European champions AC Milan and Serie A title-holders Juventus again start as favourites when the Italian season gets underway on Saturday.
But Inter Milan, desperate for their first 'scudetto' since 1989, and Rome clubs Lazio and AS Roma, will all be aiming to intervene in the race between last season's Champions League finalists.
That final may have failed to live up to expectations, with Milan winning on penalties after a goalless and largely dull match, but the long haul of the Italian season promises plenty of drama.
Juventus, winners of the past two championships, look even stronger this season with coach Marcello Lippi having brought in two more Italy internationals in defender Nicola Legrottaglie and striker Fabrizio Miccoli, along with the highly-rated Ghanaian midfielder Stephen Appiah.
They will strengthen all departments of the squad but the key men remain Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved, suspended from the Champions League final, and Italian forward Alessandro Del Piero.
"It is the most complete squad we have had in recent years, with good cover in every area," said a confident Lippi.
WATCHING SPENDING
Milan too have strengthened but like Juve have avoided big-money, big-name deals as Serie A continues to watch its spending.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti has added Brazil's World Cup-winning captain Cafu at right-back, the experienced Giuseppe Pancaro as cover on the left of the defence while the exciting Brazilian youngster Kaka will give him an extra option in midfield.
While hoping that his team can find greater consistency in the league Ancelotti is not planning any major changes to Milan's style.
"It will be the same Milan, we have our way of playing. We have a big squad with plenty of options and I am convinced we will be competitive," he said.
Between them, Milan and Juve have won 43 titles but it is 14 years since Inter won their 13th 'scudetto' and the pressure is on Argentine coach Hector Cuper to end that barren run.
In his third season at the San Siro, Cuper knows that another near miss will not be enough to secure his future and the former Valencia coach will be under intense pressure from the outset.
"I hope that we will be the best of all this year with a real united team that play good football and therefore can achieve the results that we are looking for," said Cuper.
With burly target man Christian Vieri leading the attack, Cuper has strengthened his capacity to provide for him by bringing in wingers Andy van der Meyde from Ajax and Kily Gonzalez from Valencia.
LITTLE COVER
But the sale of Argentine striker Hernan Crespo to Chelsea has perplexed many of the club's fans and leaves Cuper with little cover should Vieri's muscles again fail to carry him through an entire season.
Roma will hope that the arrival of Romanian defender Cristian Chivu from Ajax Amsterdam will resolve the defensive problems that lay behind their disappointing campaign last season.
In Francesco Totti they have the leading flair player in the championship and also possess a strong all-round midfield.
Lazio's financial problems have eased over the summer break and against many predictions the club have managed to keep hold of their two key players -- Dutch defender Jaap Stam and Serbian midfielder Dejan Stankovic.
The addition of Demetrio Albertini in midfield will add some extra experience but Roberto Mancini's side look short of real firepower in attack.
Of the promoted sides, Sampdoria, returning to the top flight after a four-season absence, have made some smart moves in the transfer market and look the most likely to enjoy a stress-free campaign.
© 2024 Rediff.com -