The last three seasons of the Italian Serie A saw Turin side Juventus finish easily as champions under manager Antonio Conte. The champions have gone through a managerial change since May but will the chasing pack seize the chance to snatch the Scudetto from Juve’s grasp? We will look at those likely to be at the top as well as at the bottom.

Top three

Juventus

Exit Antonio Conte and enter Massimiliano Allegri. The most significant change at the club happened in the dugout as Juventus will begin the new season with a new manager in Allegri, who coached AC Milan to the Serie A title in his first year, three years ago. The Bianconeri have only added Alvaro Morata and Kingsley Coman while they have kept all their top players away from potential suitors. The squad is the most rounded in Italy and as such should retain their title.

AS Roma

Finishing 17 points behind Juve last season, AS Roma should feel even more confident in their chances of winning the Italian top flight this season. Manager Rudi Garcia has made some shrewd signings in Juan Manuel Iturbe, Ashley Cole and Salih Ucan while losing their defensive rock Mehdi Benatia to Bayern Munich. The Giallorossi also have European football to contend with, which will test their depth, but expect an intriguing battle at the top.

Inter Milan

New president Erick Thohir has breathed new life into the club and as such people should expect more coming from Walter Mazzari and his team. The Milan club has brought in Nemanja Vidic, Yann M’Vila and Gary Medel, a trio that would solidify any squad throughout Europe. Such players will complement the creators in Hernanes and Mateo Kovacic playing in Mazzari’s 3-5-2 formation. More time with this formation will help Inter improve from Europa to Champions League football.

Relegation strugglers

Cesena: A team with experience of Serie A football within the last three seasons, Cesena will be seeking to defy the odds and their own manager, who expects a “tournament of suffering” for his team.

Empoli: Suffering relegation in 2008, the Tuscan club finished Serie B in second position behind Palermo last season. They have to call on an old strike force though — Francesco Tavano and Massimo Maccarone have a combined age of 69.

Chievo Verona: There is a lot riding on new players Maxi Lopez, Alessandro Gamberini and Valter Birsa and if two of the three do not fire, Chievo will see relegation by April.