We think we understand each other, but we never really do, wrote the Italian Nobel laureate in Literature, Luigi Pirandello, in his drama Six Characters in Search of an Author. Both this quote and the name of the literary work could be applied to the top-tier league on the Boot. Only in this case, there are 20 contenders – some with more chances than others – in pursuit of a sacred trophy – Scudetto. And no, although they live in the same country and speak the same language, they most often do not understand each other.One more sleep! #SerieAMadeInItaly is almost back 😍Here’s how the opening weekend will look 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Lxyz6JIAa6— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) August 16, 2024 Frequently, they are divided. Divided into the North, the South, and the Capital; into those who rely on their brains and those relying on their hearts and…something else; into the Bianconeri, Nerazzuri, Giallorossi, Rossoneri… But equal in one thing – la grinta. The Italian word that symbolises toughness, resilience, determination, and tenacity, with only one goal in mind: The Holy Grail of “Calcio” – the Serie A trophy.In the first row of favourites, there are Il Polentone – the Northerners. Mighty, pretentious, and aware of their power. First among the equals – Inter Milan and Juventus. The defending champions are once more the primary favourites to emerge victorious in nine months. The core of the team is still there, with the captain and the Ballon d’Or candidate Lautaro Martinez, his wingman in the attack Marcus Thuram, the reliable Yann Sommer between the posts, the creative Hakan Calhanoglu, the passionate Nicolo Barella, and tireless Federico Dimarco in the flank. Piotr Zielinski arrived from Naples to strengthen Simone Inzaghi’s already powerful machinery further.Arsenal and L’pool are City’s biggest threats – Chelsea, United and Spurs’ soul-searching continuesInter’s rivals from Derby d’Italia, Juventus also have something to say and much to prove after four seasons without the title. The newcomers, Michele Di Gregorio, Juan Cabal, Khephren Thuram, and Douglas Luiz, led by one of the most talented managers of the new generation, Thiago Motta, and “the natives” Danilo, Bremer, Dusan Vlahovic, and others, are more motivated than ever.Where’s one side from the Capital of Fashion, there has to be the other as well – AC Milan. The Rossoneri heavily rely on the new gaffer Paulo Fonseca and the newcomers Emerson Royal, Strahinja Pavlovic, and, above all, Alvaro Morata. Stefano Pioli’s era at San Siro is over, and now the fans expect a new chapter with the Portuguese strategist and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the role of Senior Advisor.Star-studded Galacticos 2.0, Yamal-led Barca and Cholo’s rebuilt Atleti – best La Liga ever starts tonight!Napoli – Il Terrone, or the representative of the South – has been waiting for the Scudetto for 33 long years and do not intend anything similar. That’s why Aurelio De Laurentiis entrusted the Neapolitans’ bench and locker room to Antonio Conte – “a cunning fox” with four Serie A titles. The saga around Romelu Lukaku and Victor Osimhen is not over yet, but everything indicates that the Nigerian will leave while the Belgian will arrive and team up with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.Ligue 1 preview: PSG rule but who will come in second?Finally, there are the Roman Legionnaires – Lazio and Roma around which one question has been revolving for more than 20 years: Is this finally their season? Lazio won their last title in 2000, and the Giallorossi did it a year later. And while Le Aquile will have to get used to life without the four-time capocannoniere Ciro Immobile, who left for Besiktas, Roma brought in the La Liga top scorer Artem Dovbyk from Girona but also lost Paulo Dybala who is on the verge of moving to Saudi side Al Qadsiah. Saudi clubs asking for Dybala, Roma has a decision to makeAtalanta, led by the super-experienced Gian Piero Gasperini, will undoubtedly again fight for the Champions League. After one of the most successful seasons in the history of the club, in which the first-ever European trophy was won, it’s hard to raise the bar and surpass those results. Nevertheless, if anyone can do it, La Dea can, although probably without one of the leaders from the past season, Teun Koopmeiners, who wants to join Juventus at all costs.It will be interesting to see how Bologna will cope with all the departures from this transfer window after being arguably the greatest surprise in European football last season, not only based on results but the way they played. However, Thiago Motta sat on Juve’s bench and took his marvellous playing style with him. Now, Vincenzo Italiano will have the challenging task of filling Motta’s shoes. The man with such an indicative last name will have some interesting newcomers in his ranks like Juan Miranda, the experienced Remo Freuler, Nicolo Cambiaghi, or the talented Thijs Dallinga, but was deprived of arguably the two most important players, who moved to England – Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori. The two teams which – at least in prospect – shouldn’t worry about their safety in the top-tier league are Fiorentina and Torino. Two years in a row La Viola fell short in the UEFA Conference League final. This season – if they pass the ultimate qualifying round – Fiorentina will have another shot and a chance to prove that third luck really is the charm, while Il Toro will certainly want to mix things up in Serie A and join the fight for European competitions.Last year: Fiorentina lose the Europa Conference League final after conceding to West Ham in the 90th minuteThis year: Fiorentina lose the Europa Conference League final after conceding to Olympiacos in the 116th minute Damn 💔 pic.twitter.com/znUPeB3krI— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 29, 2024 All the other teams could likely enter the relegation battle – some with greater odds to survive than the others. The Serie A “natives” Empoli, Genoa, Hellas Verona, Lecce, Monza, Cagliari, and Udinese will battle it out with the newcomers – Como, Parma, and Venezia, with only one goal in mind – staying in Serie A.Having replaced Frosinone, Sassuolo, and Salernitana in the top flight, the new Serie A sides will be interesting to watch. And while Venezia – saved from bankruptcy by the famous musician Drake – instantly returned to the company of the best, Parma had to wait four years for the ultimate promotion, while Como longed for Serie A for as many as 21 years!💙🤍 | NOTRE MERCATO XXL- Bellotti (AS Roma) ☑️- Dossena (Cagliari) ☑️- Pepe Reina (Villarreal) ☑️- Moreno (Villarreal) ☑️- Ali Jasim (Al-Kahrabaa) ☑️- Mazzitelli (Frosinone) ☑️- Audero (Sampdoria) ☑️- Varane (Man United) ☑️- Engelhardt (Fortuna Düsseldorf) ☑️- Fadera… pic.twitter.com/SWxa8ZPgKl— Como 1907 🇫🇷 (@Como1907FR) August 16, 2024 The latter will probably be one of the most intriguing sides in the upcoming season. Cesc Fabregas on the bench and the former Premier League trio – Alberto Moreno, Pepe Reina, and Raphael Varane – on the pitch, plus Andrea Belotti, promise a lot of good football and draw the attention even before the competition began.The season on the Boot ahead of us, as always, guarantees blood, sweat, and tears. Lots of nice moves, lots of goals, lots of all that only Italy can provide. And when in May 2025, the curtain on the league is brought down, no one will surely be disappointed. But, let’s not talk about the end – let’s embrace the beginning! Let’s enjoy another season of – Calcio! SERIE A – MATCHDAY 1Saturday19:30: (6.00) Genoa (3.90) Inter (1.58)19:30: (3.20) Parma (3.50) Fiorentina (2.35)21:45: (1.70) AC Milan (3.60) Torino (5.30)21:45: (2.50) Empoli (3.30) Monza (3.10)Sunday19:30: (2.00) Bologna (3.45) Udinese (4.30)19:30: (4.40) Verona (3.50) Napoli (1.85)21:45: (3.80) Cagliari (3.45) Roma (2.00)21:45: (1.50) Lazio (4.20) Venezia (6.75)Monday19:30: (3.90) Lecce (3.50) Atalanta (1.95)21:45: (1.37) Juventus (5.10) Como (10.0)***odds are subject to change***
