Juventus - Livorno
After a year in Serie B, Juventus make their highly-anticipated return to the Italian top flight with a home clash against Livorno. With Claudio Ranieri at the helm it is likely that the Bianconeri will have made a few new friends after the shame of Calciopoli, but it remains to be seen if they have a good enough squad to challenge for a Champions League place, let alone the Scudetto.
Surprisingly, there are still plenty of familiar faces in Turin from the Old Lady’s last Serie A campaign, with Gigi Buffon, Mauro Camoranesi, Pavel Nedved, David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero all likely to be in the starting XI after playing some part in the club’s last top-flight fixture against Reggina 15 months ago. Die-hard Juve fans will notice that Camoranesi has changed his squad number from 16 to eight over the summer.
There are also plenty of debutants, however, as Zdenek Grygera, Jorge Andrade, Domenico Criscito, Antonio Nocerino and Sergio Almiron are all tipped to start for the first time in the famous black and white jersey. Fellow new boy Tiago could join them, but it’s touch and go whether or not he will be handed a starting berth as he is currently struggling for full fitness. Raffaele Palladino and Vincenzo Iaquinta will both be on the bench, offering good alternatives for the former Chelsea tactician.
Livorno, meanwhile, enter their first Serie A campaign since their top-flight return in 2004 without the services of star striker and talisman Cristiano Lucarelli. But despite offloading the burly hitman, boss Nando Orsi potentially has even more firepower in the shape of new striking duo Diego Tristan and Francesco Tavano. The former certainly has a decent enough career record against Juventus having played against them in the Champions League for Deportivo La Coruna on numerous occasions.
The game also marks Giuliano Giannichedda’s return to the Stadio Olimpico after he exited the Turin giants to get regular first-team football in Tuscany, but he will have his hands full in the middle of the park. The reunited Filippini twins will be on hand to provide some support, while new boy Nico Pulzetti will have to rediscover the winning feeling quickly after he endured a losing season in Serie B with Verona last term which saw the Gialloblu relegated to the third tier. Vikash Dhorasoo won’t be playing any part though as the ex-Milan midfielder is absent with an ankle injury.
Since returning to Italy’s top Division three years ago Livorno are yet to taste victory against Juventus, with three heavy losses and a draw to their name. Yet two of those defeats were at the Stadio Delle Alpi, whereas this clash will be played at the Stadio Olimpico where they managed to nick a point from Torino last term. It would take a brave man to bet on them doing the same to Juve, but since when has calcio been straightforward?
Keep an eye on: Francesco Tavano (Livorno) – The Italian ace was on fire in his last full Serie A season with Empoli, but it will be interesting to see if he can rediscover that form after disappointing spells with Valencia and Roma.
Juventus (probable): Buffon; Grygera, Andrade, Criscito, Chiellini; Camoranesi, Almiron, Nocerino, Nedved; Trezeguet, Del Piero
Livorno (probable): Amelia; Grandoni, Knezevic, Galante, Pasquale; A Filippini, Pulzetti, Giannichedda, E Filippini; Tristan, Tavano
Theo Channel4