Rome: AC Milan is struggling to replace an entire squad's worth of departed veterans. Juventus has picked up right where they left off after an undefeated season, while Inter Milan and Napoli appear to be Juve's top challengers for the title.
After only one round of the Serie A season, those are the early verdicts. However, the results of several enticing match-ups this weekend could be more telling.
Juventus visit an Udinese team looking to rebound after failing to qualify for the Champions League, Inter Milan host a Roma team still learning the all-out attacking style of new manager Zdenek Zeman, and Napoli faces a Fiorentina squad featuring the only player to score twice in the opening weekend, Stevan Jovetic.
Meanwhile, Milan visits Bologna looking to recover from a 1-0 loss at home to promoted Sampdoria in its opener, which proved true all the fears of Milan fans after an offseason campaign that resulted in the departures of 11 key players.
Joining new clubs were Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Clarence Seedorf, Mark van Bommel, Antonio Cassano, Maxi Lopez, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Alberto Aquilani; while Gianluca Zambrotta and Filippo Inzaghi left at the end of their contracts.
Before last weekend, Milan's only key additions were midfielder Riccardo Montolivo and striker Giampaolo Pazzini, who was involved in an unpopular swap with city rival Inter for Cassano just days before the opener.
Milan was whistled off the pitch after the loss to Sampdoria.
"It's important that the guys don't get demoralized," Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri said. "We've got to create some enthusiasm, because this is a young team. ... These kids need support. Getting depressed doesn't help anything.
"I endorsed all of the club's choices, otherwise I would have left after Ibra's and Thiago's transfers," Allegri added.
On Wednesday, Milan signed 22-year-old Spanish forward Bojan Krkic from Roma, a day after adding 17-year-old French forward M'Baye Niang from Caen.
"We can improve and slowly but surely we will, but only with serenity and balance," Allegri said.
Still, the match at Bologna could be difficult without Brazil forwards Robinho and Alexandre Pato, who are both out for up to a month with muscle injuries. That leaves the untested pairing of Pazzini and 19-year-old Stephen El Shaarawy in attack, with the freshly acquired Bojan also a possibility.
Juventus has fewer worries after dominating Parma 2-0 in its opener. The biggest concern for the Turin club has been the 10-month match-fixing suspension imposed on manager Antonio Conte for violations stemming from when he coached Siena two seasons ago. But the players have thus far responded well to assistant manager Massimo Carrera, who is taking charge in Conte's absence.
Against Parma, defender Stephan Lichtsteiner and midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo each scored early in the second half. Pirlo's goal was notable because it first appeared that goalkeeper Antonio Mirante had saved his free kick on the line but one of the newly installed goal-line referees ruled that the ball had gone in.
Serie A is among the first major domestic leagues in Europe to install goal-line refs.
While Mirko Vucinic had a solid outing against Parma, Juve appears intent on signing another striker before the transfer window closes Friday, as does Inter Milan.
After winning 3-0 at promoted Pescara in its opener, Inter is pleased with its attack but is looking for a reserve forward to fill in when Diego Milito needs to be rested.
With Wesley Sneijder back in form aided by Cassano's passing skills, plus the addition of midfielder Walter Gargano on loan from Napoli, Inter appears vastly improved from when it finished sixth last season.
Napoli, which placed fifth last season, has also showed signs of improvement, opening with an impressive 3-0 win at Palermo.
Also this weekend, it's: Torino vs. Pescara; Cagliari vs. Atalanta; Catania vs. Genoa; Lazio vs. Palermo; Parma vs. Chievo; and Sampdoria vs. Siena.
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