Serie A 2019-20 Club-by-Club Preview: Part II

With the 2020-21 Serie A season just around the corner, we look at the teams - and their star players - that AS Roma will face over the course of the new campaign.

Here, we train our focus on last season’s top-half of the table...

Click here to read Part I: The new boys and bottom-half finishers

FIORENTINA
Last season: 10th

Head coach: Giuseppe Iachini

Notable players in: Sofyan Amrabat (Hellas Verona), Cristiano Biraghi (Inter Milan, end of loan), Giacomo Bonaventura (AC Milan), Alfred Duncan, Pol Lirola (both Sassuolo, loans made permanent), Christian Kouame (Genoa, loan made permanent), Borja Valero (free)

Notable players out: Marco Benassi (Hellas Verona, loan), Bryan Dabo (Benevento), Giovanni Simeone (Cagliari, loan made permanent), Riccardo Sottil (Cagliari, loan)

What to know: Iachini’s men ended the 2019-20 season in fine fettle, closing out the season with just one defeat in their final nine games (W5, D3, L1) as La Viola secured a top-half finish.

The summer transfer window has seen Duncan make his loan move permanent, while experienced Italy international Bonaventura and veteran ex Borja Valero have signed from AC Milan and Inter Milan respectively to add midfield options. Fans might be most excited for the arrival of Amrabat, who was so impressive as Verona's midfield conductor last term, though.

One to watch: Federico Chiesa. The 22-year-old is certainly stepping out of the shadow of his illustrious father and is the heartbeat of Fiorentina’s side - as he proved at the end of last season with his hat-trick on the penultimate day and by captaining the team on the final matchday.

First meeting with Roma: 1 November (A)

HELLAS VERONA
Last season: 9th

Head coach: Ivan Juric

Notable players in: Emmanuel Badu (Udinese, loan made permanent), Marco Benassi (Fiorentina, loan), Mert Cetin (Roma, loan), Koray Gunter (Genoa, loan made permanent), Ivan Ilic (Manchester City, loan), Kevin Ruegg (FC Zurich), Giangiacomo Magnani (Sassuolo, loan), Adrien Tameze (Nice)

Notable players out: Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina), Valentin Eysseric (Fiorentina, end of loan), Liam Henderson (Lecce), Luca Marrone (Crotone, loan made permanent), Matteo Pessina (Atalanta, end of loan), Amir Rrahmani (Napoli), Eddie Salcedo (Inter via Genoa, end of loan) Valerio Verre (Sampdoria, end of loan)

What to know: In contrast to Fiorentina’s end of season form, Verona won just one of their last nine matches in 2019-20 (W1, D4, L4) as their mid-season European bid eventually tailed off.

But a ninth-placed finish in their first season back in the top-tier was still an immensely impressive return - especially when the other two newly promoted teams were immediately returned to Serie B - and they’ve been proactive with their recruitment this summer. That said, the loss of Amrabat - along with rumours of further key players to go before the window shuts - could have a big impact on the team.

One to watch: Mert Cetin. Roma fans will have one eye on the young Turkey international this season as he looks to gain more first-team experience, having made six Serie A appearances for the Giallorossi last year.

First meeting with Roma: 19 September (H)

SASSUOLO
Last season: 8th

Head coach: Roberto De Zerbi

Notable players in: Kaan Ayhan (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Vlad Chiriches (Napoli, loan made permanent), Gregoire Defrel (Roma, loan made permanent), Lukas Haraslin (Lechia Gdansk, loan made permanent), Georgios Kyriakopoulos (Asteras Tripoli, loan made permanent)

Notable players out: Alfred Duncan, Pol Lirola (both Fiorentina, loans made permanent), Francesco Cassata (Genoa), Filippo Romagna (Cagliari, end of loan), Stefano Sensi (Inter Milan, loan made permanent).

What to know: Sassuolo’s eighth-place finish last term was their second-best Serie A return in the club’s history - thanks largely to the goals of Francesco Caputo, who scored 21 in his maiden campaign with the club.

