EDICOLA NEWS: THE REVIEWS nr. 204
in collaborazione con Edicola Birra Fumetteria
album: MATCH ATTAX 2021/22 (Topps)
cards: 491 (1-491) + limited edition cards
starter pack: binder + 2 packets + 1 exclusive packet 8,99€
box: 24 packets (12 cards per packet) 2,00€
Match Attax is back, the collection on the top of European football, rather than referring to a single competition, it presents teams that play mainly in the Champions League but also in the Europa League and the new Conference League. So similar to Fifa365 (which however does not come out in Italy)? In part, but Topps is light years ahead of Panini on the cards and any confrontation would be won from the start.
The best of European football or perhaps even more the best of the teams from the main European leagues, in fact there are few countries represented: with 7 clubs England and Spain, with 6 clubs Italy, with 3 clubs Germany and Portugal, just 1 for the Netherlands and France.
Collection that is affected by the release in September, therefore with the closing of the press in July, consequently we see many players who in the meantime have changed clubs, the very recent Cristiano Ronaldo but also Messi and Lukaku, just to name the most striking cases . Even the same shirts are affected by this summer release, players wear those of last year. Details that could not have been otherwise, or else we had to wait until the end of September and consequently send everything to print in order to have it around November. Too late.
Seeing the inside of the packaging it is clear that the delivery to print had however different times, for sure the feeling that something was happening was in the air, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are very few present in the various pages, perhaps for the first time since 15 years, first Match Attax release.
The difference is all not only in the quality of the cards but above all in their characteristics. From this point of view, Topps wins across the board in Europe. In Europe, precisely, because in the US there are collections that are even more refined and cared for, although almost impossible to complete.
Even this collection, however, is not easy to complete, unless someone is satisfied with the basic set, however very large and rich. We invite you to purchase the starter pack to also have a complete overview of all the releases, both on newsstands and exclusively on the Topps website. Furthermore, the starter pack is necessary to have the complete set of the four tactical cards and the limited ones of Greenwood and above all Kanté, a sublime player to say the least.
Among the more than 200 special cards we would like to highlight some really special and interesting:
. 13 autographed metallic cards
. 21 metallic rainbow master & apprentice cards with 2 players per card
. 16 chrome pro cards
. 4 gem cards and 4 power cards
Above average, the 20 authentic autographed cards and the 20 memorabilia sweaters cards, with a piece of real fabric from the sweaters themselves, to be collected alone. A type of card that has been present for years in the US but new for Europe or at least for Italy. Special mention also for the Fire cards on sale during the season only on the Topps Italia website, ultra rare to the point of being able to buy only one at a time.
Speaking of Italy, Panini’s exclusivity on the Italian league and many clubs (Inter, Juventus, etc.) has certainly made the presence of our home clubs less important than other nations. Probably in England, for example, they have a different agreement. In the basic set the players are only 9 against 18 of the top English, Spanish and German clubs. There are very few in the specials.
A multitude of releases connected to the collections:
. booster box with 31 cards including a limited edition
. 4 mini tin box gems where to find the Gemma exclusive cards (one different for different box)
. 4 mega tin box power where to find the exclusive Power cards (one different for different box)
. multipack with 31 cards including a gold limited edition
. mega multipack with 63 cards including 3 gold limited editions
. collector pack with 50 cards including 1 gold limited edition and 1 gem card
. advent calendar (from about mid-November) with an exclusive limited edition card
The collection, for card fans, is still absolutely above average. If we think, for example, of Panini’s embarrassing Instant Cards, we really want to thank Topps for being there (often the opposite happens when we talk about sticker albums, as if to say, everyone has their role!)
(EN)