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Saturday, September 2 |
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Italian soccer preview
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| The Italian match-fixing scandal has created the most open Serie A season in years. Juventus was relegated to Serie B, AC Milan starts with an eight-point penalty and Fiorentina begins the season on Sept. 9-10 with a 19-point deficit. Inter Milan, by process of elimination and numerous high-profile signings, moves from sentimental favourite to top contender. Milan, despite its penalty, AS Roma and Palermo, which also made wholesale changes, are the other main challengers. Inter spent nearly 50 million euros ($70.9 million Canadian) on seven new players. Patrick Vieira and Zlatan Ibrahimovic came from Juventus, Hernan Crespo rejoined from Chelsea, and star Italy defender Fabio Grosso transferred north from Palermo. "Inter has enormous potential. If they're able to keep the group together and find the right spirit they could also win the (Champions) Cup," said Italy and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Inter was awarded last season's title when Juventus was stripped of the honour. The nerazzurri hadn't won the scudetto since 1989 and will face pressure to confirm their success on the field this season. Milan has to overcome the loss of striker Andriy Shevchenko to Chelsea, although Filippo Inzaghi and Alberto Gilardino appear up to the task. Inzaghi scored two goals for Milan to qualify for the Champions League after being relegated to a bench role during the World Cup. Gilardino, who failed to score in 10 Champions League games last season, will want to show that he belongs in his second season with Milan. AS Roma is counting on Francesco Totti and Vincenzo Montella returning to form. Totti is still not 100 per cent after a serious left leg and ankle injury in February. Montella is returning from shoulder and back problems. He missed two-thirds of last season and scored only one goal in 13 games. "We have to start how we finished last season. We can't let things slip away at the beginning," Montella said. Roma went on a Serie A record 11-match winning streak in the second half of last season and improved from a horrendous start to finish fourth. It was then promoted to second after sentences were delivered in the scandal. Palermo has five new players in its starting lineup, including midfielders Aimo Diana and Fabio Simplicio and winger Mark Bresciano. Coach Francesco Guidolin can also rely on defenders Cristian Zaccardo and Andrea Barzagli from Italy's World Cup squad, and veteran playmaker Eugenio Corini. "We can really have a good season," said Palermo forward David Di Michele, who was called up to Italy's team for 2008 European Championship qualifiers. "Important new players have arrived, we have a good coach and the competition won't be as thick as the past few years. "Inter, Milan and maybe Roma are superior, but then we're up there with Sampdoria. It will be a great season, with a lot more uncertainty and battles than the past. Without Juve, there's more space available." Sampdoria coach Walter Novellino is entering his fifth season with the club and has a reliable attack duo of Francesco Flachi and Emiliano Bonazzoli. Uruguay's Ruben Olivera joined Sampdoria from Juventus and will bolster the midfield. Udinese struggled in the league last season when it made its Champions League debut, exiting the European competition after the group stage. Led by Vincenzo Iaquinta and Antonio Di Natale in attack, Udinese is virtually unchanged from last season. Chievo Verona also made few changes of note. Other mid-table clubs are Cagliari, Livorno and Siena. Cagliari has a group of homegrown players to rely on. Livorno still has high-scoring striker Cristiano Lucarelli and Siena retained veteran forward Enrico Chiesa. Lazio and Reggina were also hit hard by the scandal. Lazio starts with an 11-point penalty, which it should overcome to avoid relegation, while Reggina seems destined to go down to Serie B with a 15-point deficit. Fiorentina's penalty is the biggest of all, but with last season's league scoring leader, Luca Toni, back, and some interesting additions, a climb out of the relegation zone is possible — albeit difficult. Atalanta, Catania and Torino are the promoted teams. Atalanta returns to Serie A after only one season in B and has signed former Italy forward Christian Vieri. Catania is back after a 22-year spell in the lower divisions and will rely on forward Gionatha Spinesi, who has scored 88 goals in the last five B seasons. Torino's ambitious owner, Urbano Cairo, spent 11 million euros ($15.6 million Cdn) to add players like goalkeeper Christian Abbiati and Barone. Messina, the final club relegated at the end of last season, also returns after having been promoted when Juventus was sent down to B. Also at the bottom are Ascoli, Empoli and Parma. Parma continues to struggle financially in the wake of the Parmalat scandal, having to sell five players. |
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@ 8:43 PM
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