Their attacking prowess saw Sassuolo hit the sixth-most goals (69) across the entire league and De Zerbi has strengthened his squad at both ends of the pitch, but most notably in defence with the signings of Chiriches and Ayhan.

One to watch: Jeremie Boga. Clearly, Caputo is Sassuolo’s talisman, but Boga is probably their most exciting player as highlighted by, not only his 11 goals and two assists, but the fact the 23-year-old successfully dribbled past more players (151) than any other player in the league last year - a whopping 52 more than the next best.

First meeting with Roma: 6 December (A)

NAPOLI
Last season: 7th

Head coach: Gennaro Gattuso

Notable players in: Victor Osimhen (Lille), Adam Ounas (Nice, end of loan), Amir Rrahmani (Hellas Verona)

Notable players out: Allan (Everton), Jose Callejon (released), Vlad Chiriches (Sassuolo, loan made permanent), Alberto Grassi, Roberto Inglese (both Parma, loans made permanent), Orestis Karnezis (Lille), Marko Rog (Cagliari, loan made permanent), Luigi Sepe (Parma, loan made permanent), Lorenzo Tonelli (Sampdoria, loan made permanent), Simone Verdi (Torino, loan made permanent)

What to know: Napoli secured European football courtesy of their Coppa Italia victory last term, but their final league finish will have been a disappointing one for Gattuso and the club’s hierarchy that desperately crave a first league title since Diego Maradona inspired them to the 1989-90 Scudetto.

In the off-season, the club has moved on a swathe of players to make room for the eye-wateringly costly Osimhen - the club’s sole summer signing, and whose price-tag will demand instant returns.

One to watch: Victor Osimhen. All eyes will be on the 21-year-old as he begins life in Naples due to that aforementioned substantial outlay, but if he can repeat his 13 goals and five assists in Ligue 1 last season, he will look like an astute investment.

First meeting with Roma: 29 November (H)

AC MILAN
Last season: 6th

Head coach: Stefano Pioli

Notable players in: Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid, loan), Alen Halilovic (Heerenveen, end of loan), Simon Kjaer (Sevilla, loan made permanent), Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt, loan made permanent), Alexis Saelemaekers (Anderlecht, loan made permanent), Sandro Tonali (Brescia, loan with obligaton to buy), Ciprian Tatarusanu (Olympique Lyon)

Notable players out: Asmir Begovic (Bournemouth, end of loan), Lucas Biglia (released), Giacomo Bonaventura (Fiorentina), Pepe Reina (Lazio), Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Andre Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt, loan made permanent), Suso (Sevilla, loan made permanent)

What to know: As much as they huffed and puffed last year, Milan were unable to oust Roma in fifth-place, but they did secure a spot in Europa League qualifying thanks to their eventual finish in sixth.

They have notable arrivals in the shape of exciting 20-year-old Italy international Tonali from Brescia and Diaz’s loan deal from Madrid, which will add both craft and guile to their midfield as Milan set out on ending a seven-year absence from the top-four.

One to watch: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Even at 38, the Sweden striker is box office viewing and only Rebic (11) scored more in the league for Milan than Ibrahimovic (10) last season, who bagged five goals in his last four matches as he proves once again there are no signs of slowing despite his advancing years.

First meeting with Roma: 25 October (H)

LAZIO
Last season: 4th

Head coach: Simone Inzaghi

Notable players in: Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro (Salernitana), Gonzalo Escalante (Eibar), Vedat Muriqi (Fenerbahce), Pepe Reina (Milan), Mohamed Fares (SPAL)

Notable players out: Valon Berisha (Stade Reims), Ricardo Kishna (ADO Den Haag)

What to know: Lazio managed to secure fourth spot last year, thanks largely to their form at the Stadio Olimpico as they ended the campaign with a home record only bettered by champions Juventus.

Muqiri hit 15 goals in the Turkish top-flight last season and will add more firepower - and a back-up option to Ciro Immobile - while coach Inzaghi will be looking forward to taking on older brother Pippo when Lazio take on newly promoted Benevento.

