Ready Set Go! The Serie A championship restarts and does so immediately with some of its main dishes, perhaps the most delicious of the entire menu. Yes, because it is almost unanimous that this Scudetto will be above all a deal between Juventus and Napoli, and they will kick off the first day with today's two advances. As per tradition, the Italian champions will kick off at 18 pm: in Turin, in a stadium sold out despite the holiday period, Rastelli's Cagliari will arrive, in an attempt to give away the first big twist of the championship . However, it is unlikely that Juventus, already shaken by the defeat in the Super Cup, can get distracted and make this happen: it would be a big problem and these, around Vinovo, are not particularly welcome.
“We have to find new stimuli because when you win for so long, and you do well in Europe, you lead the others to get stronger – said Allegri. – We need to raise the bar, these two games before the transfer market close are difficult because there are many distractions. We can only make a great Champions League if we make a great championship. We'll have a difficult finish, so we'll have to start well to regain confidence." It's forbidden to make mistakes or have your head elsewhere, even though the market contributes a lot to distractions. The purchase of Matuidi (20 million plus 10,5 bonus, the Frenchman is already called up for today) won't be the last, on the contrary: Marotta was clear in saying that reinforcements will arrive in all departments except in goal. The names are the usual (Garay, De Vrij, Spinazzola, Keita plus another midfielder, with Rincon and Asamoah destined to leave) but this, at least until tonight, is of little interest to Allegri. In fact, his concern is that the team may suffer from the "full belly" syndrome, the only one that, according to him, could really take away the seventh consecutive Scudetto. “We are favorites only if everyone, really everyone, starts working seriously and with their heads down – he explained. – If we are presumptuous and think we will win for sure, we will no longer be. We're starting from scratch like everyone else and this year the league will be more balanced and with a lower Scudetto average”.
A good start would help dispel any doubts, so winning and convincing against Cagliari will be essential. Allegri should confirm the classic 4-2-3-1 with Buffon in goal, De Sciglio, Barzagli, Chiellini and Alex Sandro in defence, Khedira and Pjanic in midfield, Douglas Costa, Dybala and Mandzukic behind lone striker Higuain. Rastelli, without Borriello due to disciplinary issues (the attacker will certainly leave Cagliari), will respond with a 4-3-1-2 with Cragno in goal, Padoin, Pisacane, Andreolli and Capuano in the back, Ionita, Barella and Cigarini in midfielder, Joao Pedro on the trocar to support the attacking duo Sau-Cop. Immediately after the Italian champions it will be the turn of the great challenger, that Naples finally ready to make the definitive leap in quality to really give battle to the Lady. Sarri will have to contend against Pecchia's Verona (20.45 pm) in that Bentegodi that has always been hostile to the Azzurri and which, however, more than 30 years ago, baptized the Italian debut of a certain Maradona. Yesterday the coach did not attend the classic press conference on the eve, yet his concern for today's match still shines through: respect for the newly promoted Hellas, but above all fear for Tuesday's commitment in Nice.
Appointment that inevitably has absolute priority over everything and therefore Sarri will show off a more than lawful turnover also by virtue of the squad available. The formation will be the classic 4-3-3, the interpreters will change a little with Reina in goal, Maggio, Albiol, Koulibaly and Ghoulam in defense, Zielinski, Diawara and Hamsik in midfield, Callejon, Mertens and Insigne in attack. The same system of play also for Pecchia, one that in Naples they know well since he went through it both as a player and as assistant coach at the time of Benitez. The idea, while respecting a much stronger opponent, is to play it without excessive reverential fears, perhaps exploiting the Bentegodi effect (the Curva Sud, however, is closed due to disqualification and therefore cannot guarantee the usual support). The Veronese 4-3-3 will see Nicolas in goal, Ferrari, Caceres, Hertaux and Souprayen in the back, Romulo, Buchel and Bessa in the midfield, Cerci, Pazzini and Verde in the offensive trident.
