At the first glance, Italian Serie A promises to be the most exciting (and unpredictable) of all 5 European leagues. While Bayern and PSG are dominant in Bundesliga and Ligue 1, there are more title candidates in Italy than any other league. And the main reason is: None of the top clubs can say that they are stronger than they were last season. Many star players left their clubs and strengthen the competition (Calhanoglu from Milan to Inter, Džeko from Roma to Inter, Locatelli from Sasuolo to Juventus), or left abroad (Lukaku, Hakimi, Donnarumma), and no major world star has come to Serie A. So, it will be a battle of weaker squads where anybody has a fair chance.THRILLS are back, 90-minutes ADRENALINE is back, CALCIO is back. ⚽🤩❤️Let the #SerieATIM 2021/2022 begin! 🔥🔝#WeAreCalcio pic.twitter.com/JzHfqsnRDD— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) August 21, 2021 Also, the big factor are coaches. Out of the 10 best placed clubs 2020/21 season, no less than 8 clubs changed their coaches. Only Milan and Atalanta have managed to keep managers intact, while all the others changed their tacticians. New man at the helm means that he needs time to blend in with the club and the squad, and apart from Strefano Pioli (Milan) and Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Massimiliano Allegri of Juventus also has the advantage over others, since he already managed Juventus once and knows the club inside out.ContendersAgain, it’s Juventus. And not because they are head and shoulders above the rest, it’s because current champions Inter lost their coach and a best player and goal scorer. Massimiliano Allegri is back for his second stint with the club and has a good squad, with which he knows how to work. On top of that, Cristiano Ronaldo will be available.“Ronaldo told me that he is staying at Juventus. Ronaldo is an added bonus for us, because he guarantees a large number of goals. Obviously, we also have to work as a team to get the best out of an individual. He has always trained well, I just read the gossip in the papers. He never told us he wanted to leave” said Allegri at the press conference.Getting ready for #UdineseJuve! 🏃♂️📸 https://t.co/5HHSOd8o2Y#FridayFeeling pic.twitter.com/PQozsrsrjR— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) August 20, 2021 And former Juventus and Milan coach Fabio Capello also believes that Juve are favorites, mainly due to their coach, but, unlike most other pundits, believes that Inter can still pose a threat.“Juventus start in pole position after Inter’s transfers. The expectations are all on Allegri and I say it dispassionately: it will not be easy to repeat the successes of the previous stint. Max must show strength and a decisive punch. The players can’t take his return as an alibi to discharge responsibility. I expect something special from Matthijs de Ligt and Paulo Dybala. The Argentine has the potential of a number one, but he has always lacked something. As for Inter, the coach left, two champions left, but the team remains of good quality. Dzeko is perfect to replace someone like Lukaku. Calhanoglu is great. Simone Inzaghi, with a few words, can change the group: show that Inter were not just Lukaku and Hakimi” said Capello to La Gazzetta dello Sport.🏟️ | I M BACK After months at home, let’s make it ours again. ⚫🔵 #IMBack #ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/bto9Qh8IeG— Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter_en) August 19, 2021 Obviously, Inter, as a current champions is a contender. Simone Inzaghi is an experienced coach, and although Džeko is not Lukaku, he is certainly a good player. If Inter manages to get rid of a couple of expensive players like Vidal or Sanches, they might even bring another striker. Hakimi’s sale was a blow, but Dumphries is a really good replacement. And then there are AC Milan, Inter’s arch rivals, who finished second, but work on a limited budget, plus they lost Donnarumma and Calhanoglu. Giroud was bought to score goals, as well as Magnian, who is the new keeper for Rossoneri.“Milan have a project underway. Olivier Giroud is an international striker. I expect the explosion of a talent with enormous potential like Rafael Leao. Sandro Tonali must show signs of growth. However, we need to evaluate the effects of Gigio Donnarumma’s departure. He has joined a club that is now being talked about all over the world, but Milan deserve more gratitude” explained Capello.Dark horses and European hopefuls Atalanta. This club is among Italy’s best for a couple seasons in a row. They have the same manager and have kept 90% of the same squad which finished in the 3rd place of Serie A last year, and lost to Real in the Champions League 1/8 duel. If they don’t lose Zapata or Muriel in the attack until the end of the transfer window, goals are guaranteed again. Atalanta are definitely a possible Leicester in Italy. Watch out of Gasperini’s men.It’s official: Mourinho dreams big with Abraham in Roma shirtRoma. The Jose Mourinho effect raised expectations of the club. The Portuguese turned the squad upside down, but he remains their biggest transfer coup so far.“Mourinho has the right personality for a place like Roma, but the problems are not lacking. Edin Dzeko’s departure surprised me. He was not only the centre-forward: he was also a source of play. Roma got the goalkeeper right with Rui Patricio, Tammy Abraham can be a good solution. The something extra could be Nicolo Zaniolo. He’s the biggest Italian talent” said Capello.Former Barcelona ace Pedro crosses the great divide by transferring from Roma to LazioNapoli and Lazio are always in the mix for the first 7 places and they will be there this season as well. Lazio reached across the city and signed Pedro from their bitter rivals Roma. The Spaniard will be reunited with his Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri. He made the switch across the city to Lazio practically for free, because financially this suits all parties involved. Lazio released a statement two days ago confirming the transfer embargo has been removed after an influx of fresh capital, so expect Toma Basic to arrive from Girondins de Bordeaux. Napoli, also with a new coach (Luciano Spaletti) are having major problems with their best player Insigne, who won’t sign a new contract, so if they decide to sell him, they will definitely be the weakest of all above mentioned clubs.SERIE A ROUND 1Saturday19:30 (2.75) Verona (3.05) Sassuolo (2.75)19:30 (1.40) Inter (4.50) Genoa (8.50)21:45 (4.30) Empoli (3.60) Lazio (1.85)21:45 (5.50) Torino (3.80) Atalanta (1.65)Sunday19:30 (1.70) Bologna (3.70) Salernitana (5.20)19:30 (6.25) Udinese (4.00) Juventus (1.55)21:45 (1.30) Napoli (5.70) Venezia (9.00)21:45 (1.85) Roma (3.60) Fiorentina (4.30)Monday19:30 (2.05) Cagliari (3.45) Spezia (3.60)21:45 (3.80) Sampdoria (3.45) Milan (2.00)
