After a summer of change, Inter Milan aim to mount a successful defence of their 19th Scudetto - starting on Saturday, against Genoa.
Under new management and without absent stars, the Nerazzurri return to San Siro, where they meet a side which flirted with the drop before ultimately finishing in mid-table last term, having returned to a three-time former manager.
Match preview
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Joy at Inter's first league title for a decade was short-lived this summer, as some of the key personalities behind the Nerazzurri's Serie A success last season - following nine painful years of Juventus domination - departed the scene.
Head coach Antonio Conte and star striker Romelu Lukaku headed for the exit amid cost-cutting measures, with raiding wing-back Achraf Hakimi also leaving San Siro after 12 sparkling months in Milan.
Therefore, the side now overseen by ex-Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi head into the new campaign amid much speculation as to whether they will be able to secure successive Scudetti in 2022.
In the aftermath of the charismatic but controversial Conte, Inter had no hesitation in turning to a man who many have compared with Inter's fiery former manager, after he had led Lazio into the Champions League for the first time since 2007 - where the Biancocelesti managed to reach the last 16.
Much like his predecessor, Inzaghi is closely associated with a 3-5-2 setup and is seen by many as a continuity choice by the Inter board. With the talented squad now at his command, though, expectations will be even higher than in Rome, so an opening day win would certainly be welcomed.
The champions prepare to welcome Genoa to the Meazza having won their last six Serie A matches against the Grifone by an aggregate score of 21-0 and are unbeaten in 17 games when they have started the season at home - a record dating back to 1987.
Not only that, but Inter have also won their last 16 league fixtures on home soil, so Lukaku's replacement - veteran striker Edin Dzeko - will expect to make a winning start to life in Milan upon his 200th Serie A appearance. Indeed, the summer signing from Roma has previously been involved in eight league goals against Genoa - his best record versus any Italian club.
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To underline the task facing them before their trip to the second city, Genoa have failed to register even a solitary strike against Inter throughout their last six encounters; representing their longest-ever run without netting against any top-flight opponent. In fact, their last league goal against the Nerazzurri was back in February 2018, scored by Goran Pandev.
Now aged 38, Pandev continues to shine when called upon by the Ligurian side, having played his part in keeping them up last season, when they had sunk towards the foot of the table during late autumn.
Head coach Davide Ballardini was the chief architect of that revival, and now he returns from the outset of the 2021-22 campaign with a brief to improve Genoa's fortunes and avoid a season spent looking over their shoulders.
In charge for a fourth time at the Marassi, the itinerant coach has never lasted more than 40 games at any one club, and comes into the new term on 27 so far since his appointment in December. The most recent outing under his watchful eye came in Coppa Italia action last weekend, as Genoa's first competitive game after a positive pre-season saw them come from behind to beat Perugia 3-2 and progress to the second round.
Having given away two early goals to the Serie B side though - then only staged a fightback once their visitors were reduced to 10 men - Genoa will be acutely aware that such a slack start at San Siro is likely to be ruthlessly punished.
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Team News
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Inter's final pre-season warm-up match, against Dynamo Kiev last week, featured a relatively familiar tactical setup - even if some of the personnel has changed - so Simone Inzaghi will surprise no one by sending out his side in a variation of his favoured 3-5-2 formation.
Edin Dzeko replaces Romelu Lukaku at centre-forward, but Lautaro Martinez will not join him up front, as the Copa America-winner instead aims to be fully fit for next week's game with Verona. The Argentina international is struggling with a muscle injury, so Dzeko could be supported by a fellow new boy, Hakan Calhanoglu, who would slot in behind the former Roma forward in a number 10 role.
Wing-back Denzel Dumfries - signed as a replacement for Paris-bound Achraf Hakimi - could feature at some stage, but faces competition from Matteo Darmian, who improved markedly as last season went on and made his loan deal from Parma permanent earlier this summer.
Of course, Christian Eriksen remains absent for the foreseeable future, so Stefano Sensi could join Marcelo Brozovic and Euro 2020 champion Nicolo Barella in midfield.
Genoa, meanwhile, have both Valon Behrami and central defender Mattia Bani suspended on Saturday, but otherwise have a full-strength squad for Davide Ballardini to choose from.
Several new signings, including experienced goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, ex-Empoli full-back Stefano Sabelli and Brazilian midfielder Hernani - on loan from Parma - are set to start, while Caleb Ekuban could feature alongside Mattia Destro up front, following Gianluca Scamacca's return to Sassuolo.
Former Inter man Goran Pandev provides another option for Ballardini on the bench, having signed a new one-year contract following his history-making stint at the Euros with North Macedonia.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Brozovic, Sensi, Perisic; Calhanoglu; Dzeko
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Sirigu; Biraschi, Radovanovic, Criscito; Sabelli, Badelj, Sturaro, Hernani, Czyborra; Destro, Ekuban
We say: Inter Milan 2-0 Genoa
Precedent tells us that only one result is on the cards this Saturday - and Simone Inzaghi's Inter are not set to disappoint.
The Nerazzurri have drawn only one of their last 10 season openers and have established a reign of utter dominance over Genoa in recent times, so a convincing win should settle some new faces in at San Siro, as the champions welcome back some of their long-missed fans.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Inter Milan win with a probability of 72.03%. A draw had a probability of 16.6% and a win for Genoa had a probability of 11.35%.
The most likely scoreline for a Inter Milan win was 2-0 with a probability of 10.96%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (9.45%) and 1-0 (9%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (7.76%), while for a Genoa win it was 1-2 (3.34%). The actual scoreline of 4-0 was predicted with a 5.4% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Inter Milan would win this match.
