Anziché allearci, restiamo avversari.

Yes. Here anziché means instead of or rather than.

So Anziché allearci means rather than allying ourselves.

It is very close in meaning to invece di allearci. In many contexts they are interchangeable, though anziché can sound a bit more formal or polished.

Because the verb is allearsi, not just alleare.

Allearsi means to form an alliance / to ally oneself. It is a pronominal/reflexive form, so it includes the pronoun si in the dictionary form.

When you attach that pronoun to the infinitive, -si changes according to the person:

• allearmi = to ally myself
• allearti = to ally yourself
• allearsi = to ally himself/herself/themselves
• allearci = to ally ourselves

So allearci means for us to ally ourselves.

Yes. In this sentence, ci refers to us.

So allearci literally means to ally ourselves. In natural English, we usually just say to ally or to form an alliance.

Italian often uses this reflexive structure where English does not:

• ci alleiamo = we ally ourselves / we form an alliance

Depending on context, it can mean:

• we join forces
• we become allies
• we ally ourselves with someone

If the other party is important, Italian often adds con:

• allearci con loro = to ally ourselves with them

Because Italian usually leaves out subject pronouns when the verb ending already makes the subject clear.

Restiamo ends in -iamo, which tells you the subject is we.

So:

• restiamo = we remain

You could say Noi restiamo avversari, but that would add emphasis, as if you were contrasting we with someone else.

Because restare means to remain / to stay, while essere means to be.

• Siamo avversari = we are adversaries
• Restiamo avversari = we remain adversaries

So restiamo highlights continuity: we do not change our relationship. Instead of becoming allies, we continue being on opposite sides.

Avversari means adversaries, opponents, or sometimes rivals, depending on context.

There is no article because after verbs like essere, diventare, and restare, Italian often uses a noun directly to describe someone’s role or status.

So:

• restiamo avversari = we remain adversaries

This is very natural Italian.

Also, avversari is masculine plural. It can refer to:

• a group of men
• a mixed group of men and women

If the group were all female, it would be avversarie.

Because in Italian, words stressed on the final syllable are normally written with an accent mark.

So the correct spelling is:

• anziché

The accent shows that the stress falls at the end: an-zi-ché

This is the same pattern as:

• perché
• poiché
• benché

Yes. Italian can leave that implicit if the context already makes it clear.

So Anziché allearci is perfectly natural even without con qualcuno.

If you want to specify the ally, you can add it:

• Anziché allearci con loro, restiamo avversari = rather than allying with them, we remain adversaries

Without con loro or a similar phrase, the sentence simply focuses on the general idea of forming an alliance.

The comma separates the introductory phrase from the main clause:

• Anziché allearci = introductory contrast
• restiamo avversari = main statement

It helps the sentence read clearly and matches the natural pause in speech.

So the structure is basically:

• Rather than doing X, we do Y

In Italian, that comma is very natural here.

It sounds mostly neutral to slightly formal.

The main reason is anziché, which is perfectly common but a bit more refined than invece di in some contexts.

A more everyday alternative could be:

• Invece di allearci, restiamo avversari

Both are correct, but Anziché allearci, restiamo avversari has a slightly more polished tone.