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
Answer key
1. Predicted lineups for the first matchday of 2026/27 2. They assist fantasy football participants in choosing players 3. False
Discussion questions
- Do you think pre-season predictions about lineups are useful or reliable? Why or why not?
- Have you ever played fantasy football or a similar fantasy sports game? What was your experience?
- Why do you think the first matchday of a football season attracts so much media attention?
- How important do you think sports journalism is in building excitement before a new season starts?