Sassuolo are back in Serie A at the first time of asking, Pisa returned to calcio‘s upper echelon after a 34-year absence and Cremonese atoned for last season’s heartbreak by beating Spezia in the play-off final.

The Ligurians’ own valiant attempt at winning promotion owed much to Francesco Pio Esposito’s 17 regular-season goals, with the teenager announcing himself as a star in Serie B and finishing one goal behind Armand Lauriente in the race to be the division’s top scorer.

Those two walk straight in to our team of the season – but who joins them?

To decide, the Destination Calcio writers put their heads together and argued for hours, before eventually settling on their best XI. It’s a 3-4-1-2 formation – a common system in the second tier.

GK – Adrian Semper (Pisa)

For the second consecutive season, Semper has achieved promotion to Serie A, having helped Cesc Fabregas’ Como up 12 months ago before making the jump with Filippo Inzaghi’s Pisa side.

With 21 wins under his belt in 2024-25, Semper tasted victory more than any other goalkeeper in the division. Of the 11 shot-stoppers who played more than 30 matches, he conceded the fewest goals (33), less than one per game (0.92). Simply outstanding.

Semper was the best signing Inzaghi made last summer, especially at €2.5million. Before his arrival, in 2023-24, only the bottom two clubs – Lecco (74) and Feralpisalò (65) – conceded more goals in Serie B than Pisa’s 54. But after replacing veteran Brazilian Nicolas Andrade, the 27-year-old marshalled a much-improved defence which shipped 18 fewer goals (36).

Contracted until 2027, Semper is the rock of the Nerazzurri’s backline and deserves his shot at the big time in 2025-26. Another season like this, and he could throw his hat into the ring for an international cap.

DEF – Petko Hristov (Spezia)

Spezia’s promotion tilt was built as much on Esposito’s goalscoring exploits as it was on a rock-solid defence, which conceded just 33 goals during the season.

Any of the back three of Hristov, Aleš Matějů and Przemysław Wiśniewski, could have made the team of the season, but it is the Spezia captain who just gets the nod.

Near ever-present – only Esposito made more appearances than Hristov’s 39 – the Bulgarian ranked in the top five in Serie B for tackles, blocks and aerial duels won, and first in terms of percentage of dribblers tackled.

He was, in short, absolutely superb. If Spezia are to go one better next season, their promotion bid will again be built around their skipper.

DEF – Antonio Caracciolo (Pisa)

A well-travelled professional, Caracciolo made Pisa his home in 2020 when Luca D’Angelo was in charge and he has lasted through three additional managerial changes.

At 34, the centre-half still has what it takes to lead any defensive unit. In 2024-25, Caracciolo topped Serie B for interceptions (50), was second for clearances (216) and finished third for blocks (53), tackles in the defensive third (44) and percentage of dribblers tackled (79.2), according to FBREF.

Caracciolo is also a menace at the other end and scored twice this season, against Mantova and Carrarese.

Having played more than 3,000 minutes, Caracciolo will go down in history as the man who captained Pisa back to Paradiso. He epitomises their journey over the past five seasons, from narrowly avoiding relegation to accomplishing automatic promotion.

Despite his age – he turns 35 at the end of June – Pisa could certainly use their talisman in Serie A, otherwise a host of Serie B clubs will be lining up to take him.

DEF – Mehdi Dorval (Bari)

In what was a disappointing season for Bari, Dorval was one of Moreno Longo’s best performers.

A dynamic left-back who can rampage up and down, Dorval is sure to win a move to a bigger side, or one with loftier ambitions, this summer. He scored four goals and produced five assists in a team that rarely attacked.

His 37 appearances for the Galletti in 2024-25 have edged him closer to the century milestone at the San Nicola, a fairytale twist for the Algeria Under-23 international who signed from third-tier neighbours Audace Cerignola for just €75,000 in 2022.

After three seasons in Bari, the 24-year-old is now valued at €4m, according to Transfermarkt.

MID – Christian Pierobon (Juve Stabia)

Juve Stabia’s first campaign back in Serie B for a decade will be remembered for the goals of Andrea Adorante, but defensively Guido Pagliuca’s side depended on the brilliance of Pierobon in the middle of the park.

