For the 2019-20 season, the Serie fixtures have been revealed, prompting reactions from AC Milan, Lazio and Napoli.
Lazio will begin their campaign with a clash against Atalanta. The Bergamo club finished the last season as second runners-up and thereby sealed an automatic Champions League spot.
On the other hand, Lazio must go through the qualifiers to seal a place in the group stage of the competition after finishing fourth.
Juventus will begin their campaign at home against Juventus-Sampdoria, while Napoli travels to Parma. AS Roma will also be playing in the Europa League will begin their campaign away at Hellas Verona.
The Italian Serie will kick off September 19, while the final round is scheduled to hold May 23, 2021.
There will also be six midweek rounds during the season. The governing body had selected December 16, December 23, January 6, February 2, April 21, and May 12 as the dates while international breaks will occur on October 11, November 15, and March 28.
Due to the late start, there will be a short Christmas break. The only break will only be from December 24 to January 2.
Inter Milan will hope to fight Juve for the title this time around as they begin, with a trip to promoted Benevento.
Resurgent Fiorentina will welcome Torino at the Artemio Franchi Stadium while promoted Crotone travels to Genoa.
AC Milan will hope to be better than the sixth spot as they will welcome Bologna at the San Siro.
Impressive Sassuolo welcomes Cagliari while Udinese will slug it out against Spezia at home.
Reacting to the fixtures released, Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi said his side had been handed a complex fixture.
This is because the Biacocelesti will be playing a lot of big away games in the second half of the season.
Lazio will further have away games against Atalanta, Inter, Juventus, Napoli, Fiorentina, and Roma in the second half of the campaign.
He further told the club website that the team would have schedule problems due to their Champions League commitments.
Meanwhile, Napoli coach Genarro Gattuso believes that his lads will be ready when the league kicks off.
While noting it will be a difficult season because Napoli will have to play many big matches in a row.
Their big games will start in week three against Juventus, followed by a clash with Atalanta at the San Paolo. Before traveling to Rome Roma for round 8 and 9 games, they will be playing AC Milan at home.
They will later play Inter in Milan and Lazio during weeks 12 and 13.
In a related development, AC Milan technical director, Paolo Maldini, has said the club must fight for a Champions League place.
While noting that it’s not a declared objective, Maldini said it must be its target.
Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed
