Let the games begin ... this weekend is the start of the Serie A 2003-2004.
The three title contenders remain the same as last season: Juventus (Serie A Champions from last season), Inter (runners-up last season) and AC Milan (CL winners last season). The two teams from Rome: AS Roma and Lazio Roma remain the two underdogs for the title, but but neither should play a title role on long term. Then again one never knows.
Juventus kept their squad and added one new significant player: Appiah, a strong, hard working midfielder. Buffon (named as best goalkeeper and player in Europe last season) keeps defending the goal for Juve. Their strong, experienced defence stayed intact with players like Lilian Thuram, Birindelli, Ferrara, Iuliano, Montero, Pessotto and Tudor.
Their strong midfield remained as well, despite heavy interest from several other teams in certain players. Edgar Davids remaisn the 'boss' on their midfield. Appiah will serve as his #1 replacement. Zambrotta, Tacchinardi, Camoranesi and Conte give coach Lippi enough choice to set up a strong, hard working midfield every game. Nedved completes the midfield as he's the key between the defence and the attack.
That attack still exists out of Del Piero and Trezeguet, who proved to be an excellent striker couple, after a few season of adjusting to each other's game. With Nedved playing in their back, it creates a very deadly offensive triangle, just as Real Madrid felt last season in the CL. Back-up strikers are Marco Di Vaio and the Marcelo Zalayeta.
Last season's runner-ups Internazionale kept the main structure of last season's team, but still sold a few players and brought a few new players in. Their biggest transfer was the departure of Crespo to Chelsea. Batistuta left for the millions which were offered to him in Qatar. Morfeo left for Parma, Conceiçao for Lazio, Guly for Bologna and Di Biagio went to Brescia. Last season's weakest line, the midfield, was heavily enforced with newcomers Lamouchi, Fadiga, Van der Meyde, Karagounis and Luciano. Helveg came from rivals AC Milan to enforce the defence.
Inter's defence remained complete intact. That means Toldo in the goal and a defence existing out of Fabio Cannavaro, Ivan Cordoba, Marco Materazzi and Javier Zanetti. A fast, strong, solid and reliable defence. Newcomer Hevleg, young talents Adani and Coco remain good substitutes.
As I said before, Inter's defence got a complete new look. Turkish star Emre stayed with Inter and should become the new 'boss' on the midfield. Even more than he already proved to be last season. Cristiano Zanetti and Matias Almeyda and newcomer Karagounis are three hard working mifdielders who are always ready to give their fullest. Furthermore there's healthy competition on the wings. Coach Cúper will have five players to fill the two spots and all four players are newcomers: French international Sabir Lamouchi, Brazilian winger Luciano, Dutch international Andy Van der Meyde, Senegal's key midfielder (and ex-CLub Brugge player
) Khalilou Fadiga and finally Argentinian international Killy Gonzalez, one of Inter's latest player acquired from Valencia. Killy meets again with coach Hector Cúper, the same coach who with he worked together at Valencia in the past. Furthermore Inter most recently signed Jeremie Brechet, a young French (and very promising) attacking play maker.
The biggest loss for Inter's attack compared to last season, was Crespo's recent transfer to Chelsea. Christian Vieri remains the first choice and with Crespo gone, Alvaro Recoba should get a certified spot next to Christian 'Der Bomber' Vieri. Julio Cruz is the replacement of Hernan Crespo. The ex-Feyenoord and ex-Bologna player will look for playing opportunities next to Vieri.
Youngsters Kallon and Martins give Inter extra depth in the attacking department.
Third and final title contender is AC Milan. Winners of the CL last season and winners of the European Supercup last night, after a 1-0 victory against Porto. They also won the Italian Cup last season. AC finished third last season in the Serie A and are looking to do better this season. They kept their wide squad and added even more depth to it.
Dida stays the #1 choice in the goal, with Abbiati as worthy substitute. Newcomers Cafu and Pancora strengthen the already very strong and experienced defence, furthere existing out of Madlini, Nesta, Costacurta, Simic, Kaladze and Roque Junior.
Their midfield remains their strongest department with names like Rui Costa, Gattuso, Pirlo, Redondo, Serginho, Seedorf, Ambrosini, Rivaldo and Kaká. There's no need to say that for the four available spots, the competition is deadly on the midfield.
Finally AC's attack completely remained intact as well with Inzaghi and Shevchenko being the undisputed #1 choices and with Jon Dahl Tomasson being the #1 substitute.
It could well do a very exciting fight at the top again between the 'Big Three' just like it was last season. Hopefully just as long this season and perhaps with more and longer interference by Lazio and AS Roma. And don't forget about last season's surprise Parma. With their young, talented squad their surely not ready yet for a title run, but they could well take away valuable points from the title contenders.
Gameday 1 (this weekend):
Ancona - Milan
Bologna - Parma
Brescia - Como
Inter - Modena
Juventus - Empoli
Lazio - Lecce
Perugia - Siena
Reggina - Sampdoria
Udinese - Roma
And the first gameday to mark in your agenda is the third gameday with 'Juventus - As Roma' and 'Lazio - Parma'.
Serie A 2003-2004 