The 23-year-old was a rock for the Campania side throughout the season, breaking up opposition play and feeding his more creative team-mates.

He wears the No 10 but he does not play like one. More Rino Gattuso than Roberto Baggio, Pierobon produced only two assists but was one of the best in the league for ball recoveries, making 101 in 30 games.

If Juve Stabia are to push on again in 2025-26, keeping hold of Pierobon will be vital.

MID – Salvatore Esposito (Spezia)

His younger brother commanded the lion’s share of attention this season, but Salvatore proved just as crucial for Spezia’s unlikely and narrowly unsuccessful promotion bid.

A pivotal figure in the engine room, the elder Esposito had the second-highest number of touches of any player in Serie B and only two players completed more passes across 38 matches. At 9.7, meanwhile, his xA (expected assists, the likelihood each completed pass becomes an assist) was the second-highest in the league and he played more passes in the final third than any other player.

But there was more to Esposito’s game than metronomic passing – the 24-year-old chipped in with seven goals.

Speaking in the press conference after the defeat by Cremonese in the play-off final, Esposito sounded like a man who knows a brilliant adventure has come to an end. The challenge for Spezia now is to convince him to stick around.

MID – Jari Vandeputte (Cremonese)

If Esposito is the man who keeps Spezia ticking, Vandeputte had Cremonese’s engine humming. The Belgian’s 13 assists this season was the most of any player in the division, alongside Domenico Berardi, while he also ranked third in xA and third in key passes completed.

His durability was just as important for the Grigiorossi‘s promotion bid, with the 29-year-old making 41 appearances this season, the second-most behind Andrea Fulignati.

Vandeputte, who weighed in with five goals, arrived on loan from Catanzaro last summer on an obligation to buy. It is an obligation Cremonese will be more than happy to fulfil.

MID – Matteo Tramoni (Pisa)

Perhaps the most underrated goal-creator in the league, Tramoni was the key part of the Pisa promotion machine.

Deployed mostly as an attacking midfielder, the French-born playmaker is the highest-scoring non-striker in the league, with 13 goals in just 26 appearances.

Tramoni’s intelligence inside the penalty area is reinforced by a frightening turn of pace, evidenced best by his brace in the 3-1 victory over Sassuolo in December.

Having never reached double digits in three previous Serie B seasons, Tramoni capped Pisa’s promotion with his best-ever campaign (14 goals and three assists in all competitions).

At 25, the former Cagliari man should be ready to make the leap back up to Serie A.

ATT – Armand Lauriente (Sassuolo)

The winner of the Pablito award for top goalscorer, Lauriente topped the charts with 18 in 33 as Sassuolo romped to the title.

In a team where the goals were shared around, the Frenchman stood out and he could give Serie A defenders problems next season with his blistering speed and eye for goal.

The 24-year-old also showed he could turn provider as well, laying on five assists for his team-mates in a campaign where they scored 78 goals.

ATT – Pietro Iemmello (Catanzaro)

One of the absolute stars of the season, Iemmello almost single-handedly carried Catanzaro into the play-off places.

Captain and talisman for the Calabrian outfit, the hometown boy scored 17 goals, including a scorcher against Bari and a deft Panenka-style penalty against Sampdoria.

Catanzaro could be one of the favourites to go up next season should Iemmello remain. The 33-year-old isn’t getting any younger but his powers are far from waning. An old-school striker, he easily has several years left in him at this level.

He will be one to watch again next season, and we can’t wait.

ATT – Francesco Pio Esposito (Spezia)

Esposito’s 19 goals in 39 games – including two in four in the play-offs – were integral to Spezia’s promotion bid, with the Ligurians finishing third in the table before falling against Cremonese in the final.

Still a teenager, Esposito operates with a maturity and confidence beyond his years and there does not appear to be any real weakness to his game. At 6ft 3in, he is a threat in the air and with his feet, and provides plenty of options for his team-mates.

Powerful, quick and with the swagger of a player destined for bigger stages, it is surely only a matter of time before we see Esposito in Serie A.