Lazio
Torino
The Biancocelesti will want to continue where they left off last
season even though Delio Rossi and company know that it will be
difficult to repeat the same exploits of last year due to the
increased competition.
On the other hand, Torino have started afresh with a new coach
(Walter Novellino) and new players to boost the teams strength in
order to have a season without too much worry like the one that
just passed. The task will not be easy but Novellino is a coach
capable of getting the best out of his players.
On paper Lazio start as favourites, but with their heads on the
vital mid-week Champions League clash against Dynamo Bucharest, the
Biancocelesti might start the season not in the best possible way
as Torino are no pushovers.
Juventus
Livorno
The Old Lady is back in Serie A and all eyes will be on her this
weekend. Will the Bianconeri be able to challenge for the top
honours? Or will this be just a transitory season preparing them
for the next years? Not everything will be resolved in this first
matchday, therefore whatever the result, it will not be an
indication of things to come.
Livorno will not want to feel like the sacrificed lamb and will
arrive in Turin knowing that they have nothing to lose against a
team which has disappointing during the pre-season. In fact
Juventus only won 2 matches against teams of the same level,
whereas it lost 5 without even scoring a goal against Milan or
Inter.
For the Bianconeri this will be a difficult match, with the
possibility of not winning all three points especially if the squad
does not improve from its past outings.
Fiorentina
Empoli
The Tuscan derby is definitely one of the most awaited matches this
weekend, with the two sides wanting a win against their rivals.
Both squads did very well last year and their fans expect the same
from them this season, in particular Fiorentina.
The Viola have focused their transfer market attention on many
promising young players, but also on a veteran who can still give a
lot to Serie A: Bobo Vieri. At his best, the former Inter striker
can be a nightmare to any defence, but a lot will depend on how
well he recovered from his injury.
Empoli have no particular player to watch for, as last season it
was a collective effort by the entire team guided by the expert
Gigi Cagni. The players are more or less the same as the previous
year, therefore the team does not need to gel more than it has
already done.
Genoa
Milan
Serie A sees the return of another glorious club, apart from
Juventus and Napoli, as the Grifoni are back in the Italian top
division and will start off their campaign against the European
Champions of Milan. Not the best of the starts, but an important
one.
For the Rossoneri this will be a good test ahead of the European
Super Cup against Sevilla, with Carlo Ancelottis side forced to
play the game without any fans at the Marassi stadium, thus making
the task more difficult for them.
The Brazilian colony at Milanello has just increased further with
the purchases of Pato and Emerson, adding more flair and experience
to the side. On the other hand, Genoa have the enthusiasm and crowd
to drive them forward in this match and many expect a good result
from the Rossoblu.
Inter
Udinese
The reigning Italian champions kick-off their campaign with a
difficult home game against an Udinese side ready to surprise
everyone. For the Nerazzurri this season is important to prove that
last year the title was a deserved win despite many important clubs
having points reduced and Juventus being demoted to Serie B.
For Inter, the season did not start in the best possible way as the
Nerazzurri lost in the Italian Super Cup against Roma, and now will
have to face a long layoff of influential defender Marco Materazzi
for about 2 4 months which will also affect heavily the Champions
League.
Udinese have their own problems, with Antonio Di Natale currently
frozen out of the squad and with most probability being shipped to
Manchester City. Still, the Friulani have some very interesting
young players who can definitely do well this year in the Italian
topflight.
Napoli
Cagliari
The Partenopei mark their return to Serie A with a home match
against a weakened Cagliari side, who lost Suazo to Inter this
summer. The perfect opportunity for the Azzurri to kick-off their
campaign with a bang and prove that they are back to the Italian
topflight to stay.
Cagliari are one of the main candidates for the drop this season,
and most probably not even the purchase of talented midfielder
Pasquale Foggia will be enough to save the Sardinian side from
relegation.
Parma
Catania
Two teams which battled till the last matchday for the survival in
Serie A last season. The Gialloblu will be hoping to avoid the
lower positions in the standings this year following some good
purchases during the transfer market, whereas the Rossoblu do not
seem equipped well enough to remain in the topflight.
A game which sees the home team clearly at an advantage over their
opponents due to the difference in quality between the two sides,
which will have to be proven on the pitch.
Reggina
Atalanta
Miracles only happen once in a lifetime, and this will probably be
the case of Reggina. The Amaranti incredibly enough managed to
overcome an 11 point deficit at the start of last season and
survive in the last matchday of Serie A.
Without some of their main players (Bianchi on top) and especially
without their former Coach Walter Mazzarri, things look difficult
for the Reggio Calabria side and relegation is a very huge
possibility.
Atalanta look more like a mid-table formation, and even though they
will probably also be fighting fo relegation, in the end they
should make it through.
Siena
Sampdoria
Siena have no big aspirations and surviving this season is their
only objective. Not an easy one by all means, but can surely repeat
the good early part of last season where they built their
survival.
Sampdoria can be the real surprise package of this season with so
many quality players especially in the forward line. Coach Walter
Mazzarri joined the Blucerchiati from Reggina and he will surely
add his magic tough to the Genoa-based squad, starting from this
match which the Doriani have every opportunity to win.
Palermo
Roma
The first big match of the season, a game which could go either way
especially if Roma does not perform at its best. Palermo will have
Amauri back spearheading the attack line and this will be a major
boost for the Rosanero.
The Giallorossi have just won the Italian Super Cup and this will
surely be a huge morale booster which can help Luciano Spallettis
side overcome the first hurdle of the season if they want to fight
for the top honours in the Italian topflight.
Not the easiest of the starts for Roma, but with the sheer quality
that the team possesses, a win is well within reach for the
Giallorossi.
