It’s in the air already, can you feel it? That scent, that excitement, those colors. You can hear fans chanting and shouting out loud in the stadium. Papers write about it every single day. The grass keeps growing in that rectangular pitch – 100 x 60 meters, two areas, two goals, and 22 players to fulfill the wishes of those who dare to dream.
There are still a few weeks left, the transfer market session is on fire, but Serie A is coming back. Juventus, Napoli, Roma, Inter, Milan, Lazio – and who knows, maybe an outsider? – are ready to fight for the most coveted title in the Italian Republic: The Scudetto. Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlo Ancelotti, Mauro Icardi, Patrick Shick, Ciro Immobile: They are all warming up for the race to start on August 18.
Because this is the innovation introduced in this season of the Italian football top flight: An early start than usual, in the middle of August, in line with the other major European leagues. Yes, because you know, we are a little bit lazy here in the Stivale, and our Serie A traditionally used to kick off only late in August or at the beginning of September…
But this summer, the call to duty is an early one. The Italian campionato will start on August 18, and conclude on May 26. One round will be played on December 26 – on Boxing Day, another innovation. The start will be a thrilling one, with the first round featuring Lazio-Napoli and an Emilian derby Bologna-SPAL already! Cristiano Ronaldo will make his Italian debut in Verona, where Juventus will pay visit to Chievo.
If that is not enough, check the program for the second round, when Lazio will pay visit to Juventus, and Napoli will receive Milan at the San Paolo Stadium. One week later, the Rossoneri will face Roma at home. But the real highlight is expected to be Round 7, when both the Derby della Capitale Roma-Lazio and Juventus-Napoli, the clash between the top two contenders from last season, will take place.
We will have to wait Round 16 to watch the Derby d’Italia between Juventus and Inter, just before the last Champions League group stage round! And, let’s not forget about a few key matches for the relegation battle: We start with Parma-Cagliari and Sassuolo-Empoli in the 5th round, and another Emilian derby between SPAL and Sassuolo one week later. Round 10 features a crucial Genoa-Udinese.
Serie A is ready to start, and so we are. The Cult of Calcio will follow the championship day by day, bringing you the best, the worst, and the did-you-know-that about this crazily entertaining football league.
Stay tuned, and enjoy the Campionato!
Click here to download your copy of the Serie A 2018-2019 match program (in Italian, of course!)