriced like Varane) and former Milan wonderkid Patrick Cutrone (€5.4m) now in a more supportive role. Overall, I can see this team having the potential to easily avoid relegation next season. I wouldn’t be against owning some players from them at various points.

Best picks: Dossena, Strefezza, Varane.

Parma

While Como almost overhauled their team, Parma have opted for the opposite approach and made very few changes. In fact they have kept the young and talented team who gifted them the Serie B trophy last year.

Fabio Pecchia’s team is a well-oiled machine. This has also been shown in the friendlies with some impressive wins against Antwerp (2-1), Galatasaray (2-0) and Atalanta (4-1).

Predicted XI

Between the posts resides Zion Suzuki (€4.0). The Japanese international was their main transfer target of the summer, so I expect him to be a key starter. His price also makes him the cheapest starter in the whole game. This also makes up the back of Del Prato (€4.6m), Osorio (€4.6m), Circati (€4.4m) and Valeri (€4.4m) less appealing to own.

Hernani (€4.8m) is having a good pre-season playing more advanced. But he should go back in the CDM pair with Estevez (€4.6m) as soon as Spanish wonderkid Adrian Bernabe (€4.4m) returns to full fitness after the Olympics (he had eight goals and four assists last season).

The other most talented player in the team is probably Dennis Man (€5.4m) who plays at RW and had two assists at the EUROs for Romania. His national team companion Mihaila (€4.8m) will play at LW at the start of the season. But his place could be in jeopardy when Adrian Benecdyczak returns from a knee injury (he was a nailed starter and penalty taker last season).

In attack there are no doubts about Ange-Yoan Bonny (€4.4m) who will lead the attack. Parma are also closing in on the signing of Gianluca Gaetano (€4.4m). He will give the team more depth and quality at CAM and LW.

While obviously being far from the team who gained European glory in the 90s, Parma are a club with lots of ambition. Despite the team being very similar to the one who got relegated a few years back, most players have grown into solid talent and, just like Como, I can see them achieving their objective of staying in Serie A at the end of the season.

Best picks: Sukuki, Man, Bonny, Bernabé.

Venezia

While Como and Parma are two interesting teams with great potential, Venezia fall far behind them. They got promoted to Serie A thanks to a 1-0 victory against Cremonese in the play-offs, after arriving third overall. They also seem to not have made many much needed upgrades to the squad in order to compete at Serie A level.

For that reason I’m not expecting much from them fantasy wise but who knows, they may always pull off some surprises.

Predicted XI

Jesse Joronen (€4.4m) defends their posts and he’s a very competent and experienced goalkeeper. They will likely set up with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with the backline composed by three out of Svoboda (€4.6m), Idzes (€4.4m), Sverko (€4.4m) and Sagrado (€4.4m). The wingbacks Candela (€4.6m) and Zampano (€4.4m) are listed as fullbacks so they could be underrated picks (but always watch out for early substitutions).

Alfred Duncan (€4.8m) had a good 2023/24 season for Fiorentina so he could be of some use. Tessmann (€4.8) is probably the most talented player in the squad but he’s expected to leave, with many Serie A clubs looking at him.

Oristanio (€4.6m) and Pierini (€4.6) will start behind the lone striker. At the start of the season we should see Gytkjaer (€4.8), but only because Pohjanpalo (€6.0m) is injured. As soon as the Finnish international recovers he should take over.

Best picks: Oristanio, Candela, Duncan.