Serie A: Could the Race for Scudetto be the Most Exciting Title Fight in Europe?

Although they wrapped up Scudetto with two weeks left to play, the Bianconeri were far from convincing throughout the course of the campaign, and their failure to progress in Europe also spelled the end for boss Maurizio Sarri. With rookie coach Andrea Pirlo now at the helm, many believe that this could be the year that the Turin outfit's stranglehold on the Italian top flight comes to an abrupt end, and that could result in one of the most fascinating title battles anywhere across Europe. 

 

September 20, 2020

Title Rivals 

It should come as no surprise that mrgreen sports have priced up Juventus as the 11/10 favourites to secure their tenth consecutive Serie A success this season, and with match-winners such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Dejan Kulusevski in their squad, they're understandably fancied to dominate once again. However, there's been a decent amount of turnover in Turin, and a number of players including Adrien Rabiot and Gianluca Frabotta are still yet to convince. 

Inter are the likeliest challengers this season under the jurisdiction of the wily Antonio Conte. The 51-year old will be determined to knock his former employers off their perch, and his experienced squad will be hoping to build upon a hugely impressive 2019-20 campaign. They've managed to keep hold of Lautaro Martinez, and his partnership with the free-scoring Romelu Lukaku could be the key to their success this season. Arturo Vidal is another interesting addition, who should bring some additional quality to the squad whilst Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic are vastly experienced campaigners at this level. 

Atalanta exceeded all expectations last season under Gian Piero Gasperini, and although very few Serie A pundits expect them to recreate those heroics, it's generally ill-advised to completely write off La Dea. 

Having conceded five times in their opening two matches, Roma may not have enough defensive stability to challenge, although rivals Lazio should be in the mix. Simone Inzaghi's men may have missed out on some of their top transfer targets this summer, yet they still have a hugely talented squad, and shouldn't be far away. 

AC Milan could finally make a bid for Scudetto glory this season, led by the imperious and ageless Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Franck Kessie looks to be finally fulfilling his potential in the centre of the park and is likely to be rewarded with a new deal, whilst Sandro Tonali is an exciting arrival at the San Siro. With Brahim Diaz and Hakan Calhanoglu also starting to hit form, it's an exciting time to be a Rossoneri supporter. 

 

September 27, 2020

Key Fixtures

Juventus and Roma played out a 2-2 draw at the end of September, and although that 90 minutes is unlikely to have much of an effect on the title race, there are plenty of much-anticipated match-ups taking place throughout the course of the season. 

The Bianconeri's trip to Stadio Olimpico on November 8th could give fans an early indication of how efficient this new-look Juve side can be. AC Milan vs Juventus at the beginning of 2021 is likely to be one of the most-watched games of the campaign, with Pirlo's men making their return to the San Siro just two weeks later to take on Inter. The high-flying duo meet again on April 16th, which is the penultimate weekend of the campaign. 

Inter vs Atalanta on March 7th has the potential to be one of most entertaining fixtures on the calendar whilst a crucial Derby della Capitale is also pencilled in for April 16th and there could be plenty at stake for both sides. 

PSG and Bayern Munich are both expected to overcome their post-Champions League hangovers and cruise to the Ligue 1 and Bundesliga titles, whilst Barcelona and Real Madrid are likely to dominate in Spain. However, the battle for top spot in Serie A undoubtedly has the potential to be one of the most entertaining and talked-about stories in European football this season, and there is likely to be plenty of unmissable drama and excitement along the way.