COMMENT
Serie A returns this weekend with Juventus bidding for a seventh successive Scudetto.
However, even coach Massimiliano Allegri has conceded that the Bianconeri will have their work cut out retaining their title, with all of Italy eagerly awaiting what promises to be one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory.
As a result, Goal has decided to get its brave band of Serie A editors, writers and experts to put their necks on the line by predicting the outcome of all the major prizes and individual honours...
LEAGUE WINNERS
Milan have spent big, Roma were last season's runners-up and Inter have already been boosted by the arrival of Luciano Spalletti as coach but it's clear that our experts feel that there are only two sides capable of winning this season's Scudetto...
Juventus
- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent
Napoli
- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia
Napoli
- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor
Juventus
- Stefan Coerts, News Editor
Juventus
- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor
Juventus
- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent
Napoli
- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor
Napoli
- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia
Juventus
- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIERS
Milan last played in the Champions League in 2013-14, while Inter, who lifted the trophy years ago, haven't made an appearance since 2011-12.
However, in a huge boost for Italian football, Serie A will have four qualification spots this season and that, according to all our experts, will see at least one of the Milanese rivals secure an overdue return to the game's prestigious club tournament ...
Napoli, Roma & Inter
- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent
Inter, AC Milan & Juventus
- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia
Juventus, Inter & AC Milan
- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor
AC Milan, Roma & Napoli
- Stefan Coerts, News Editor
Napoli, AC Milan & Inter
- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor
Napoli, AC Milan & Inter
- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent
Juventus, Inter & AC Milan
- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor
Juventus, Inter & Roma
- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia
Roma, Napoli & AC Milan
- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia
RELEGATED
Reaching Serie A is one thing; staying there is quite another, as underlined by the fact that several of our experts feel that Benevento and SPAL are heading straight back down.
Verona are also perceived to be at great risk of an immediate return to Serie B but there's also the feeling that Crotone won't be able to pull off another great escape, and that Cagliari and Genoa are both at risk of relegation.
Crotone, Benevento & SPAL
- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent
Verona, Genoa & Chievo
- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia
Crotone, Benevento & Verona
- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor
SPAL, Benevento & Genoa
- Stefan Coerts, News Editor
Crotone, SPAL & Benevento
- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor
Benevento, Crotone & SPAL
- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent
SPAL, Crotone & Benevento
- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor
Benevento, Cagliari & Crotone
- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia
Crotone, SPAL & Benevento
- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia
TOP GOALSCORER
Mauro Icardi has just taken Gonzalo Higuain's place in the Argentina squad and, looking at our experts' picks, the pair are going to spend the next year trying to impress Albiceleste coach Jorge Sampaoli by battling it out for the Capocannoniere award.
Indeed, only one of our writers believes that anyone other than the Argentine duo has a chance of finishing top of the goalscoring charts...
Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus)
- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent
Andrea Belotti (Torino)
- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia
Mauro Icardi (Inter)
- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor
Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus)
- Stefan Coerts, News Editor
Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus)
- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor
Mauro Icardi (Inter)
- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent
Mauro Icardi (Inter)
- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor
Mauro Icardi (Inter)
- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia
Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus)
- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Paulo Dybala announced himself as a bona fide superstar with his two-goal salvo against Barcelona earlier this year and the majority of our writers believe that he is now set to prove himself the best player in Serie A.
However, there is also support for Marek Hamsik and Dries Mertens, both of whom were excellent for Napoli last season, and also new AC Milan signing Franck Kessie, who is coming off the back of a breakout campaign at Atalanta.
Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent
Franck Kessie (AC Milan)
- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia
Marek Hamsik (Napoli)
- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor
Marek Hamsik (Napoli)
- Stefan Coerts, News Editor
Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor
Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent
Dries Mertens (Napoli)
- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor
Dries Mertens (Napoli)
- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia
Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia
BEST YOUNG PLAYER
At one point during the summer, Serie A looked certain to lose Gianluigi Donnarumma to either La Liga or the Premier League but the teenage goalkeeper decided to stay at Milan and is now our favourite to win this year's Young Player of the Year award.
However, he also looks set to face stiff competition for the accolade from the likes of Lorenzo Pellegrini, who rejoined Roma from Sassuolo this summer, and Lazio ace Sergej Milinkovic-Savic...
Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)
- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent
Nicolo Barella (Cagliari)
- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia
Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)
- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor
Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina)
- Stefan Coerts, News Editor
Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)
- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor
Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)
- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent
Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)
- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio)
- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio)
- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia
BEST SUMMER SIGNING
There is no doubt that Juventus selling Leonardo Bonucci to Milan was the most surprising transfer of the summer, so it's no surprise to see that he features in our experts' picks for summer signing of the season.
However, the defender's new team-mate, the aforementioned Kessie, is also considered a serious contender for this particular accolade...
Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)
- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent
Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan)
- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia
Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan)
- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor
Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus)
- Stefan Coerts, News Editor
Franck Kessie (AC Milan)
- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor
Franck Kessie (AC Milan)
- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent
Milan Skriniar (Inter)
- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor
Douglas Costa (Juventus)
- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia
Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan)
- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia
WORST SUMMER SIGNING
Given Milan have been among the active sides in the transfer market anywhere in Europe this summer, it's perhaps unsurprising that two of their new arrivals have been put forward for the worst signing of the season...
Andre Silva (AC Milan)
- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent
Bruno Gaspar (Fiorentina)
- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia
Rodrigo Palacio (Bologna)
- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor
Fabio Borini (AC Milan)
- Stefan Coerts, News Editor
Fabio Borini (AC Milan)
- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor
Felipe Caicedo (Lazio)
- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent
Hector Moreno (Roma)
- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor
Andre Silva (AC Milan)
- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia
Fabio Borini (AC Milan)
- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia
COACH OF THE SEASON
Arrigo Sacchi says Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri is "a genius" and the overwhelming majority of our experts agree with him. Indeed, only one has not selected the Tuscan as the likely winner of the Panchina d'Oro award...
Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)
- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent
Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)
- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia
Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)
- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor
Vincenzo Montella (AC Milan)
- Stefan Coerts, News Editor
Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)
- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor
Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)
- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent
Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)
- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor
Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)
- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia
Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)
- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia
FIRST COACH TO BE SACKED
Luciano Spalletti only took charge of Inter this summer and the Nerazzurri's performances in pre-season have been hugely encouraging. However, that's not stopped one of our experts for predicting that the former Roma boss will be the first coach for the chop!
Marco Baroni (Benevento)
- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent
Fabio Pecchia (Verona)
- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia
Massimo Rastelli (Cagliari)
- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor
Luciano Spalletti (Inter)
- Stefan Coerts, News Editor
Massimo Rastelli (Cagliari)
- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor
Fabio Pecchia (Verona)
- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent
Ivan Juric (Genoa)
- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor
Ivan Juric (Genoa)
- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia
Ivan Juric (Genoa)
- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia