All ready, nothing in order. There Serie A starts again after two and a half months off and he does so (as usual, after all) with the transfer market still open, moreover a few hours after Spalletti's appointment as the new national team coach. A somewhat complex scenario for everyone, especially for those teams that still look like an open building site and who, instead, will already have to think about scoring points. In this context it becomes impossible to make predictions or make definitive starting grids, but it is right to try, always bearing in mind that the balance, between now and August 31st, can still change.
All in the hunt for Napoli: the champions will be able to repeat themselves?
In the front row, as it should be, there is the Naples reigning champion, both as a matter of coat of arms (whoever wears the Italian flag on his chest, after all, is obliged to defend it) and techniques: in light of what has happened so far, in fact, no one has come so close to the team capable of championship. Of course, the Azzurri have lost key elements such as the DS Joints, the coach Spalletti and the pillar of defense Kim, but they held osimhen and that is enough to confirm them at the top of the ladder. The market then gave away some interesting ideas such as Gabri Veiga, Cajuste and Nathan: Garcia the task of placing them in a granite group, but above all of managing the post Spalletti with tact and intelligence. If so, approaching Napoli could be very complicated for everyone…
Inter and Juve believe it, but both are still grappling with the market
The first pursuers would seem to be Inter and Juventus, if only for the quality of their respective squads, even if with big market asterisks. Inzaghi's Nerazzurri still need a central defender capable of replacing Skriniar (he is negotiating with Bayern Munich for Pavard), but above all of a striker who fills the departures of Dzeko e Lukaku, hitherto replaced only numerically. Thuram e arnautovic, on paper, certainly do not represent an upgrade, but Marotta and Ausilio are "prisoners" of Correa (if they were able to sell him they would throw themselves on another tip), as well as a really tight budget.
Juve, on the other hand, remained substantially the same as last year, albeit with a Joints in addition, which leads us to think that the market is still very open and capable of giving some jolts. One could be Berardi, not surprisingly finished out of the squad in Sassuolo, considered the ideal replacement Of Maria and allow Allegri to deploy a trident with a high technical rate with Vlahovic e Church, but it is reasonable to expect other twists. Even so, however, Juve have everything to do well, given that they won't be in the cups and therefore will be able to concentrate their forces solely and exclusively on the championship. Allegri (the same goes for Inzaghi too) has the task of driving the car as well as possible, because this has all the appearance of being his last chance as well.
Milan revolutionized, Lazio and Atalanta on the sly, Rome still without points
A step below we find Pioli's Milan, author of a real (almost) unprecedented revolution. The new RedBird course, led by the ad Furlani and the Scoutmaster Moncada, has spared no ideas and investments, going to turn the squad inside out, without looking at flags (see Tonali) or passports (the only Italian purchase is the second goalkeeper Counter). In these cases, usually, there are no half measures: either it goes very well (see Napoli last year) or the exact opposite happens (here Milan itself comes to mind at the time of Yonghong Lee, Fassone and Mirabelli) . On paper, the arrivals are all of quality and certainly raise the rate available to Pioli, in the most difficult and stimulating test of his career. The Americans have given him the nickname of Coach, which increases his responsibilities and, consequently, any merits or faults.
To climb we find Lazio e Atalanta, authors of very interesting markets that make them even more competitive. Lotito, in his first year without Tare, took a while but in the end he strengthened the squad with Kamada, Isaksen, Castellanos, Rovella and Pellegrini (nothing to do for Lloris, who according to the Equipe would have refused the role of deputy Provedel), giving a Sarri those alternatives that should allow him to better face the championship-Champions double front. Even more intriguing is Gasperini's new Atalanta, which he can count on Carnesecchi, Kolasinac, Bakker, Touré and, especially, Chess e De Ketelaere. Ambitions are high, as is the enthusiasm of a squad determined to dream big, just like its coach, who appeared charged and happy again.
The opposite of Jose Mourinho, grappling with the most difficult summer of his long and bright career. The Special One has to deal with the problems of a Settlement Agremeent that the Friedkins, rightly, respect to the letter, which damn complicates his job (and that of Pinto, of course). However, the ds did excellent operations such as Aouar, Renato Sanches and Paredes, all at no cost, but to understand where Roma can arrive, you have to wait for the forwards: Mou, thanks to Abraham's bad injury, wants two and hopes to be able to welcome them as soon as possible (tomorrow with Salernitana it will be Belotti's turn).
Frosinone-Naples (18.30 pm, Dazn): Garcia without the injured kvaratskhelia
The starting tapes will be cut by Napoli and Inter, the first big names to take the field on this Saturday in Serie A: the Azzurri, in particular, will kick off the tournament in the opening match in Frosinone, simultaneously with Empoli-Verona. Garcia, making his official debut on the bench of the reigning champions, will immediately have to deal with an important absence like that of kvaratskhelia (muscle fatigue), but will still be able to rely on a well-tested 4-3-3 with Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus and Olivera in defense, Anguissa, Lobotka and Zielinski in midfield, Politano, Osimhen and Raspadori in attack. The same game system also for Di Francesco's ciociari, who will respond with Turati between the posts, Oyono, Monterisi, Romagnoli and Marchizza in the back department, Gelli, Mazzitelli and Harroui in the midfield, Baez, Borrelli and Caso in the offensive trident.
Inter-Monza (20.45 pm, Dazn and Sky): Inzaghi bets on Lautaro e Thuram
In the evening instead it will be the turn of Inter, engaged in San Siro (sold out despite a semi-deserted Milan) against Monza. Inzaghi, mindful of last year's trick, wants to start strong and immediately give himself 3 points, also because the Brianza players have not yet disposed of Berlusconi's loss, as seen in the Coppa Italia match against Reggiana and, more generally, in a market decidedly with the lights off. The Nerazzurri coach should start with the most tested elements, with only the new Sommer and Thuram: his 3-5-2 will see the Swiss in goal, Darmian, De Vrij (Acerbi is injured) and Bastoni in defense, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco in midfield, Thuram and Lautaro in attack, with Arnautovic, Frattesi and Cuadrado ready to take over off the bench. Palladino will instead rely on two exes such as D'Ambrosio and Gagliardini, in a 3-4-2-1 with Di Gregorio in goal, D'Ambrosio, Pablo Marì and Caldirola in the back, Ciurria, Gagliardini, Pessina and Kyriakopoulos in midfielder, Colpani and Caprari behind the lone striker Mota Carvalho.
