What’s in a nickname? That is a question The Athletic has been answering this week as we trace the origins of football clubs’ monikers in England, Germany, France, Spain and the rest of the world. This time, we’re looking at the nicknames — flattering and otherwise — in Italian football.

Let’s begin with a deep cut. A lombata if you’re familiar with Italian butchery. Rivalries in Italy take the country’s flair for nicknames to tender and tasty places. It’s not enough to know the colour scheme of a jersey (Biancocelesti, Rossoneri, Giallorossi), a local landmark (a fountain, a volcano, sometimes both) or a spirit animal (Ascoli‘s is the woodpecker) to appreciate their flair for nicknames.