AC Milan Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
Star player: Kaka
Stadium: San Siro (85,700)
Local airports: Milan Malpensa, Orio al Serio (Bergamo), Milan Linate
Title odds: 2,80
Transfers in: Abbiati (Atletico Madrid), Borriello (Genoa), Flamini (Arsenal),Zambrotta (Barcelona), Storari (Cagliari), Ronaldinho (Barcelona)
Transfers out: Gilardino (Fiorentina), Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Cafu (Expired contract),Serginho (Expired contract), Storari (Fiorentina), Grimi (SportingLisbon)
Having failed to qualify for theChapions League, the Rossoneri are expected to be top challengers forthe Scudetto this year. They have top players, including Andrea Pirlo,Allessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Kaka, and in the summer haveadded an attacking full-back Gianluca Zambrotta, and Brazilian starRonaldinho. The contribution of Inzaghi and Maldini will surely beminimal in what should be their last season. Much has been made ofyoung Brazilian Pato's big money move from Internacional, but will hebe able to add the goals that failed to supply last year. So far he hasdone well but pressure is being heaped upon his young shoulders. Onething that Milan do have though, is strength in depth with many squadplayers like Ambrosini and Brocchi, who are able to rotate and keep thestars fresh.
Atalanta Bergamo Manager: Luigi Del Neri
Star player: Cristiano Doni
Stadium: Stadio Atleti Azzuri d'Italia (24,642)
Local airports: Ario al Serio (Bergamo)
Transfers in: Valdes (Lecce), Defendi (Chievo), Rinaldi (Udinese), Vieri (Freeagent), Garics (Napoli), Cigarini (Parma), Tiboni (Sassuolo), Consigli(Rimini)
Transfers out: Langella (Udinese), Belleri (Lazio), Carrozzieri (Palermo), Tissone(Udinese), Paolucci (Catania), Lazzari (Cagliari), Fissore (Vicenza),Campisi (Verona), S Inzaghi (Lazio)
With the hard-working and skilledmidfield play of Doni, there are plenty of opportunities for attackingplayers, best of whom are Riccardo Zampagna, with 17 in 44 games lastyear. Also, another Serie A stars brother, Simeone Inzaghi, has made aloan move to Atalanta after losing form with Lazio.
Cagliari Manager: Massimo Allegri Star player: Robert Acquafresca
Stadium: Stadio Sant'Elia (23,486)
Local airports: Cagliari Elmas airport
Title odds: 300-1
Transfers in: Astori (Cremonese), Marchetti (Albinoleffe), Bizera (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Marruocco (Ravenna), Lazzari (Atalanta)
Transfers out: Storari (Milan), Capecchi (Ravenna), Marchini (Triestina), Mancosu (Rimini), Shala (Released)
Star man Foggia is only at loan to Cagliari from Lazio at the moment,but he has injected some necessary speed and skill into this team.Other notable players are long-standing defender Diego Lopez, andyoung, half-Polish striker Robert Acquafresca. He will need to performwell this year and effectively replace the goals that David Suazo, nowof Inter, provided before him.
Catania Manager: Walter Zenga Star player: Gionatha Spinesi
Stadium: Stadio Angelo Massimino (20,800)
Local airports: Catania Fontanarossa Airport
Title odds: 500-1
Transfers in: Di Cosmo (Igea Virtus), Kosicki (Inter Bratislava), Carboni (Red Bull),D'Elia (Francavilla), Babu (Triestina), Paolucci (Atalanta), Catellani(Reggiana), Dica (Steaua Bucharest), Ledesma (Boca Juniors)
Transfers out: Rossi (Triestina), Pia (Napoli), Vargas (Fiorentina), Mezavilla (Perugia)
Avoiding relegation will certainly be the main objective for "glielefanti" this year, something they only did on the final day lastyear. If the Catania Ultras can avoid getting the club into trouble,then surviving will rely on good seasons from forward players Spinesi,Mascara and Martinez. Stopping them going in at the other end will be adifferent story though.
