Serie A preview: No Conte as Juve host Parma

Juventus are hot favourites to open their Serie A title defence with a win, while AC Milan and Roma are also expected to fare well at home.

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding manager Antonio Conte, banned from the touchline and the match-day dressing room for 10 months for failing to report instances of match fixing at a previous club, Juve will get their 2012/13 season underway at home to Parma on Saturday.

Juve were considered among several well-matched challengers for the title last year, but finished the season as the unbeaten champions with a remarkable 23 wins and 15 draws.

The Turin club’s opening match at Juventus Stadium will mark 468 days since their last Serie A defeat, which ironically came at the hands of Parma in May 2011.

Elsewhere, Milan will start their campaign against the newly promoted Sampdoria at the San Siro on Sunday.

Roma, with veteran coach back at the helm 13 years after his last stint in charge of the club, will host Catania at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

Vincenzo Montella will lead Fiorentina against Udinese in his first competitive match in charge since signing a two-year deal with the Tuscan club after Delio Rossi was sensationally sacked.

Italy international midfielder Alberto Aquilani featured in Fiorentina’s final friendly match and is expected to make his debut alongside fellow new signings Gonzalo Rodriguez and Borja Valero (both formerly of Villareal), David Pizarro (Roma) and Mounir El Hamdaoui (Ajax).

And newly promoted Pescara have been handed the daunting task of hosting Inter Milan, who embark on a new era under the guidance of former youth team coach Andrea Stramaccioni.

Meanwhile, Napoli begin life without Ezequiel Lavezzi against Palermo, Genoa look to avoid another disappointing campaign at home to Cagliari and new manager Vladimir Petkovic takes charge of Lazio as they travel to Atalanta.

Torino, among the league’s new boys, make the trip to Siena, while Chievo play host to Bologna.