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Serie A: First Predictions for the New Season's Opening Matchday

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With the 2026/27 Serie A season approaching, Italian sports outlet Gazzetta dello Sport has published early predictions for the likely starting lineups of the opening matchday, published within its 'Allora! Sport' section.

A matchday refers to the round of fixtures in which every team in the league competes, and the first one of a season traditionally draws significant attention from supporters and analysts alike.

According to the report, the article offers an early look at how coaches might set up their teams before the competitive action begins, although no official confirmation has yet been given by the clubs themselves.

Such previews are common in the build-up to a new season, as journalists analyse pre-season form, transfers, and training performances to anticipate which players are likely to be selected.

The predictions are particularly relevant for followers of fantasy football, a widely popular pastime in which participants assemble virtual squads composed of real players and earn points based on their on-field performances.

Because these lineups remain unofficial, they are subject to change as clubs finalise their squads and reveal team news closer to kick-off.

Serie A remains one of Europe's most closely followed football leagues, and Gazzetta dello Sport, one of Italy's most established sports publications, continues to provide detailed coverage in the lead-up to the new campaign.

Fans will have to wait for the official team sheets, usually released shortly before each match, to know the confirmed lineups for the opening round of fixtures.

Vocabulary7 words

predictions
guesses made before something happens
lineups
the players picked to start a match
matchday
the day teams in a league play their games
transfers
when players move from one team to another
fantasy football
a game where people choose real players to build a team
campaign
a full season of competition
kick-off
the start of a football match

Quiz

1. What is the main subject of the Gazzetta dello Sport article?
2. Why might these predictions be especially useful to some readers?
3. Are the lineups mentioned in the article officially confirmed by the clubs?

Discussion questions

  1. Do you think pre-season predictions about lineups are useful or reliable? Why or why not?
  2. Have you ever played fantasy football or a similar fantasy sports game? What was your experience?
  3. Why do you think the first matchday of a football season attracts so much media attention?
  4. How important do you think sports journalism is in building excitement before a new season starts?

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