First meeting with Roma: 17 January (H)

ATALANTA
Last season: 3rd

Head coach: Gian Piero Gasperini

Notable players in: Aleksey Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Simone Muratore (Juventus), Mario Pasalic (Chelsea, loan made permanent), Cristiano Piccini (Valencia, loan), Cristian Romero (Juventus, loan)

Notable players out: Timothy Castagne (Leicester), Gianluca Mancini (Roma, loan made permanent), Etrit Berisha, Marco D'Alessandro (both SPAL)

What to know: It’s going to take some doing for Gasperini to top last year’s efforts as Atalanta achieved their highest Serie A position ever, as well as the most points, wins and goals in a single season of the club’s top-flight history.

Final day defeat to Inter denied them a runners-up spot, but they will return to the Champions League having come so close to a semi-final berth before defeat to last year’s eventual losing finalists Paris Saint-Germain, and - despite the loss of Castagne - they look well set to challenge for a top-four place once more.

One to watch: Papu Gomez. The Atalanta captain went slightly under the radar at times last season but his output was remarkable - ending the year with a league-high 16 assists and another seven goals of his own to his name.

First meeting this season with Roma: 20 December (H)

INTER MILAN
Last season: 2nd

Head coach: Antonio Conte

Notable players in: Nicolo Barella (Cagliari, loan made permanent), Achraf Hakimi (Real Madrid), Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Sassuolo, loan made permanent), Alexis Sanchez (Manchester United, loan made permanent)

Notable players out: Felice D'Amico (Sampdoria, loan), Mauro Icardi (Paris Saint-Germain, loan made permanent), Yann Karamoh (Parma, loan made permanent), Valentino Lazaro (Borussia Monchengladbach, loan), Victor Moses (Chelsea, end of loan), Andrea Pinamonti (Genoa, loan made permanent), Borja Valero (released)

What to know: It was a case of so close, yet so far for Inter in 2019-20 as they ended the season just a point behind Juventus to stretch their title wait to 10 years, lost in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia to eventual victors Napoli, and then were edged out by Sevilla in the Europa League final too.

But it did mark their best league finish for nine years in just Conte’s first season at the San Siro and they have strengthened in the summer with the permanent additions of Barella, Sanchez and Sensi, as well as adding experience in the shape of former Roma man Kolarov and youth in Hakimi.

One to watch: Achraf Hakimi. The strike pairing of Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez are obvious players to keep an eye on but in Hakimi, Inter may well have snared the transfer coup of the summer, with the rapid Moroccan able to operate either at right-back or right-midfield and having just completed a highly successful two-year stint at Borussia Dortmund.

First meeting this season with Roma: 10 January (A)

JUVENTUS
Last season: 1st

Head coach: Andrea Pirlo

Notable players in: Arthur (Barcelona), Felix Correia (Manchester City), Dejan Kulusevski (Parma), Weston McKennie (Schalke, loan), Luca Pellegrini (Cagliari, end of loan), Marko Pjaca (Anderlecht, end of loan)

Notable players out: Emre Can (Borussia Dortmund, loan made permanent), Blaise Matuidi (Inter Miami), Simone Muratore (Atalanta), Miralem Pjanic (Barcelona), Cristian Romero (Atalanta, loan), Matteo Stoppa (Sampdoria, loan made permanent)

What to know: Despite securing a ninth successive Scudetto, Juve replaced Maurizio Sarri with club legend Pirlo in August after the club dropped out of the Champions League with defeat to Lyon at the last-16 stage and ended the Serie A season with just one win in their last four.

It was a dramatic promotion for Pirlo, just two weeks after being announced as coach of the club’s Under-23 outfit, but he inherits a squad brimming with talent that has been added to - especially by young Brazilian Arthur, who very much plays in the mould of his new gaffer.

One to watch: Andrea Pirlo. Despite the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala being among the big names at the Allianz Stadium, their new tactician will be the centre of attention week-in, week-out - with tailored suits and perfectly coiffured hair in tow.

First meeting with Roma: 27 September (A)

Click here to read Part I: The new boys and bottom-half finishers