The next six weeks will be some of the busiest in history for Serie A clubs, with only four dates in the run-up to the World Cup break not featuring games involving Italian teams.
Serie A action returns tomorrow after this international break, kicking off an incredibly busy period for teams in the Italian peninsula. The World Cup break starts on November 14, meaning an unprecedented number of games will be played between now and then, creating concerns that injuries will run rife before the tournament in Qatar.
As highlighted by La Gazzetta dello Sport, 116 matches involving Serie A clubs will be played in the next six weeks – 80 in the league, 28 in European competitions and eight in the Coppa Italia. The only dates that won’t feature any Italian teams on the pitch are October 7,14, 28 and November 7.
Eight rounds of Serie A action, four group games in European competition and the Coppa Italia Round of 16 all need to be completed before the World Cup pause.
For teams competing in Europe – Milan, Inter, Juventus, Napoli, Roma, Lazio and Fiorentina – 12 matches in just six weeks are on the horizon, starting this weekend.