All the Starting XIs
As we head into Week 2 of the Serie A season, the excitement is building with another round of thrilling matchups on the horizon. The teams have officially announced their starting line-ups, and we’re here to break them down for you. Let’s dive into the key line-ups for some of the top fixtures this weekend.
Inter Milan vs. Fiorentina
Inter Milan (3-5-2):
Goalkeeper: Samir Handanović
Defenders: Milan Škriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni
Midfielders: Achraf Hakimi, Nicolò Barella, Marcelo Brozović, Arturo Vidal, Ashley Young
Forwards: Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martínez
Key Player: Romelu Lukaku
Lukaku will lead the line once again for Inter, looking to continue his prolific form. His partnership with Lautaro Martínez is crucial for Inter’s attacking threat.
Fiorentina (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: Bartłomiej Drągowski
Defenders: Pol Lirola, Nikola Milenković, Germán Pezzella, Cristiano Biraghi
Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat, Erick Pulgar, Gaetano Castrovilli
Forwards: José Callejón, Dušan Vlahović, Franck Ribéry
Key Player: Franck Ribéry
The veteran winger still has the ability to change games with his skill and experience. Ribéry will be Fiorentina’s main creative outlet, aiming to provide for Vlahović upfront.
Juventus vs.Roma (4-4-2):
Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczęsny
Defenders: Juan Cuadrado, Leonardo Bonucci, Matthijs de Ligt, Alex Sandro
Midfielders: Federico Chiesa, Rodrigo Bentancur, Adrien Rabiot, Weston McKennie
Forwards: Paulo Dybala, Cristiano Ronaldo
Key Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
No surprises here—Ronaldo remains the focal point of Juventus’s attack. His goal-scoring prowess will be key to breaking down Roma’s defense.
Roma (3-4-2-1):
Goalkeeper: Pau López
Defenders: Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling, Roger Ibañez
Midfielders: Rick Karsdorp, Jordan Veretout, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Leonardo Spinazzola
Attacking Midfielders: Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Pedro
Forward: Edin Džeko
Key Player: Edin Džeko
The experienced Bosnian striker will be looking to use his physicality and aerial ability to trouble Juventus’s defense. His link-up play with Mkhitaryan and Pedro will be crucial.
Napoli vs. Genoa
Napoli (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: David Ospina
Defenders: Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Kostas Manolas, Kalidou Koulibaly, Mario Rui
Midfielders: Fabián Ruiz, Diego Demme, Piotr Zieliński
Forwards: Hirving Lozano, Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne
Key Player: Lorenzo Insigne
The Napoli captain is the heart of the team’s attack. His ability to cut inside from the left and create scoring opportunities will be a constant threat to Genoa.
Genoa (3-5-2):
Goalkeeper: Mattia Perin
Defenders: Edoardo Goldaniga, Cristian Zapata, Domenico Criscito
Midfielders: Paolo Ghiglione, Milan Badelj, Lasse Schöne, Miha Zajc, Davide Zappacosta
Forwards: Gianluca Scamacca, Goran Pandev
Key Player: Goran Pandev
The veteran forward’s experience and footballing intelligence make him Genoa’s most reliable attacking option. Pandev’s positioning and finishing will be essential if Genoa is to take anything from this match.
Full List of Week 2 Fixtures
Here are the starting XIs for all the other matches in Serie A this week:
Atalanta vs. Lazio
Sampdoria vs. Benevento
Udinese vs. Spezia
Cagliari vs. Torino
Bologna vs. Verona
Sassuolo vs. Crotone
AC Milan vs. Parma
What to Watch For
Tactical Battles: Look out for how Juventus’s narrow midfield faces off against Roma’s wingbacks. Will Ronaldo find enough space, or will Roma’s defense hold firm?
Surprise Packages: Can Fiorentina’s youthful energy disrupt Inter’s seasoned defense? Will Napoli’s attacking trident overwhelm Genoa?
Player Form: All eyes will be on the big-name players like Lukaku, Ronaldo, and Insigne. But keep an eye on the under-the-radar players who could make a big impact, like Fiorentina’s Vlahović or Genoa’s Scamacca.
Final Thoughts
Week 2 of Serie A promises to be filled with exciting football as teams continue to find their rhythm. From tactical battles to individual brilliance, there’s a lot to look forward to this weekend. Be sure to catch the action and stay tuned for all the post-match analysis and player ratings.
Who will steal the spotlight this week? Let’s find out together!