The 2021/22 Serie A season gets underway this weekend and Inter Milan get their title defence started with a home clash against Genoa on Saturday, while the likes of Atalanta and Juventus are also in action.
Inter claimed their first Serie A title since 2009/10 last season, finishing a massive 12 points ahead of rivals AC, but there has been a raft of personnel changes this summer and they may find it difficult to defend their crown.
Nerazzurri Face Difficult Task
Antonio Conte has been replaced in the dugout by Simone Inzaghi, who ended his five-year spell as Lazio boss in May this year, while the club’s top goalscorer last season, Romelu Lukaku, has left to join Chelsea.
Matteo Politano, Achraf Hakimi and Antonio Candreva have also departed the Giuseppe Meazza, although there have been some notable additions with the signings of Edin Dzeko, Hakan Calhanoglu and Denzel Dumfries.
The Nerazzurri are 7/2 to win Serie A for the second straight season, but the biggest danger could come from Juventus, who are 5/6 favourites to reclaim the crown they lost last year.
With Massimiliano Allegri back at the helm, the Old Lady will be hoping they can put in a strong challenge for glory and they continue to be spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 9/4 to win the Golden Boot.
Other title contenders could come in the shape of Atalanta, who are 5/1 to lift the trophy, while 11/1 Napoli, 12/1 AC Milan and 16/1 Roma, who have former Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho in charge.
Genoa First Up for Inter
Although Inter may struggle to defend their title, it should be a routine win for the reigning champions at home to Genoa, who have lost the last six meetings against Saturday’s hosts to nil.
| MATCHDAY
#InterGenoa
@SerieA_EN Week 1
18:30 CEST
Stadio San Siro#ForzaInter
pic.twitter.com/MJy0LSe4rN
— Inter
(@Inter_en) August 21, 2021
Based on that statistic, backing the Nerazzurri to win to nil at 23/20 looks like the betting route to go down.
Goals Expected in Turin
Atalanta are also in action on Saturday evening when they make the trip to Torino and this promises to be an exciting affair between these two, who scored 140 league goals between them last season.
La Dea, who ended up third in the last campaign, were the highest scorers in Serie A last term, netting an incredible 90 times, and over 2.5 goals landed in 23 of their 38 matches.
It has been a goal-fest over the last four meetings between Atalanta and Torino, with no less than 24 strikes recorded, and backing over 2.5 goals at 20/29 looks a safe option, while over 3.5 appeals at 8/5.
Old Lady Start in Udinese
Juventus’ Serie A campaign gets underway on Sunday when they travel to Udinese and Allegri’s men, the 20/43 favourites to pick up the win, should have no problems in starting off with a victory.
The 36-time Italian champions have won eight of last nine meetings against The Friulians, scoring 22 times and conceding just six, and it would be a huge shock if the visitors don’t take all three points.
*All odds correct at time of writing.