<
>

Serie A schedule kicks off with Juventus against Cagliari

Juventus will begin the defence of their Serie A title with a game against Cagliari at their renamed Allianz Stadium, while Inter Milan host Fiorentina in the pick of the opening weekend's matches.

That will be Luciano Spalletti's first game in charge of the Nerazzurri, whom he joined from Roma in the summer, and just a week later he will return to the capital to face his former club, when Juventus will travel to Genoa.

Last season's surprise package Atalanta have been given a particularly tough start to the season, with Roma visiting Bergamo on the opening weekend before Giampiero Gasperini takes his Europa League qualifiers to Napoli.

Juve's new signing Federico Bernardeschi will face his former club Fiorentina in the fifth round of matches, after the Bianconeri will have faced Cagliari, Genoa, Chievo and Sassuolo in what, based on last season's final standings, appears to be a relatively uncomplicated start to the season for Massimiliano Allegri's men.

Things will then get significantly tougher for the defending champions, though, as they host Torino in the Derby della Mole.

The top game on week seven sees AC Milan host Roma, while the following week sees no fewer than three mouth-watering fixtures with Juventus hosting Lazio, Roma entertaining Napoli and Inter the nominal home team at the San Siro for the first Derby della Madonnina, against Milan.

Leonardo Bonucci will have to wait until the end of October before facing his former club Juventus, who are due to visit his Milan team in the 11th week of matches, while he will face his former local rivals Torino a month later.

The final few weeks of the season will see Juventus travel to Roma before they end the season at home to Hellas Verona. Milan, who have spent over €200 million on the summer transfer market, travel to Atalanta before ending the season at home to Fiorentina.

Meanwhile, the league's newcomers Spal and Benevento both start their Serie A campaigns with away games at Lazio and Sampdoria respectively, while promoted Hellas Verona will host Napoli.

The first round of matches take place on Aug. 20, with two fixtures brought forward to Aug. 19, while the final fixtures will all be played on May 20.