MILAN – Defending Serie A champion AC Milan will open the season at home against Udinese, only 83 days after securing its first league title in 11 years.
The upcoming calendar was announced Friday. Runner-up Inter Milan visits newly-promoted Lecce on the opening day, while Juventus hosts Sassuolo and Napoli visits Hellas Verona.
The season starts the weekend of Aug. 13. There will be a lengthy pause because of the World Cup in Qatar and the traditional Christmas break, with no Serie A soccer between Nov. 13 and Jan. 4.
The season ends at the start of June for the first time since 2001, AP reported.
The opening weekend also sees Silvio Berlusconi´s first match back in Serie A since selling Milan. His newly-promoted Monza team hosts Torino.
The first derby match between the Milan teams will be the weekend of Sept. 4, with the return game in early February.
The final round, on June 4, sees Milan host Hellas Verona, Inter at Torino, Juventus visiting Udinese and Napoli playing Sampdoria.
Milan visits Juventus in the penultimate round.
