Juventus kick off their campaign
for their fifth straight scudetto against Udinese Sunday as
Serie A swings back into action this weekend.
The feat has only been done twice before - by the
Bianconeri themselves in the 1930s, and by the great Torino team
of the 40s.
The Turin giants will also be hoping to go one better than
last year in the Champions League, where they lost 3-1 to
Barcelona in the final.
Juve have lost star striker Carlitos Tevez and legendary
playmaker Andrea Pirlo, to Boca Juniors and New York City FC
respectively.
Tevez has found an able replacement in former Bayern Munich
and Atletico Madrid front man Mario Mandzukic, who helped Juve
win the Italian Super Cup against Lazio.
Young Argentine striker Paulo Dybala is also one to watch
after a fine season at Palermo.
But Italy star Pirlo might be harder to replace.
Juve CEO Beppe Marotta made a vain bid for Schalke
midfielder Julian Draxler but has promised the Bianconeri
faithful that "a great midfielder will arrive soon".
"We'll make a coup, we'll get someone fit for Juve not just
anyone," Marotta said.
Luckily, Juve have managed to hang on to France midfield
phenom Paul Pogba, despite what Marotta said were a string of
"stratospheric offers"
Pogba and Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio will have to
do more heavy lifting now that Arturo Vidal has left for Bayern
Munich.
It will be hard work to improve on last season when the
Juve steamroller clocked up a record 102 points.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri said he was "optimistic, but
this time I think fewer points will be needed because the
championship is more well-balanced".
Goalie and Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon said "the changes
have been the right ones, we'll be risking a little in the
beginning but we've hired the best (players)".
Juve's main rivals are likely to again be AS Roma, who
challenged strongly for half of last season before falling away
to end up a distant second, 17 points behind, by the end.
Rudi Garcia has ditched striker Mattia Destro, who has
moved to AC Milan on loan, but has found a heavyweight
replacement in former Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko, also
on loan.
Dzeko has impressed in pre-season friendlies and has
already become one of the Giallorossi's 'beniamini', or
favourites.
Crucial to Roma's challenge will be the form of veteran
forward and skipper Francesco Totti, 38, who some say could be
tiring despite his exceptional physique.
Roma's cross-city rivals Lazio, who finished third last
term, will also be putting in a strong challenge, as will
Fiorentina and Napoli, fourth and fifth respectively, who have
all made key signings.
Lazio start against Bologna while Fiorentina entertain
Milan and Napoli travel to Sassuolo, all on Sunday.
Milan, who came a lowly 10th last term, will be hoping the
injection of cash from Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol, who took
a 48% stake in Silvio Berlusconi's club, will lift their hopes
of returning to their glory days.
So far ex-Shakhtar Donetsk striker Luis Adriano has been
their biggest signing.
New coach Sinisa Mihaljovic, formerly of Sampdoria, will be
looking to improve on the poor records of former Milan idols
Clarence Seedorf and Pippo Inzaghi, the Rossoneri's last two
coaches.
Roberto Mancini's Inter Milan, a disappointing 8th last
season, are hoping France midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia will
help them get over the loss to Real Madrid of Croatia midfielder
Mateo Kovacic.
Kondogbia was landed from Monaco after the Nerazzurri won a
bidding war with Milan.
Inter start their campaign at home to Atalanta Sunday.
The new season also sees a lot of attention on two
Cinderella teams who are in the top flight for the first time in
their history: Frosinone, which becomes the Lazio region's third
representative in Serie A, and last year's runaway Serie B
winners Carpi, who were playing in the fourth divison five years
ago.
Carpi's home ground is so small they are using the one in
nearby Modena.
Frosinone begin what looks like being a struggle to stay up
at home to Torino, while Carpi travel to Sampdoria, both on
Sunday.
In the remaining fixture, Palermo host Genoa.
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