CORNERFLICK
Serie A’s European representatives are facing a demanding run of fixtures once the international break comes to an end.
Following the September-October international window, Serie A clubs competing in Europe will be required to play twice a week, setting up an extremely congested second half of October.
Serie A resumes on October 10, with five rounds of league fixtures scheduled over the following 20 days: four consecutive weekend matchdays and a midweek round on October 27, 28 and 29.
Domestic commitments, however, will be only part of the challenge for Italy’s leading clubs, with European fixtures adding further strain to already packed schedules.
Inter: A Congested Calendar, but Less Travelling
Parma, Club Brugge, Shakhtar Donetsk, Fiorentina and, finally, the Milan derby. Cristian Chivu may at least take some comfort from the fact that Inter will not have to spend much of this hectic October on the road.
Could that prove to be an advantage? On paper, yes, although only time will tell. What is certain is that Inter’s travel demands will be reduced, particularly in the Champions League.
Club Brugge will travel to Milan between Inter’s matches against Parma and Bologna, while Shakhtar arrive on Wednesday, October 21, after the Bologna fixture and before the meeting with Fiorentina.
At first glance, Inter’s schedule appears relatively favourable, at least until their clash with Venezia. Based on the current standings, every opponent Inter face between October 10 and 28 sits 15th or lower in the table.
Those fixtures will be viewed as opportunities to collect valuable points before Inter prepare for arguably the most intimidating night of the month. October 31 is Halloween — and it is also the date of the Milan derby.
Roma: A Major Test of Squad Depth
When Gian Piero Gasperini spoke during the summer about the importance of having two players for every position — effectively two starting-quality options in each role — October was exactly the kind of period he had in mind.
Roma face seven games in just 20 days. Extend the schedule to November 7, before the next international break, and that becomes nine matches in 28 days.
Gasperini will therefore need to make full use of his squad throughout this demanding run, starting with the game against Como immediately after the international break before a huge Champions League meeting with Real Madrid just three days later.
Rotation will be essential, with those players who have so far received fewer minutes likely to play an increasingly important role.
Milan: Four Away Trips in Five Games
The Rossoneri face seven games in 20 days, with four of their first five fixtures taking place away from home.
Milan will return from the international break to an unforgiving October schedule. Ruben Amorim’s side have two crucial Europa League fixtures before the derby, travelling to face Salzburg and Bournemouth.
After losing their opening European game against Benfica, Milan can no longer afford to let opportunities slip away.
Serie A commitments will add to the pressure. Milan’s first game after the international break is away to Sassuolo, a side that caused Massimiliano Allegri’s team problems last season.
The following Sunday, Milan host Atalanta at San Siro. The Bergamo side have left the Rossoneri’s home ground with a positive result in each of the past two seasons.
Another trip follows on October 25, this time to Udinese, before Milan host Bologna in a midweek fixture on October 28. By then, there may finally be enough evidence to make the first serious assessment of Amorim’s Milan.
Juventus: Suitcases Packed for a Gruelling Run
Juventus will spend much of the post-international-break period on the road.
The Bianconeri are scheduled to play every three days, with many of those fixtures taking place away from Turin. Luciano Spalletti’s side will play four of their next seven matches away from the Allianz Stadium.
Almost every journey will involve air travel, with the trip to Genoa the only nearby destination that can be reached by bus.
From the October 11 fixture in Sardinia through to November’s major home meeting with Napoli, coached by former Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri, Spalletti must manage the demands of Serie A and the Europa League simultaneously.
Juventus face seven games in 20 days — five in Serie A and two in the Europa League. The run begins with two trips, first to Cagliari and then to Spain to face Celta Vigo.
They will host Lazio, Rennes and Napoli, while their meetings with Lecce and Genoa will both be played away from home.
Como: A Major Test for an Ambitious Side
For Como, the international break has provided little opportunity to rest the squad. Fifteen players have been away representing their countries across the world, meaning fewer than half of the first-team group have been able to fully recharge.
Como return to action with an extremely difficult fixture — one that could provide the first genuine indication of just how ambitious they can be this season.
On Sunday, October 11, Roma travel to the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia to face Como. Last season, a home victory over Gasperini’s Roma in the second half of the campaign helped Cesc Fabregas and his side climb towards the upper reaches of the table.
There will be little time to recover afterwards. Como will travel to Rotterdam to face Feyenoord in the first European match in the club’s history, before an away league game against Fiorentina and another Champions League test, this time against Manchester United.
In total, Como will play seven matches in just 21 days.
Napoli: No More Room for Error
The Partenopei face seven matches in 22 days.
Allegri is well aware of the challenge and had already made his frustration clear in Florence, delivering a strong message to his players about the situation.
Now Napoli need to turn things around. Concentration levels must improve, the players must recognise the urgency of their position and, above all, the team must rediscover its scoring touch. Without goals, changing the direction of their season will be extremely difficult.
The run begins against Frosinone at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, followed by a trip to Venezia and, eventually, an away clash with Juventus. Each fixture presents its own challenge.
Roma are also part of the schedule, with Napoli hosting the Giallorossi before travelling to Monza.
The international break has at least given Scott McTominay an opportunity to work his way back towards full match fitness.
With games coming every three days, Napoli must also collect points to improve their Champions League position, with an away fixture against Villarreal and a home meeting with Bodø/Glimt adding to an already demanding schedule.