After a summer that has seen Italian football hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons football fans will be relieved that their beloved game returns this weekend as the 2012/2013 Serie A season gets under way. Throughout the course of the season much like the last this blog will keep you up to date with all things happening in Italian football, every Friday. The features remain the same, with news, previews to every game and betting advice for that weeks fixtures.
The start of the summer saw Italian football yet again rocked by another series of match fixing allegations. Juventus' championship winning manager Antonio Conte has become the most high profile figure to be prosecuted after his appeal failed this week. He has been banned for 10 months, a huge blow for Juventus. The allegations revolve around games played 2 years ago whilst Conte was manager of Siena, allegedly Conte was aware of but not participating in match fixing and failed to report this to the authorities. Conte's defence was that he wasn't absolutely sure match fixing was occurring so did not report it. The result of Conte's statement resulted in a huge police investigation into match fixing several players are facing lengthy bans including Leonardo Bonucci and Simone Pepe. Leece have been punished for their involvement by being relegated to the third tier of Italian football. Four Serie A clubs will start on minus points with Sampdoria and Tornino beginning on -1, Atalanta on -2 and Siena on -6. Almost everyone involved in the scandal has launched appeals, determined to clear their names and the outcome of this latest embarrassment for Italian football is far from clear. Those closest to the clubs including the fans are accusing the Italian F.A of wrong doing, particularly Juventus who feel that after their involvement in the 2006 scandal are always first to be accused and punished without sufficient evidence. The only thing that is certain in this is scandal is that it will continue to roll on and casts a familiar shadow over what could have been a great season for Italian football.
The close season saw the usual flurry of transfer activity but in Serie A departures are greatly out weighing arrivals at the moment. The Serie A has always prided itself on trying to attract the best players from around the world but in the wake of yet another match fixing scandal it appears the attraction to play in Italy has diminished considerably and that can be seen clearly in the transfer market. Last seasons runners up surprised everyone by selling both top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint Germain whilst Ezequiel Lavezzi went from Napoli to the same big spenders and Roma lost promising young striker Fabio Borini to Liverpool. Most teams have resigned themselves to buying from each other with the likes of Balzaretti joining Roma from Fiorentina and the most bizarre transfer of the summer which saw bitter rivals Inter and Milan swap strikers as Antonio Cassano joined the club he supported as a boy and Gianpaolo Pazzini joined Milan. There is still time to do business with the transfer window open until next Friday but its hard to envisage any big money deals going through before then.
To this weeks games then and the opening weekend has a a traditional look to it with two games on Saturday and eight on Sunday. The first game of the season sees Fiorentina host Udinese. Fiorentina started last seen poorly and were nearly dragged into a relegation battle before a recovery in mid season saw them finish mid table. They have made some good signings with Aquilani and Pizarro joining the Viola. They should be better organised this season and expect them to finish in the top half. Udinese continued to surprise everyone last season as they finished third and will be looking forward to another Champions League campaign. The constant threat of Antonio Di Natale should mean they finish in a similar position this season. Its hard to split these two organised outfits and with no form as yet to go on a draw seems the most likely result. Draw - both teams gradually into stride at the start of a new campaign.
Saturday's second game sees Champions Juventus host Parma. The Old Lady went the entire of last season unbeaten in the league and unlike their nearest league rivals AC Milan they have not lost any major players in the transfer window, though they will no longer be able to call on legend Alessandro Del Piero who's contract was not renewed for this season. The Juventus squad is full of quality players that showed their worth at this years European Championships, midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo was sublime and defensive rock Leandro Bonucci showed why he is frequently mentioned in the same breath as legends like Maldini. They may not go unbeaten this season given the size of that task and their managerial issues are an unwelcome distraction, however given their class and their challengers appearing weaker than they did last season Juve are likely to win back to back titles. Parma did well last season finishing in eighth. Roberto Donadoni has his side well organised and another top half finish beckons. Juventus were imperious at home last season and expect them to continue that form into this season despite facing a tricky game against a decent Parma side. Home Win - Case of deja vu as Juve win again.The first game on Sunday sees last years runners up AC Milan host newly promoted Sampdoria. Milan may be a wounded animal after losing two of their best players but they do still posses some great players in Robinho, Nocerino and Montolivo. It is down to these stars to raise their performances to compensate for the loss of Ibrahimovic, Silva and Cassano. A lot of pressure rests of new striker Pazzini who will be expected to score plenty of goals this season. Milan are without doubt a weaker outfit this season but are still much respected and will certainly finish in the top five. Their opponents Sampdoria, Genoa's second club were promoted after finished third in the Serie B last season. They posses no stand out players and are favourites to be relegated this season. They may surprise us as the season unravels but it wont be on Sunday. Home Win - Milan kick off with a win and show they remain title contenders.
