For the first time ever, Juventus is not among the favorites to take home the Scudetto this season, because Juventus won’t be playing in Serie A. That’s a nice thing for neutral fans, because this season could be one of the most open in recent Italian history. Last season’s champion Inter Milan, handed the Scudetto after Juve and Milan were both found guilty of match-fixing, is the slight favorite to repeat as champion, followed AC Milan, which received an 8-point penalty to start the year, and Roma, which finished second in last season’s revised standouts. The two standout fixtures of the first weekend involve favorites Inter and Milan; the former play Fiorentina away and the latter Lazio at home. Both Fiorentina and Lazio were also found guilty in the match-fixing scandal. They begin next season with 19- and 11-point penalties, respectively. Roma starts its season at home to little Livorno. All of the clubs involved in the match-fixing scandal are continuing to appeal to have their point penalties loosened a bit, but this won’t stop the season from opening tomorrow. (All the clubs have already had their penalties reduced — Lazio and Fiorentina originally were ordered to play in Serie B.) Juve, meanwhile, opens its campaign in Serie B away to Rimini, where the club will play in a 10,000-seat stadium.