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Another season of enthralling Serie A football is upon us and attention will turn to the various sub-plots and storylines that will unfold in the new campaign.
Traditional heavyweights like Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan guarantee that the followership of Serie A cuts across every corner of the globe.
Furthermore, exciting sides like Atalanta and Lazio have steadily punched above their weight in recent years to add extra drama to the league.
The large-scale managerial shuffle at several clubs promises several tactical battles in a league that has given us more than its fair share of tactical geniuses throughout history.
Another exciting season of Serie A football is just around the corner. On that note, we shall be having a rundown of five predictions that could unfold in the Italian top-flight this term.
#5 Atalanta to finish as the top-scoring team in Serie A
Atalanta have defied expectations in recent years and have steadily punched above their weight despite having one of the smallest budgets in the entire league.
The Bergamo outfit are nowhere near as prestigious as the likes of the Milan sides or Juventus. However, they have realized their limitations and made the most of it.
La Dea have forged a reputation for being one of the most exciting sides on the entire continent. Their full throttle and no-holds-barred style of play have won many admirers and helped them secure a top-four finish for three consecutive seasons. Atalanta have also been the top-scorers in Serie A for the last three seasons.
Atalanta's shrewd transfer policies have seen them unearth several raw gems from across Europe, as well as revive the careers of players who previously failed to cut it on the big stage.
Gian Piero Gasperini deserves immense praise for masterminding Atalanta's meteoric rise in Serie A. Another high-scoring campaign can be expected from them.
#4 Inter Milan to struggle massively
Inter Milan are a club never far removed from controversy. Whether it was the rapid hiring and firing of managers in the recent past or club captains clashing with fans, the club was always on the precipice of negative sporting headlines.
Even Antonio Conte's highly successful two-year tenure at the helm was not without its own fair share of drama.
The 51-year-old gaffer threatened to leave the club last year and regularly gave heated press interviews about not being supported adequately.
Despite all the boardroom drama, Conte buckled up and built a strong-knit side that romped its way to a first Serie A title in 11 years.
Bubbles had barely popped on the celebratory champagne bottles when news filtered out that the club was in massive financial turmoil.
The club are owned by Chinese business conglomerate Suning Holdings Group and the club's owners have been trying to sell the club to new owners.
In eerily similar circumstances, Suning also owned a Chinese club, Jiangsu Suning, who folded up soon after winning a maiden league title earlier in the year.
Antonio Conte was the first to leave, while key players from the title-winning team like Achraf Hakimi have been sold.
The club's finances are reportedly in dire condition and every player in the squad has a price. While Romelu Lukaku is all but confirmed as a Chelsea player, Lautaro Martinez has also been rumored to be on his way out of the club.
All this is pointing to a tough season ahead for the Serie A champions and not even the appointment of the highly-rated Simone Inzaghi could half it.
The coming season could be a spectacular fall from grace for Inter Milan but given their recent history, it would not be entirely surprising.
#3 Juventus to reclaim the Serie A crown
Juventus were by far the most dominant team in Serie A in the last decade but saw their stranglehold on the title broken last season.
This owed much to the Bianconeri's internal demons, as well as the inexperience of Andrea Pirlo in the dugout.
Massimiliano Allegri's reappointment has signaled an intent to return to basics which could in turn translate to renewed dominance.
Juventus' Serie A quest will be aided by the lack of genuine competition in the league, barring any surprise Cinderella stories.
As already touched upon, Inter Milan are in self-destruction mode, while AC Milan's tame end to last season highlighted the infeasibility of their initial title charge.
Napoli have not shown the consistency of years gone by, while Jose Mourinho's arrival at AS Roma is a headline-grabber at best.
Perhaps Atalanta might be the only worthy challenger in Serie A but for all the Bergamo outfit's impressive feats, they lack the squad depth to truly go the distance.
Football is a game where anything can happen but the smart money will be on backing Juventus to triumph in Serie A.
#2 Jose Mourinho's Serie A return to end poorly
Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest managers in history but the last few years have been less than flattering on his CV.
High-profile sacks have come at Chelsea and Manchester United, while he has also failed to redeem his battered image at Tottenham.
It is telling of Mourinho's low standing these days that instead of going to a "top club in England or Italy" after his sacking, he is being appointed by a mid-level Serie A side.
AS Roma are one of the most storied clubs in Italian football but the capital side have taken a backseat in recent years.
They cannot even claim to be among the sides pushing Juventus to the limit and have arguably even lost city bragging rights to Lazio.
As such, the appointment of Jose Mourinho is a storied marriage between a club trying to find its identity and a manager who has lost his previous Midas touch.
However, it looks unlikely that there will be any fairytale ending, as Roma do not have the quality needed to genuinely challenge for honors in Serie A.
The Stadio Olimpico outfit have also been embroiled in several controversies over the last few years, with their famous remontada over Barcelona seemingly eons ago.
It might even be a stretch to expect the Giallorossi to attain a top-four finish. And judging by Mourinho's recent history, this is an appointment that could end in ignominy.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo to retain the Serie A Golden Boot
Cristiano Ronaldo will turn 37 years midway through the Serie A campaign but it would be foolhardy to write him off based on that.
The Madeira native has continued his record-breaking ways in Turin and finished each of his three seasons at Juventus as the club's top scorer.
He won a maiden Serie A Golden Boot last term with 29 goals and is poised to repeat the feat in the coming campaign.
For starters, the Portugal international still retains the same drive and hunger to be the best, while Juventus' significant superiority guarantees that he will get chances.
Furthermore, the imminent departure of Romelu Lukaku excludes arguably the only player capable of pushing Ronaldo all the way. As such, it is hard to see beyond the five-time Ballon d'Or winner retaining his Capocannoniere award.
Also See: Seven European clubs to win a treble