Milan's bitter rivals Inter travel to newly promoted Pescara as they look to avoid the disastrous start they suffered last season. The signing of Cassano is a huge boost for Inter who now have a formidable looking strike force in the form of Cassano, Milito and Forlan. Inter's season hinges on how their stars perform with both Forlan and midfield magician Wesley Sneijder both having poor seasons last time round. If the stars start to display their talents then Inter are set for a top five finish, they look solid at the back and very threatening up front but if it doesn't click for them they are set for another frustrating season. Pescara won the Serie B last season, earning them promotion to Serie A. Like Sampdoria they have few outstanding players though some of you will remember winger Vladimir Weiss from his brief time at Manchester City. As with any promoted team it will be interesting to see how they perform on the big stage, the suspicion is though that they will be involved in a relegation scrap come the end of the season. Away Win - Inter should outclass Pescara in this one.
Roma host Catania as they look to better last years disappointing season under new manager Zdenek Zeman. Zeman takes charge of Roma for a second time following the resignation of Luis Enrique. The Czech returns to Roma after after a thirteen year absence. His first spell lasted two years from 1997 to 1999. He has been received as a popular appointment by the Roma fans given his cavalier philosophy that centres around the 4-3-3 formation and scoring as many goals as possible. Zeman has brought in some good players to strengthen his side with Brazilian defender Leandro Castan and left back Federico Balzaretti being bought in to help a defence that always looked vulnerable last season. He has also brought in American midfielder Michael Bradley to sure up his midfield. However Roma's real strength this season may come from their developing youngsters in the form of Pjanic, Lamela and Bojan these three played with promise last season and are set to confirm that this time around. The midfield rock that is Danielle De Rossi and evergreen talisman Francesco Totti complete a squad that looks set to challenge for a Champions League place. Finishing eight again will not be accepted by demanding Roma supporters. Their opponents, Catania finished eleventh last season and look set to finish in a similar position this season, they have made no major additions to their side but remain a well drilled unit that are hard to break down. Home Win - Zeman's attacking tactics mean that Roma get off to a good start, as their strong attacking line causes problems for Catania.
Siena host newly promoted Torino as they look to move off the bottom of the table as quickly as possible. They begin the new campaign on -6 points are look set to struggle this season with that hindrance. They managed to finish fourteenth last season and will do well to finish in a similar position after making no significant moves in the transfer window. Torino finished second in the Serie B last season and much like the other promoted clubs look set for a long season with their squad lacking strength and depth. Both sides are set for difficult campaigns but this a match Siena will feel they can win and they should. Home Win - Siena begin well by beating newly promoted Torino.
Lazio just missed out on Champions League football last season finishing fourth and they will be looking to go one better this time around. They being their campaign by travelling to Atalanta who finished eleventh last season. Lazio haven't made any significant signings and will once again look to Miroslav Klose to provide the goals. They remain a strong side but one that doesn't score enough goals. They will do well to finish better than fourth this time round. Like Lazio, Atalanta will be looking to their top scorer, German Denis to carry them through this season. They look set for another mid table finish. Lazio beat Atalanta two nil in this fixture at the backend of last season and expect a similar result here with most of the personnel from both sides being retained. Away Win - Lazio beat Atalanta in a tight affair.
Chievo host Bologna in what looks set to be a close encounter. Chievo finished tenth last season, a solid outfit with a good defence and good goalscorer in Sergio Pellissier they are sure to find themselves in a similar position this time round despite a lack of new additions. Bologna finished a place above Chievo in ninth and they too look set for a repeat this time around especially as they have managed to retain striker Alessandro Diamanti who had been linked with a move away from the club for most of the summer. Its hard to predict these mid table bouts, a draw is the safest bet. Draw - two of the leagues average teams play out a stalemate at the start of their campaigns.
Genoa host Cagliari as both teams look to avoid the relegation scrap they found themselves in at the end of last season. Genoa finished just outside the relegation zone in seventeenth, they again look set to struggle after losing a few key players and not buying in the same calibre. Cagliari finished fifteenth, a respectable effort but they will be determined to avoid being so close to the drop zone this time round. They too haven't spent big but have retained much of the team that steered them away from relegation last season. Another tricky puzzle and a draw seems the safest option. Draw - Two teams play out a draw in a game both sides will be keen not to lose.
The final game of the weekend sees Palermo host Napoli. Palermo finished last season in sixteenth, dangerously close to the relegation zone. For them much rests on the goalscoring of Fabrizio Miccoli, a drop in form from him could see them dragged into a relegation battle. Napoli eventually finished fifth last season after a poor end to the campaign. They have lost Lavezzi to PSG but they have bought in promising young striker Lorenzo Insigne. Napoli are always going to score goals given the talent of their front line but their is no doubt they are weaker without Lavezzi. Also they haven't invested in any new defenders to aid the leaky defence of last season. If they can rid themselves of defensive frailties Napoli should finish in the top five again. Even without Lavezzi they should have enough to win this one against a Palermo side that will struggle to contain their forwards. Away win - Napoli get off to a good start with a decent win over Palermo.
Selected Match Betting:
Outrights:Juventus Win Serie A - 11/10Alessandro Martri Top Scorer - 25/1
Matches:Juve, Milan, Napoli, Lazio, Siena, Inter & Roma - All to win: 63/1Milan 3-0 Sampdoria: Correct Score - 13/2Roma V Catania - Osvaldo to score first - 7/2
Enjoy The Games!
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