บท 180: Chapter 180: Missing the Top Ten for the Ballon d'Or
Chapter 180: Missing the Top Ten for the Ballon d'Or
As a third of the Serie A season passes, this season's title race becomes clear: it's a repeat of last season, with Juventus, Udinese, and Roma contending for the championship! After 13 rounds, Juventus stands first with 10 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, scoring 30 goals and conceding 7 for a total of 32 points. Udinese, with an identical record but a lesser goal difference, is second. Roma is third with 10 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses, having scored 25 goals and conceded 9, totaling 31 points. The gap widens significantly from fourth place onwards.
Napoli is fourth, Benitez's team managed 6 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses, scoring 24 goals and conceding 16, totaling 23 points. Genoa, the only team to defeat Udinese this season, also shares the same record as Napoli but is fifth due to an inferior goal difference.
The dominance of the top three is evident, with Roma eight points clear of fourth place—a significant gap averaging 0.6 points per game. Italian media are abuzz that the title race will likely remain between Juventus, Udinese, and Roma. Indeed, this season's competition appears even more intense than last.
At this stage last season, Juventus had 34 points, while Roma and Udinese both had 30, with Juventus appearing to pull ahead decisively.
Udinese's impressive performance is largely thanks to key players Bruno Fernandes and Di Natale, who both scored 10 goals, topping the Serie A scoring charts. Together, they account for more than two-thirds of Udinese's 29 goals. This highlights their critical importance to the team. Besides scoring, Bruno also provided 9 assists, directly contributing to 19 of Udinese's goals. Di Natale also stands out with 4 assists, ranking in the top five for assists.
The duo of Bruno and Di Natale is a golden pairing, with three of Di Natale's assists being for Bruno, and six of Di Natale's goals coming from Bruno's assists. Their synergy ensures Udinese's top performance.
Many Italian outlets suggest that an injury or dip in form for either Bruno or Di Natale could significantly impact Udinese's results. Fortunately, both have remained healthy and in form this season. The 37-year-old Di Natale continues to defy age with phenomenal performances.
Bruno's brilliance isn't limited to Serie A. In the Champions League, he has been even more impressive, scoring 9 goals and providing 4 assists in 5 matches, leading the charts in both goals and assists. He has single-handedly propelled Udinese to the knockout stages, potentially topping their group ahead of Real Madrid.
Less than four months into the season, Bruno has played 21 games in Serie A and European competitions, scoring 25 goals and delivering 15 assists, nearly producing 2 goals per game. Only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more than Bruno in Europe this season, with 20 goals in 13 La Liga matches and 7 more across other competitions. However, including assists, Ronaldo trails Bruno, his Portuguese teammate.
Bruno also excels internationally, leading Portugal's national team with 6 goals and 3 assists in 5 matches. He's at the top of both the scoring and assist charts for Portugal this season.
On December 2, FIFA announced the final three nominees for the 2014 Ballon d'Or: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Manuel Neuer. German media campaigned vigorously for Neuer, advocating for his win based on his personal performance and collective titles, contrasting with Ronaldo's Champions League title and Portugal's poor World Cup showing.
Portuguese media dismiss German claims, insisting the Ballon d'Or belongs to Ronaldo this year. They argue that if Bruno had participated in the World Cup, he might have been a finalist, potentially leading Portugal to victory based on his 2014 performance. However, this claim is mocked by other national media, who acknowledge Bruno's excellence but laugh at the notion of him changing Portugal's World Cup fate single-handedly.
Despite not making the top ten for the Ballon d'Or, and FIFA not disclosing the full voting results, Bruno and his girlfriend Vanessa reviewed the list online during his break. Guido Marin, Udinese's coach, had given the team a few days off due to a packed schedule.
Unlike his teammates who chose to travel, Bruno spent his short break quietly in Milan with Vanessa, appreciating her maturity and tranquility. They kept their relationship discreet due to Vanessa's past, cautious of potential negative impacts on Bruno.
After confirming his position outside the top ten for the Ballon d'Or, Vanessa comforted Bruno, urging him not to be discouraged. Unbeknownst to her, Bruno, housing a mature soul, was hardly concerned with such vanities, unless one day he genuinely contends for the Ballon d'Or.
As a treat, Vanessa promised to make rou jia mo for Bruno, exciting him not just for the food but for the chance to see another charming side of her. Amid online debates between fans of various players, Bruno enjoyed a fulfilling evening, far from the controversies of the football world. (End of Chapter)
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