With the release of the Serie A yesterday evening, fans around the world got their first chance to start planning their next nine months worth of weekends. With a resurgent Milan, a scintillating Napoli and an unknown Juventus, the Scudetto appears to be wide open for the first time in years. With that, let’s take a look at the must-see fixtures of the 2017/18 season. 

 

Juventus vs AC Milan (31/03/2018) - With his awkward reunion with teammates already out of the way in the friendly confines of Milan, Leonardo Bonucci’s first trip back to the Juventus Stadium promises to be just a tad more hostile. Out of Turin like a thief in the night, Bonucci’s move to the Rossoneri shook up the footballing world. Theatrics aside, this late season fixture will give us a much clearer picture of just how much this transaction disrupted the Italian pecking order. 

 

AC Milan vs Inter (04/03/2018) - Although the Derby della Madonnina is a fixture that is already world renowned, this year's incarnation is on course to be one of the biggest in years. Labouring over the past few seasons on reputations alone, Inter and AC Milan come into the campaign with clean slates and higher expectations. While the Rossoneri have seemingly signed everybody and their mother, the Nerazzurri have been quieter than a church mouse. Regardless, the appointment of Luciano Spalletti should be able to kick-start a squad that a season ago was high on talent but low on desire. It appears that the quality on the pitch may finally match the stature of these respective brands and because of it, the entire footballing world is better off.

 

 

Roma vs Lazio (19/11/2017) - Still hailed as arguably Italy’s greatest rivalry, the Derby Della Capitale did nothing to dispel that notion a season ago. In their first meeting, a 0-2 Roma victory, Lazio's Danilo Cataldi was sent off for grabbing Roma's Kevin Strootman, after Strootman had squirted Cataldi with a water bottle in the face after scoring the opening goal. The incident would spark a massive brawl with Strootman subsequently receiving a two match ban for his role in the incident. Not to be outdone, Lazio's Senad Lulić would also be given a 20-day ban for disparaging comments made towards Roma's Antonio Rüdiger after the match. 

 

Lazio would get their revenge with a 3-1 win in late April and four days later, dummies with Roma jerseys were left hanging from a pedestrian walkway near the Colosseum. The mannequins were accompanied with a banner which read: "A warning without offence...sleep with the lights on!" With both sides navigating on an upward trajectory, this year’s edition is expected to be hotter than ever on the pitch and in the stands.

 

 

Roma vs Inter (27/08/2017) - If you’re into fireworks, week 2 at the Stadio Olimpico is sure to deliver. Luciano Spalletti makes his much anticipated return to the eternal city as boss of the Nerazzurri after guiding Roma to more Serie A points and goals than any side in the club’s history. With no love lost from large swaths of supporters and media members who believe the Tuscan poorly handled Totti’s career farewell, all parties will be looking to be validated by a victory. 

 

Napoli vs Juventus (03/12/2017) - If there is a single matchup that possesses the perfect blend of entertainment and tactical warfare, this is it. Two of the league’s greatest minds will collide when Maurizio Sarri’s hypnotising offence meets Massimo Allegri’s impenetrable back line. The departure of Bonucci from Juve has led many around the peninsula to smell blood, with no club more eager to take advantage than Gli Azzurri. With their last league title coming way back in 89-90, this matchup could be the springboard for Napoli to finally end the drought. 

 

Atalanta vs Sassuolo (10/09/2017) - At last, we arrive to the matchup that will have hipsters everywhere transfixed. They both might eventually finish mid-table, but no clubs have developed more of a cult-like following over the past two years than these guys. Fresh off an improbable 4th place finish and a return to Europe for the first time in 26 years, Atalanta faced the inevitable talent raid that ensued from some of their more wealthy counterparts. Meanwhile, after a terrific start to the campaign, Sassuolo staggered to a 10th place finish and the subsequent sale of Lorenzo Pellegrini this summer. Still, with Papu Gomez and Domenico Berardi still representing both of these sides respectively, enough talent will be on display to satisfy all. 

 

Sampdoria vs Genoa (18/04/2018) - Despite neither of these sides likely to seriously contend for the Scudetto this season, the Derby della Lanterna remains one of the greatest derbies in all of Serie A. Nestled in the timeless Marassi, the atmosphere alone is sure to produce goose bumps, while the action on the pitch always seems to bring out the best in all parties involved. 




Justin Sherman