adminROME. — After a busy close season in the transfer market, Juventus kick off their bid for a record sixth consecutive Italian Serie A soccer title today by entertaining Fiorentina. The visit of Paulo Sousa’s squad, fifth last season, will provide a tricky first examination for a Juve side that has seen change aplenty in the close season. Coach Massimiliano Allegri let talismanic midfielder Paul Pogba depart for Manchester United in a record 105m euros to fund a broader strengthening of a squad seeking to conquer Europe after five years of domestic domination.
New faces include striker Gonzalo Higuain, prised away from Napoli after his 36-goal 2015-16 campaign, former Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic, Brazilian wing-back Dani Alves and Mehdi Benatia, the Morocco defender who has joined on loan from Bayern Munich.
Fixtures
Today: Roma v Udinese (6pm), Juventus v Fiorentina (8:45pm)
Tomorrow: Milan v Torino (6pm), Atalanta v Lazio, Bologna v Crotone, Chievo v Inter Milan, Empoli v Sampdoria, Genoa v Cagliari, Palermo v Sassuolo, Pescara v Napoli (all 8:45pm). — AFP.
Online Reporter