Parma come into this season opener with a point to prove. After a campaign that saw them ship 46 goals in the league, Carlos Cuesta has been handed the keys and told to fix a leaky ship. The pre-season buzz from the Mutti Training Center in Collecchio and the camp in Pinzolo suggests a side that's been put through the wringer, with a triangular tournament against Sassuolo and Trento sharpening their edges. Matteo Pellegrino's nine league goals last term show there's a finisher in the ranks, but the defensive record is the elephant in the room. Cuesta's switch from a 5-3-2 to a more adventurous 4-3-3 is a statement of intent — this is a team that wants to control games, not just survive them.

Cagliari, meanwhile, are a side in transition under Fabio Pisacane. They've kept the same defensive core, with Caprile emerging as the new leader between the sticks — a reassuring sight for a backline that will be tested at the Tardini. Their Coppa Italia clash with Arezzo on August 14 was a chance to build rhythm, and the news that Mina and Kevin Carlos are ready for Parma suggests they're not coming to just make up the numbers. But there's a fragility there. Without Raphael Kofler and Riyad Idrissi due to injury, their options are stretched, and a season opener away from home is a different beast entirely. Parma have the momentum of a full pre-season under a new coach; Cagliari are still finding their feet.