Dries Mertens NapoliGetty Images

Napoli for the Scudetto & Spalletti to be sacked first - Serie A predictions for 2017-18


COMMENT

Serie A returns this weekend with Juventus bidding for a seventh successive Scudetto.

However, even coach Massimiliano Allegri has conceded that the Bianconeri will have their work cut out retaining their title, with all of Italy eagerly awaiting what promises to be one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory.

As a result, Goal has decided to get its brave band of Serie A editors, writers and experts to put their necks on the line by predicting the outcome of all the major prizes and individual honours...

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LEAGUE WINNERS


HD Juventus Costa

Milan have spent big, Roma were last season's runners-up and Inter have already been boosted by the arrival of Luciano Spalletti as coach but it's clear that our experts feel that there are only two sides capable of winning this season's Scudetto...

Juventus

- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent

Napoli

- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia

Napoli

- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor

Juventus

- Stefan Coerts, News Editor

Juventus

- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor

Juventus

- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent

Napoli

- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor

Napoli

- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia

Juventus

- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia


CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIERS


Cutrone Milan Craiova Europa League

Milan last played in the Champions League in 2013-14, while Inter, who lifted the trophy years ago, haven't made an appearance since 2011-12.

However, in a huge boost for Italian football, Serie A will have four qualification spots this season and that, according to all our experts, will see at least one of the Milanese rivals secure an overdue return to the game's prestigious club tournament ...

Napoli, Roma & Inter

- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent

Inter, AC Milan & Juventus

- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia

Juventus, Inter & AC Milan

- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor

AC Milan, Roma & Napoli

- Stefan Coerts, News Editor

Napoli, AC Milan & Inter

- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor

Napoli, AC Milan & Inter

- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent

Juventus, Inter & AC Milan

- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor

Juventus, Inter & Roma

- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia

Roma, Napoli & AC Milan

- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia


RELEGATED


BeneventoGetty Images

Reaching Serie A is one thing; staying there is quite another, as underlined by the fact that several of our experts feel that Benevento and SPAL are heading straight back down.

Verona are also perceived to be at great risk of an immediate return to Serie B but there's also the feeling that Crotone won't be able to pull off another great escape, and that Cagliari and Genoa are both at risk of relegation.

Crotone, Benevento & SPAL

- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent

Verona, Genoa & Chievo

- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia

Crotone, Benevento & Verona

- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor

SPAL, Benevento & Genoa

- Stefan Coerts, News Editor

Crotone, SPAL & Benevento

- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor

Benevento, Crotone & SPAL

- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent

SPAL, Crotone & Benevento

- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor

Benevento, Cagliari & Crotone

- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia

Crotone, SPAL & Benevento

- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia


TOP GOALSCORER


Gonzalo Higuain JuventusGetty Images

Mauro Icardi has just taken Gonzalo Higuain's place in the Argentina squad and, looking at our experts' picks, the pair are going to spend the next year trying to impress Albiceleste coach Jorge Sampaoli by battling it out for the Capocannoniere award.

Indeed, only one of our writers believes that anyone other than the Argentine duo has a chance of finishing top of the goalscoring charts...

Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus)

- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent

Andrea Belotti (Torino)

- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia

Mauro Icardi (Inter)

- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor

Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus)

- Stefan Coerts, News Editor

Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus)

- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor

Mauro Icardi (Inter)

- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent

Mauro Icardi (Inter)

- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor

Mauro Icardi (Inter)

- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia

Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus)

- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia


PLAYER OF THE SEASON


Paulo Dybala Juventus Serie A titleGetty Images

Paulo Dybala announced himself as a bona fide superstar with his two-goal salvo against Barcelona earlier this year and the majority of our writers believe that he is now set to prove himself the best player in Serie A.

However, there is also support for Marek Hamsik and Dries Mertens, both of whom were excellent for Napoli last season, and also new AC Milan signing Franck Kessie, who is coming off the back of a breakout campaign at Atalanta.

Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent

Franck Kessie (AC Milan)

- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia

Marek Hamsik (Napoli)

- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor

Marek Hamsik (Napoli)

- Stefan Coerts, News Editor

Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor

Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent

Dries Mertens (Napoli)

- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor

Dries Mertens (Napoli)

- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia

Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia


BEST YOUNG PLAYER


Gianluigi Donnarumma, AC MilanGetty

At one point during the summer, Serie A looked certain to lose Gianluigi Donnarumma to either La Liga or the Premier League but the teenage goalkeeper decided to stay at Milan and is now our favourite to win this year's Young Player of the Year award.

However, he also looks set to face stiff competition for the accolade from the likes of Lorenzo Pellegrini, who rejoined Roma from Sassuolo this summer, and Lazio ace Sergej Milinkovic-Savic...

Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)

- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent

Nicolo Barella (Cagliari)

- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia

Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)

- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor

Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina)

- Stefan Coerts, News Editor

Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)

- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor

Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)

- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent

Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)

- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio)

- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio)

- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia


BEST SUMMER SIGNING


Leonardo Bonucci MilanGetty Images

There is no doubt that Juventus selling Leonardo Bonucci to Milan was the most surprising transfer of the summer, so it's no surprise to see that he features in our experts' picks for summer signing of the season.

However, the defender's new team-mate, the aforementioned Kessie, is also considered a serious contender for this particular accolade...

Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)

- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent

Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan)

- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia

Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan)

- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor

Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus)

- Stefan Coerts, News Editor

Franck Kessie (AC Milan)

- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor

Franck Kessie (AC Milan)

- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent

Milan Skriniar (Inter)

- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor

Douglas Costa (Juventus)

- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia

Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan)

- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia


WORST SUMMER SIGNING


Andre Silva AC MilanGetty Images

Given Milan have been among the active sides in the transfer market anywhere in Europe this summer, it's perhaps unsurprising that two of their new arrivals have been put forward for the worst signing of the season...

Andre Silva (AC Milan)

- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent

Bruno Gaspar (Fiorentina)

- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia

Rodrigo Palacio (Bologna)

- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor

Fabio Borini (AC Milan)

- Stefan Coerts, News Editor

Fabio Borini (AC Milan)

- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor

Felipe Caicedo (Lazio)

- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent

Hector Moreno (Roma)

- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor

Andre Silva (AC Milan)

- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia

Fabio Borini (AC Milan)

- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia


COACH OF THE SEASON


Maurizio Sarri Napoli

Arrigo Sacchi says Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri is "a genius" and the overwhelming majority of our experts agree with him. Indeed, only one has not selected the Tuscan as the likely winner of the Panchina d'Oro award...

Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)

- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent

Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)

- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia

Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)

- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor

Vincenzo Montella (AC Milan)

- Stefan Coerts, News Editor

Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)

- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor

Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)

- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent

Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)

- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor

Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)

- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia

Maurizio Sarri (Napoli)

- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia


FIRST COACH TO BE SACKED


Ivan Juric GenoaGetty Images

Luciano Spalletti only took charge of Inter this summer and the Nerazzurri's performances in pre-season have been hugely encouraging. However, that's not stopped one of our experts for predicting that the former Roma boss will be the first coach for the chop!

Marco Baroni (Benevento)

- Romeo Agresti, Juventus Correspondent

Fabio Pecchia (Verona)

- Paolo Camedda, Goal Italia

Massimo Rastelli (Cagliari)

- Federico Casotti, Goal Italia Editor

Luciano Spalletti (Inter)

- Stefan Coerts, News Editor

Massimo Rastelli (Cagliari)

- Mark Doyle, Deputy Features Editor

Fabio Pecchia (Verona)

- Simone Gambino, AC Milan correspondent

Ivan Juric (Genoa)

- Carlo Garganese, Features Editor

Ivan Juric (Genoa)

- Renato Maisani, Goal Italia

Ivan Juric (Genoa)

- Federica Terramoccia, Goal Italia

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