Ready Set Go! The championship restarts after three months of waiting and immediately showcases the precious "silverware": Roma-Udinese (18 pm) and, above all, Juventus-Fiorentina (20.45) promise to give us a Saturday of goals and fun. The Olimpico will open the ball but it is clear that the most awaited match is certainly that of Turin, partly to see the Italian champions at work immediately, partly due to the great rivalry that has always divided the bianconeri and viola. “It will be a very tough race – thought Massimiliano Allegri. – Fiorentina are a brilliant team with a lot of technique, and they haven't changed practically anything compared to last year. This is why I believe that they will have an advantage over us." Real respect or simple superstition? Probably both: if it is true that the Viola are certainly not the softest opponent to start the championship, it is equally true that nobody, at least on paper, can be said to be the favorite in the presence of the Lady.
The scudetto would seem to be his only business, even more so after a summer of big signings, moreover to the detriment of his rivals. Allegri however, also mindful of what happened at the beginning of last season, doesn't trust so much enthusiasm. In fact, the market has shuffled the available cards quite a bit and the difficult start (after Fiorentina it will be Lazio's turn) could create too many problems. The new ones are not yet at their best, so much so that tonight the Juventus coach could leave with last year's team, obviously net of the sale of Pogba. Higuain is out of shape, Pjanic took a hit in Wednesday's friendly: it's better not to take any risks... So at the Stadium we will see the classic 3-5-2 with Buffon in goal, Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini in defence, Lichtsteiner, Lemina , Khedira, Asamoah and Alex Sandro in midfield, Mandzukic and Dybala in attack. “If Serie A is a thriller we want to experience it as protagonists – thundered Paulo Sousa from Florence. – Juve was built to win in Europe too, we know their strength well. Last year, however, we dominated both in Turin and at the Franchi…”.
The Portuguese coach does not say it openly but dreams of tripping up the strongest team in Italy. He will try with a 3-4-3 with Tatarusanu in goal, Tomovic, Rodriguez and Astori in defence, Bernardeschi, Badelj, Vecino and Alonso in midfield, Mati Fernandez, Kalinic and Rossi (favourite over Zarate) in attack. However, as previously mentioned, Juventus-Fiorentina will only be the second match on Saturday. In fact, the first will be staged at the Olimpico in Rome, with Spalletti's Giallorossi receiving Iachini's Udinese. An insidious commitment above all because it straddles the double challenge of the Champions League with Porto: Wednesday's away match could have left some marks, furthermore the imminent return match risks stealing not indifferent psychophysical energies. “The other night I understood that my team is ready – Spalletti glossed over. – This is the strongest group I've ever coached in my career, now we have to make the leap on a mental level as well. Udinese are dangerous because they haven't changed much, then it's clear that without Di Natale they'll lose something”. The Giallorossi coach will make a reasoned turnover, with one eye on today's match and one on Tuesday.
His 4-3-1-2 will see Szczesny in goal (Alisson had space in the cup), Bruno Peres (his debut), Manolas, Vermaelen and Juan Jesus in defense, Strootman, Paredes and Nainggolan in midfield, Totti in the frontline behind the attacking couple El Shaarawy-Perotti. Iachini, already challenged after the sensational elimination of the Italian Cup suffered by Spezia, will try the coup with a 3-5-2 with Karnezis between the posts, Angella, Danilo and Felipe in the back department, Widmer, Badu, Fofana, De Paul and Armero in the median, Zapata and Penaranda up front.
