Serie A kicks off on August 22 with Inter and Udinese in action
The Lega Serie A has confirmed the dates and kick-off times for the first five rounds of the Italian championship. The ball starts rolling on August 22, with two simultaneous matches opening the party: Inter Milan host Monza, while Udinese and Como face off. The champions are in action right away. But not everything is settled – the fourth round still has question marks.
How the first five rounds shape up
The season’s opening schedule brings a dense run of fixtures. On matchday one, Saturday the 22nd, in addition to the games already mentioned, Genoa v Napoli and Parma v Cagliari complete the evening programme. On Sunday the 23rd, Juventus visit Frosinone, while Atalanta v Sassuolo and Torino v Milan close the round. On Monday the 24th, Bologna host Lazio and Roma play at home against Fiorentina.
The second round already begins on Friday, August 28, with Milan v Venezia. The third starts on September 4, with Genoa v Como. The big clash of that stage arrives on Sunday the 7th: Juventus v Milan.
Week 4: the European calendar complicates the schedule
The fourth round, set for September 11-14, concentrates the main uncertainties. Some fixtures are flagged with an asterisk – meaning their times may change depending on the Champions League and Europa League calendar.
The main knot lies in two big matches: Lazio v Milan and Sassuolo v Juventus. If Juventus play their first Europa League round on Wednesday, September 16, Sassuolo v Juventus moves to Saturday the 12th, and Lazio v Milan closes out Sunday. If it is Milan competing in the European tournament on that date, the logic is reversed. Italian clubs with places in UEFA competitions have commitments that force the league to leave gaps in its planning – a recurring issue in the first months of every season.
In addition, Como v Parma, Napoli v Bologna and Torino v Roma could also be altered depending on how the Champions League draw sets the match days. Three open games in the same round is a lot for this stage of the calendar.
Fifth round without major loose ends
From round 5, between September 18 and 20, the schedule regains more stability. Bologna v Torino, Roma v Inter and Juventus v Atalanta are the weightiest games. The only asterisk that remains is Milan v Lecce, on Sunday the 20th – subject to adjustment if Milan have a European commitment the following week.
Serie A returns at full force after a busy summer on the market. Inter arrive as the reigning Scudetto holders and, in their very first game, face a Monza fighting for survival. The clash opens the season with symbolism: champion against relegation candidate. Few labels, plenty of football.