Fiorentina Manager: Cesari Prandelli Star player: Adrian Mutu
Stadium: Artemio Franchi (47,282)
Local airports: Galileo Galilei Pisa airport
Title odds: 25,00
Transfers in: Comotto (Torino), Jovetic (Partizan), Melo (Almeria), Gilardino(Milan), Vargas (Catania), Jefferson (Parana Clube), Storari (Milan),Zauri (Lazio)
Transfers out: Ujfalusi (Atletico Madrid), Liverani (Palermo), Potenza (Genoa), Cacia(Piacenza), Vieri (Expired contract), Di Carmine (Queens Park Rangers),Do Prado (Released), Lupoli (Norwich City)
I Viola (The Purple Ones) have made aremarkable return to the top flight since their financial troubles,subsequent double promotion, and Serie B play-off victory. Last seasonthey finished 6th, with inspirational players like Tomas Ujfalusi indefence, and Adrian Mutu up front, aided by more physical strikers likePazzini, or pacey goal poacher ALberto Gilardino. In goal is one thein-form goalies in the world at the moment, highly rated FrenchmanSebastien Frey, who is a very influential player for the Viola. If yourlooking for the future of Fiorentina, then look no further thanRiccardo Montolivo in attacking midfield, and former Italy under-21captain Marco Donadel a bit deeper.
Genoa Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini Star player: Raffaele Palladino
Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris (36,536)
Local airports: Unknown airport
Title odds: 200,00
Transfers in: Polenta (Danubio), Modesto (Reggina), Di Gennaro (Bologna), Gasbarroni(Parma), Potenza (Fiorentina), Biava (Palermo), Mesto (Udinese),Palladino (Juventus), Pinau (Monaco)
Transfers out: Borriello (Milan), Bovo (Palermo), Konko (Siviglia), Fabiano (Reggina), Santos (Reggina), Ledesma (QPR), Leon (Parma)
Unknown
Inter Milan Manager: Joe Mourinho Star player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Stadium: San Siro (85,700)
Local airports: Milan Malpensa, Orio al Serio, Milan Linate
Title odds: 2,40 (Favourites)
Transfers in: Adriano (Sao Paulo), Recoba (Torino), Giacomelli (Foligno), Mancini (Roma), Jimenez (Ternana), Muntari (Portsmouth)
Transfers out: Maniche (Atletico Madrid), Ribas (Dijon)
Last year Inter were helped in their quest for the Scudetto by pointspenalties imposed on Milan AC, and the relgation of Juventus due tocorruption charges. But this year it will be harder for the Nerazzurias competition will be tougher. Players of the quality of Zanetti, Figoand Vieira mean that they will surely be favourites with most people.This season ItalyCalcio's star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been infantastic form up to the winter break, helping his team to establish ahealthy lead at the top of Serie A. They will still be everyone'sfavourites, especially with the poor season Milan are having, andRoma's inability to kill games off. In terms of youngsters, look outfor Inter's new striking sensation, 17 year old Mario Balotelli who hasbeen linked with all the big teams, but is still waiting for a run inthe team.
Juventus Manager: Claudio Ranieri Star player: Gianluigi Buffon
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico di Torino (25,370) - Temporary
Local airports: Sandro Pertini International airport
Title odds: 5,50
Transfers in: Mellberg (Aston Villa), Giovinco (Empoli), Marchisio (Empoli), Amauri(Palermo), Ekdal (Brommapojkarna), De Ceglie (Siena), Knezevic(Livorno), Poulsen (Sevilla), Chimenti (Udinese)
Transfers out: Nocerino (Palermo), Stendardo (Lazio), Volpato (Bari), Palladino (Genoa), Cuneaz (Mantova), Essabr (Vicenza), Del Prete (Siena)
After a comfortable promotion i Bianconeri will again challenge thetitle after keeping most of their star players. With forward players ofthe calibre of Del Piero, Camoronesi, Trezeguet and Iaquinta, they havegoals in them. But since their last Serie A season they've lostdefensive players Zambrotta, Cannavaro and Vieira, so can they keepthem out? We've seen impressive defensive performances fromLegrottaglie and Chiellini, but their place in the team was down toJorge Andrade being injured, and they still have former Newcastle manBoumsong, so whether they can remain strong to the end of the seasonremains to be seen. Their midfield is also strengthened by the signingof Maniche, which could see Tiago leave, possibly back to thePremiership.
Lazio Manager: Delio Rossi Star player: Tommasso Rocchi
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico di Roma (82,922)
Local airports: Rome Ciampino
Title odds: 66-1
Transfers in: Carrizo (River Plate), Stendardo (Juventus), Foggia (Cagliari), Zarate (Lazio), Matuzalem (Real Zaragoza), Lichtsteiner (Lille)
Transfers out: Bianchi (Manchester City), Mudingayi (Bologna), Zauri (Fiorentina)
Lazio finished in 3rd place last year, with an excellent run of 8 winsin a row. However, summer strengthening brought in mainly squadplayers, with former West Ham player Lionel Scaloni one of the biggernames. The title this year would seem too far off for them this year.Goals come in the form of Goran Pandev, or Tommasso Rocchi. Furtherback in the field its Lorenzo De Silvestri in defence and Stefano Mauriin midfield. Its also worth mentioning that first choice goalkeeperMArco Ballotta, at 43 years old is the oldest ever to play in Serie Aor the Champions League. The January transfer window has also seen theexpected return of Rolando Bianchi to Italy on loan from ManchesterCity. He'll be hoping to have the form that saw him score 19 in hislast season in Serie A.
Napoli Manager: Edy Reja Star player: Ezequiel Lavezzi
Stadium: Stadio San Paulo (78,210)
Local airports: Capodichino Airport (Naples)
Title odds: 80,00
Transfers in: Rinaudo (Palermo), Maggio (Sampdoria), Denis (Independiente)
Transfers out: Sosa (Gimnasia La Plata), Rullo (Triestina), Calaio' (Siena), Garics (Atalanta), Bucchi (Ascoli)
Despite their long odds for the title, Napoli look good this year, withsome fire-power up front that many other clubs will be envious off,notably Zalayeta, Sosa, Hamsyk, Lavezzi and Calaiò. The defence isstrengthened by the influence of Paulo Cannavaro, brother of the Italylegend.
Palermo Manager: Maurizio Zamparini Star player: Antonio Nocerino
Stadium: Stadio Renzo Barbera (37,619)
Local airports: Falcone Borsellino (Palermo International)
Title odds: 150,00
Transfers in: De Melo (Le Mans), Liverani (Fiorentina), Raggi (Empoli), Lanzafame(Bari), Nocerino (Juventus), Budan (Parma), Amelia (Livorno),Carrozzieri (Atalanta), Bovo (Genoa), Kjaer (Midtjylland)
Transfers out: Barzagli (Wolfsburg), Zaccardo (Wolfsburg), Amauri (Juventus), Rinaudo (Napoli), Biava (Genoa)
The biggest club in Sicily, Palermo are seventh favourites for thetitle and have some players capable of challenging top defences, likeAustralian Mark Bresciano and Fabrizio Miccoli, formerly of Juventus.The defence can be solid too, with Star Man Barzagli, who oftenfeatures for the national side, and Cristian Zaccardo. Up front, it isMiccoli and Amauri who have impressed the most this year so far.
