Serie A Power Rankings: Who Is the Team to Beat This Season?

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Serie A is back this weekend after a short break due to international matches.

The league appears to be as entertaining as ever, with plenty of goals to dispel the myth that Italian football is boring.

Juventus look formidable already but there are plenty of signs that they can be caught, with several contenders showing promising signs.

Milan, Roma, Inter Milan, Lazio and Napoli will all feel they can compete for the Scudetto if they can find their best form.

 

Jack Alexandros Rathborn is a football analyst for Football Radar, covering Italy's Serie A. You can follow him on Twitter; @jackrathborn and @FRcalcioJack.

Jack Alexandros Rathborn is a football analyst for Football Radar, covering Italy's Serie A. You can follow him on Twitter; @jackrathborn and @FRcalcioJack.

20. Pescara

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Pescara are doomed, it is that simple.

The Delfini have not picked up a point from their two matches so far, losing both by a 3-0 scoreline.

It is difficult to make a case that they will not be the worst team in Serie A this season, let alone dream of avoiding relegation.

19. Siena

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Siena have been handed a six-point penalty for their part in the Calcioscommesse scandal.

The Bianconeri look like they will really struggle this season and have taken one point from their opening two matches.

Torino and Sampdoria, who they faced in the opening two matches, were not the toughest opponents they will face this season, which is a concern.

18. Palermo

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Palermo are another side that could find themselves in the relegation battle if they do not start to win matches fast.

They are not any lower than this, due to facing Napoli and Lazio—two tough opponents.

But the Rosanero were abject in both matches, losing 3-0 on both occasions, meaning that Giuseppe Sannino will be under tremendous pressure already to save his job.

17. Cagliari

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Cagliari could be facing some trouble this season as the side appears weak on paper.

When you combine this with the fact that the Isolani are playing in a stadium that is still incomplete, Cagliari know they will have to battle hard again to avoid relegation.

A big concern came in the last match when they needed a last-minute equaliser to salvage a point against the 10 men of Atalanta, missing two penalties as well.

16. Atalanta

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The truth is that Atalanta will be fine this season.

Yes, there is a two-point penalty to contend with, but the squad appears strong after retaining all of their better players from last season's impressive return to Serie A.

With a proven goalscorer in German Denis, La Dea will soon shoot up the league.

15. Bologna

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Bologna have lost both of their matches so far, but there should not be too much concern just yet.

Bologna were terrific against Milan and could have beaten the Rossoneri, who they had on the ropes for large spells.

14. Genoa

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Genoa appear to be better for the loss of Rodrigo Palacio, as the team appears to be more balanced as a result.

Luigi De Canio has transformed the Grifone into a more attack-minded side who are attractive to watch.

An impressive win against Cagliari was followed by a spirited performance in defeat against Catania, so Genoa will surely be pleased with the start, knowing a mid-table finish is achievable.

13. Chievo Verona

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Chievo have started the season in a satisfactory manner, by defeating Bologna in an evenly matched game, before losing to Parma, despite dominating for large spells.

Always tipped for relegation, Domenico Di Carlo has done marvellously to recycle this team again, after Michael Bradley and Francesco Acerbi were sold in the summer.

I envisage another comfortable season in lower mid-table for the Flying Donkeys. 

12. Torino

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Torino have started well to life back in Serie A again, with a win and a draw to show us all that they are capable of comfortably avoiding relegation.

There is a real excitement about Giampiero Ventura's side and the Granata's 4-2-4 formation already looks like taking the league by storm.

11. Sampdoria

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Sampdoria have started the season perfectly with two wins from two, including a sensational victory at the San Siro against Milan.

Samp look like they will easily avoid relegation, like Torino, with Ciro Ferrara's side looking well-balanced and defensively organised.

Maxi Lopez will provide plenty of goals and already looks like a tremendous signing.

10. Catania

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Catania look like another side who can triumph despite being severely weakened in the summer.

Vincenzo Montella departed after a wonderful year where the Elefanti flirted with the European places for much of last season.

Most of the side's core from last season was maintained though and Gonzalo Bergessio and his Argentine mates will provide a potent threat to Serie A sides throughout the season.

9. Udinese

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Udinese look like they will struggle to get anywhere close to their third place position last season.

Mauricio Isla, Samir Handanovic and Kwadwo Asamoah have departed and it appears like the Zebrette will struggle to finish in the European places this season.

Two defeats already, admittedly against the tough opposition of Fiorentina and Juventus, should not cause too much panic, but the defeat in the Champions League playoff to Braga was another massive blow.

8. Fiorentina

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Fiorentina look like they are a completely different side to the one that struggled to survive relegation last season.

The Viola invested plenty in the summer with several high-profile signings, as well as Stevan Jovetic's fine form continuing, promising an exciting season.

They were unfortunate to lose to Napoli, despite controlling the majority of the match and the victory against Udinese was mightily impressive. 

7. Parma

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Parma look like they have got better under Roberto Donadoni during the summer, despite losing Sebastian Giovinco to Juventus.

Jonathan Biabiany is entering the form of his career and the side is compact and disciplined in providing a tough test for any opposition in the league.

Resilient against Juventus, without threatening too much in the second half, the Gialloblu secured a decent victory against Chievo before the international break.

6. Inter Milan

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Inter Milan's expectations this season were somewhat warped due to numerous signings and the perceived weakening of their city rivals, Milan.

Andrea Stramaccioni's inexperience was not mentioned, though, and the fact that this side will take time to gel together means Inter's start is likely to be slow.

The Nerazzurri are capable of finishing in the top three, but Scudetto ambitions should be shelved for the moment.

5. Roma

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Zdenek Zeman's Roma have made a decent start to the season with four points from the six available.

A stuttering 2-2 draw against Catania was followed up with a fine victory against Inter at the San Siro.

The Giallorossi have a terrific array of attacking options and Francesco Totti looks as good as ever.

4. Lazio

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Lazio have gone under the radar a little bit and look to be a serious contender for a top-three finish.

They narrowly missed out on this target last season and have started well already, claiming maximum points in matches against Atalanta and Palermo.

Miroslav Klose is close to full fitness again and will give Lazio a chance of claiming a Champions League place.

3. Napoli

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Napoli looked impressive in their opening three matches, claiming maximum points as they began their pursuit of a top-three place. 

Lorenzo Insigne will attempt to replace Ezequiel Lavezzi, while Valon Behrami is a nice acquisition, adding to the Swiss contingent.

Walter Mazzarri is prepared to make a good run at the top three, especially without Champions League football as a distraction.

2. Milan

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Milan appear to be stronger than most expect this season, despite losing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva.

The Rossoneri added Giampaolo Pazzini to provide a focal point to their attack and Kevin-Prince Boateng will have a huge year if he can stay healthy.

A relatively easy group in the Champions League means that it should not provide too much of a distraction to their league form in the first half of the season.

1. Juventus

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Juventus top the power rankings, unsurprisingly, after a maximum return from their opening two matches.

The champions have improved extensively, despite Antonio Conte facing a ban for his part in the Calcioscommesse scandal.

It feels like the Bianconeri will put a lot of effort in the Champions League this season, which means it will be tough to maintain their great form in the league.

For the time being though, Juve are the team to beat.

Jack Alexandros Rathborn is a football analyst for Football Radar, covering Italy's Serie A. You can follow him on Twitter; @jackrathborn and @FRcalcioJack.