Club Profiles and Websites



Title odds are from Eurobet Sports


For a list of players and squad numbers, click on the team name




Inter Milan
Manager: Roberto Mancini
Star player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Stadium: San Siro (85,700)
Local airports: Milan Malpensa, Orio al Serio, Milan Linate
Title odds: 11-8
Last year Inter were helped in their quest for the Scudetto by points penalties imposed on Milan AC, and the relgation of Juventus due to corruption charges. But this year it will be harder for the Nerazzuri as competition will be tougher. Players of the quality of Zanetti, Figo and Vieira mean that they will surely be favourites with most people. This season ItalyCalcio's star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been in fantastic form up to the winter break, helping his team to establish a healthy lead at the top of Serie A. They will still be everyone's favourites, especially with the poor season Milan are having, and Roma's inability to kill games off. In terms of youngsters, look out for Inter's new striking sensation, 17 year old Mario Balotelli who has been linked with all the big teams, but is still waiting for a run in the team.


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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: 6-4
With no points deductions this year Milan could have started off full of confidence, especially being holders of the Champions League. They have top players, including Andrea Pirlo, Allessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Kaka. However, some stars are becoming quite aged, notably Inzaghi and Maldini- do they one more successful year left in them? At the Christmas stage it was very dissappointing season in the league, but winning the Club World Cup will be some consolation. Much has been made of young Brazilian Pato's big money move from Internacional, but will he be able to add the goals that Inzaghi and Gilardino have so far failed to supply? So far he has done well but pressure is being heaped upon his young shoulders. Along with the return to the team, and to form maybe, of Ronaldo, and the impressive youngster Paloschi coming through, it could be a much more positive second half of the season, but a top 2 or 3 finish may not be possible. One thing that Milan do have though, is strength in depth with many squad players like Ambrosini and Brocchi, who are able to rotate and keep the stars fresh.


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Juventus
Manager: Claudio Ranieri
Star Player: Gianluigi Buffon
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico di Torino (25,370) - Temporary
Local airports: Sandro Pertini International airport
Title odds: 4-1
After a comfortable promotion i Bianconeri will again challenge the title after keeping most of their star players. With forward players of the calibre of Del Piero, Camoronesi, Trezeguet and Iaquinta, they have goals in them. But since their last Serie A season they've lost defensive players Zambrotta, Cannavaro and Vieira, so can they keep them out? We've seen impressive defensive performances from Legrottaglie and Chiellini, but their place in the team was down to Jorge Andrade being injured, and they still have former Newcastle man Boumsong, so whether they can remain strong to the end of the season remains to be seen. Their midfield is also strengthened by the signing of Maniche, which could see Tiago leave, possibly back to the Premiership.


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A.S Roma
Manager: Luciano Spalletti
Star Player: Francesco Totti
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico di Roma (82,922)
Local airports: Rome Ciampino
Title Odds: 6-1
Roma have a top quality midfield, with English-born Simeone Perrotta, and Italy player Daniel De Rossi, aided by attacking minded players like Giuly, Taddei, Mancini and Totti. Its a solid team that were runners-up last year, and have strengthened in defence with the pacey wing-back Cicinho signing from Real Madrid, adding to other attacking full-backs Cassetti and Tonetto. They play superb football, and although Totti is not a typical striker, he often plays as a lone striker, which creates great attacking play, and results in him scoring more often than not.


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Fiorentina
Manager:Cesari Prandelli
Star Player: Martin Jorgensen
Stadium: Stadio Artemio Franchi (47,282)
Local airports: Galileo Galilei Pisa airport
Title Odds: 33-1
I Viola (The Purple Ones) have made a remarkable return to the top flight since their financial troubles, subsequent double promotion, and Serie B play-off victory. Last season they finished 6th, with inspirational players like Tomáš Ujfaluši in defence, and Adrian Mutu up front, aided by more physical strikers like Pazzini or Vieri. In goal is one the in-form goalies in the world at the moment, highly rated Frenchman Sebastien Frey, who is a very influential player for the Viola. If your looking for the future of Fiorentina, then look no further than Riccardo Montolivo in attacking midfield, and former Italy under-21 captain Marco Donadel a bit deeper.


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S.S Lazio
Manager: Delio Rossi
Star Player: Goran Pandev
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico di Roma (82,922)
Local airports: Rome Ciampino
Title odds: 66-1
Lazio finished in 3rd place last year, with an excellent run of 8 wins in a row. However, summer strengthening brought in mainly squad players, with former West Ham player Lionel Scaloni one of the bigger names. The title this year would seem too far off for them this year. Goals come in the form of Goran Pandev, or Tommasso Rocchi. Further back in the field its Lorenzo De Silvestri in defence and Stefano Mauri in midfield. Its also worth mentioning that first choice goalkeeper MArco Ballotta, at 43 years old is the oldest ever to play in Serie A or the Champions League. The January transfer window has also seen the expected return of Rolando Bianchi to Italy on loan from Manchester City. He'll be hoping to have the form that saw him score 19 in his last season in Serie A.