Reggina Manager: Nevio Orlandi Star player: Franco Brienza
Stadium: Stadio Oreste Granillo
Local airports: Unknown airport
Title odds: Unknown
Transfers in: Rizzo (Perugia), Fabiano (Genoa), Santos (Genoa), Pudil (Slovan Liberec)
Transfers out: Modesto (Genoa), Amoruso (Torino)
Unknown
Roma Manager: Luciano Spalletti Star player: Francesco Totti
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico di Roma (82,922)
Local airports: Rome Ciampino
Title odds: 7,00
Transfers in: Riise (Liverpool), Loria (Siena), Rosi (Chievo)
Transfers out: Barusso (Siena), Curci (Siena), Mancini (Inter), Giuly (PSG), Antunes (Lecce)
Roma have a top quality midfield, with English-born Simeone Perrotta,and Italy player Daniel De Rossi, aided by attacking minded playerslike Giuly, Taddei, Mancini and Totti. Its a solid team that wererunners-up last year, and have strengthened in defence with the paceywing-back Cicinho signing from Real Madrid, adding to other attackingfull-backs Cassetti and Tonetto. They play superb football, andalthough Totti is not a typical striker, he often plays as a lonestriker, which creates great attacking play, and results in him scoringmore often than not.
Sampdoria Manager: Walter Mazzarri Star player: Antonio Cassano
Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris (36,536)
Local airports: Genoa airport
Title odds: 80,00
Transfers in:
Transfers in: Stankevicius (Brescia), Padalino (Piacenza), Dessena (Parma), Fornaroli (National Montevideo)
Transfers out: Volpi (Bologna), Maggio (Napoli), C Zenoni (Bologna)
Many eyes are on two loan signings for the Genoa outfit, those ofAntonio Cassano from Real Madrid, and Vicenzo Montella from Roma, bothof whom could change games and change an average season into asuccessful one. Other solid players include captain Volpi, strikerQuagliarella and long-serving midfield man Angelo Palombo.
Siena Manager: Marco Giampaolo Star player: Massimo Maccarone
Stadium: Stadio Artemio Franchi (47,282)
Local airports: Galileo Galilei Pisa
Title odds: 1500-1
Transfers in:
Transfers in: Barusso (Roma), Belmonte (Bari), Brandao (Belenenses), Curci (Roma),Calaio' (Napoli), Del Prete (Juventus), Kharja (Piacenza), Zuniga(Atletico Nacional)
Transfers out: Loria (Roma), De Ceglie (Juventus), Forestieri (Genoa), Chiesa (Figline), Veron (PAOK), Locatelli (Mantova)
The favourites for relegation have a big squad, and one or two bigplayers, like ex-Premiership striker Massimmo Maccarone andup-and-coming midfielder De Ceglie. They have had the chances to beatsome of the big teams this year, but too often they don't take theirchances, and are punished later on in the game. Therefore, they areunlikely to get enough results given the standard they are up against,and few will put money on Siena staying up.
Torino Manager: Giovanni De Biasi Star player: Alessandro Rosina
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico di Torino (25,370) - Temporary
Local airports: Sandro Pertini International airport
Title odds: 500-1
Transfers in:
Transfers in: Abbruscato (Lecce), Moro (Messina), Amoruso (Reggina), Valtulina (ProSesto), Calderoni (Treviso), Colombo (Udinese), S�umel (Sturm Graz)
Transfers out: Recoba (Inter), Motta (Udinese), Comotto (Fiorentina)
The Turin outfit have much better attacking options than a 500-1 oddwould suggest, with Di Michele, Ventola, Stellone and Recoba allcompeting for places. New defensive midfielders Barone and Corini willtoughen the team up, but again the problems seem to be in concedinggoals.
Udinese Manager: Pasquale Marino Star player: Antonio Di Natale
Stadium: Stadio Friuli (41,652)
Local airports: Trieste Ronchi Airport
Title odds: 100,00
Transfers in:
Transfers in: Langella (Atalanta), Pasquale (Livorno), Tissone (Atalanta), Motta (Torino), Sanchez (River Plate), Nef (Piacenza)
Transfers out:Sivok (Besiktas), Mesto (Genoa), Zapotocny (Besiktas), Dossena(Liverpool), Asamoah (Rennes), Colombo (Torino), Chimenti (Juventus)
We have already seen this year that Udinese are capable of beating thebig boys on their day. These kind of results depend on the likes of DiNatale to perform, as this is a team with few stars, but who play as ateam. They will however be weaker than last year, when they finished10th, as they have lost Vincenzo Iaquinta.