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Northern giants look to end Roman supremacy
( 2001-08-24 11:25 ) (7 )

The three northern clubs that have historically dominated Italian football return to Serie A action this weekend determined to re-establish the old order and subdue the Roman empire that has taken root since the turn of the new millennium.

Combined, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan have won 54 of the 96 Italian championships contested but last year watched AS Roma win the title to ensure the Eternal City again triumphed following Lazio's success the previous season.

In a bid to reverse the trend, all three northern giants made ambitious coaching appointments during the summer.

Juve brought back Marcello Lippi, AC installed Turkish coach Fatih Terim and Inter opted for Argentinian Hector Cuper and all three have been active on the transfer front.

Juventus, whose opening match is at home to newly-promoted Venezia, have had a record-breaking summer.

Although they offloaded French playmaker Zinedine Zidane to Real Madrid for a world record fee of 64.9 million dollars and striker Filippo Inzaghi to AC Milan, they have made some audacious signings.

Gianluigi Buffon (34.5 million dollars) and Frenchman Lilian Thuram (31.5 million dollars) both came from Parma for world record fees for a goalkeeper and a defender.

Many think that AC Milan are equally well placed to challenge for the title and they kick off with a trip to Brescia.

For the first time in several years club president Silvio Berlusconi - buoyed by the election victory in May that made him Italy's new Prime Minister - is putting his money where his mouth is, sanctioning some stunning transfer coups.

His most notable capture is that of Fiorentina's Portuguese midfielder Manuel Rui Costa for 37 million dollars. With Zidane gone, most consider Rui Costa the best playmaker in Italian football.

Inzaghi and Atalanta's Cristiano Donati were also snapped up as were Romanian defender Cosmin Contra and Spanish striker Javi Moreno, both recruited from UEFA Cup finalists Alaves.

Some are even talking of a 'Grande Milan' - the name associated with the team Berlusconi forged into the best on the planet in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The bullish Terim has already said he believes his AC side is capable of winning the Scudetto, and without Champions League distractions that looks a real possibility.

All eyes will be on Inter Milan's starting line-up at the San Siro on Sunday when the home side hosts Perugia.

While new recruits Francesco Toldo, Marco Materazzi and Sergio Conceicao will be involved, most observers will be waiting to see if Brazilian Ronaldo will return to serious action after missing all of last season.

Even Perugia coach Serse Cosmi has admitted he wants the injury-jinxed striker to play and to get fit for the 2002 World Cup.

Of the two Roman clubs, champions AS Roma look in much better shape than Lazio - which was supported by the fact that numerous top European clubs agreed Roma were the team to avoid in Thursday's Champions League group phase draw.

Roma begin their title defence with an away match at Verona on Sunday. Sewn on to their shirts will be the "Scudetto" (little shield) in the green, white and red colours of the Italian flag worn by the defending champions.

Lazio, who host promoted Piacenza on day one, have had to contend with losing Nedved and Salas to Juve and Argentinian playmaker Juan Sebastian Veron to Manchester United.

The signing of Valencia's Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta made partial amends but the losses far outweigh the gains.

Parma's title hopes also look slim, with the departures of Thuram and Buffon and reports that their other defensive jewel Fabio Cannavaro may soon move on.

Even the talents of Japanese playmaker Hidetoshi Nakata, signed from Roma, look unlikely to put Parma in the frame.

They start with a trip to Lecce who are the only remaining southern side in the division after Reggina, Napoli and Bari were all relegated.

Udinese host Torino while at Florence another page in Serie A history will be written when Chievo, a tiny club based in Verona, make their top flight debut against Fiorentina.

Most expect Chievo to return whence they came next May but Luigi del Neri - the coach who inspired them to promotion - will be under a lot less pressure on Sunday than Lippi, Terim and Cuper.

Fixtures (kick off 1300 GMT unless stated)

Saturday

Bologna v Atalanta (1830 GMT)

Sunday

Brescia v AC Milan, Fiorentina v Chievo, Inter Milan v Perugia, Juventus v Venezia, Lazio v Piacenza, Lecce v Parma, Udinese v Torino, Verona v AS Roma (1830 GMT)