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Palermo
Manager: Colantuono
Star Player: Andrea Barzagli
Stadium: Stadio Renzo Barbera (37,619)
Local airport: Falcone Borsellino (Palermo International)
Title Odds: 66-1
The biggest club in Sicily, Palermo are seventh favourites for the title and have some players capable of challenging top defences, like Australian Mark Bresciano and Fabrizio Miccoli, formerly of Juventus. The defence can be solid too, with Star Man Barzagli, who often features for the national side, and Cristian Zaccardo. Up front, it is Miccoli and Amauri who have impressed the most this year so far.


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Sampdoria
Manager: Walter Mazzarri
Star Player: Antonio Cassano
Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris (36,536)
Local airport: Genoa airport
Title Odds: 80-1
Many eyes are on two loan signings for the Genoa outfit, those of Antonio Cassano from Real Madrid, and Vicenzo Montella from Roma, both of whom could change games and change an average season into a successful one. Other solid players include captain Volpi, striker Quagliarella and long-serving midfield man Angelo Palombo.


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Udinese
Manager: Pasquale Marino
Star Player: Antonio Di Natale
Stadium: Stadio Friuli (41,652)
Local airport: Trieste Ronchi Airport
Title Odds: 100-1
We have already seen this year that Udinese are capable of beating the big boys on their day. These kind of results depend on the likes of Di Natale to perform, as this is a team with few stars, but who play as a team. They will however be weaker than last year, when they finished 10th, as they have lost Vincenzo Iaquinta.


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S.S.C Napoli
Manager: Edoardo Reja
Star Player: Marcelo Zalayeta
Stadium: Stadio San Paulo (78,210)
Local airport: Capodichino Airport (Naples)
Title Odds: 250-1
Despite their long odds for the title, Napoli look good this year, with some fire-power up front that many other clubs will be envious off, notably Zalayeta, Sosa, Hamsyk, Lavezzi and Calaiò. The defence is strengthened by the influence of Paulo Cannavaro, brother of the Italy legend.


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Atalanta Bergamo
Manager: Luigi Del Neri
Star Player: Cristiano Doni
Stadium: Stadio Atleti Azzuri d'Italia (24,642)
Local airport: Ario al Serio (Bergamo)
Title Odds: 250-1
With the hard-working and skilled midfield play of Doni, there are plenty of opportunities for attacking players, best of whom are Riccardo Zampagna, with 17 in 44 games last year. Also, another Serie A stars brother, Simeone Inzaghi, has made a loan move to Atalanta after losing form with Lazio.


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Calgliari
Manager: Marco Giampaolo
Star Player: Pasquale Foggia
Stadium: Stadio Sant'Elia (23,486)
Local airport: Cagliari Elmas airport
Title Odds: 300-1
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, and young, half-Polish striker Robert Acquafresca. He will need to perform well this year and effectively replace the goals that David Suazo, now of Inter, provided before him.


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Catania
Manager: Silvio Baldini
Star Player: Gionatha Spinesi
Stadium: Stadio Angelo Massimino (20,800)
Local airport: Catania Fontanarossa Airport
Title Odds: 500-1
Avoiding relegation will certainly be the main objective for "gli elefanti" this year, something they only did on the final day last year. 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 a different story though.


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Torino
Manager: Walter Novellino
Star Player: Nicola Ventola
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico di Torino (25,370) - Temporary
Local airport: Sandro Pertini International airport
Title Odds: 500-1
The Turin outfit have much better attacking options than a 500-1 odd would suggest, with Di Michele, Ventola, Stellone and Recoba all competing for places. New defensive midfielders Barone and Corini will toughen the team up, but again the problems seem to be in conceding goals.


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Livorno
Manager: Fernando Orsi
Star Player: Fabio Gallante
Stadium: Stadio Armando Picchi (19,238)
Local airport: Galileo Galilei Pisa
Title Odds: 500-1
The "Amaranto" lack as much quality as Torino for example, and so playing well as a team is vital. Previous years would have seen quality added by Cristiano Lucarelli, but his departure has taken its toll, with goals not really coming from former Empoli and Valencia man Tavano, who remains their main threat. Diego Tristan has been a major disappointment, so avoiding relegation will remain upto Tavano and free-kick specialist Alessandro Diamanti. The rest of the squad comprises of highly rated Azzuri 'keeper Marco Amelia, and former Inter defenders Fabio Gallante and Giovanni Pasquale.


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Empoli
Manager: Luigi Cagni
Star Player: Luca Saudati
Stadium: Stadio Carlo Castellani (19,847)
Local airport: Galileo Galilei Pisa
Title Odds: 600-1
There will need to be a repeat of the 14 goals in 34 games last year from Saudati if Empoli are going to avoid the drop. This is their main source of attack, and indeed the style of football is more defensive than other teams in the drop zone, which may well make it all the more difficult given the other attacks on show. Look out for skilled midfielder Giovinco, on loan from Juventus, who is said to be the long-term replacement for Alex Del Piero, and captain Ighli Vannucchi.


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Siena
Manager: Andrea Mandorlini
Star Player: Massimo Maccarone
Stadium: Stadio Artemio Franchi (47,282)
Local airports: Local airport: Galileo Galilei Pisa
Title Odds: 1500-1
The favourites for relegation have a big squad, and one or two big players, like ex-Premiership striker Massimmo Maccarone and up-and-coming midfielder De Ceglie. They have had the chances to beat some of the big teams this year, but too often they don't take their chances, and are punished later on in the game. Therefore, they are unlikely to get enough results given the standard they are up against, and few will put money on Siena staying up.


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