Euro 2020 concluded a mere three days ago but the focus has already turned to the start of next season’s domestic leagues. Serie A’s 2021/22 schedule has made its long-awaited appearance. Inter now knows the order of its opponents as it prepares to mount a title defense, starting with a visit from Genoa to the San Siro on Matchday One.

One major change to this year’s schedule is the scrapping of the home-and-away format which split the season into two identical halves. Inter had played every team in the same order, just with a different host. Instead, the asymmetrical system that the other major European leagues use has been adopted. It gives the league more control over when to play the marquee fixtures and could offer teams in European competitions greater leeway. The home-and-away format made it easy to memorize the schedule and was a method unique to Serie A, so it will be missed.

Full Schedule

*Bold means against one of the other top seven clubs

• Matchday 1 - vs Genoa
• Matchday 2 - @ Hellas Verona
• Matchday 3 - @ Sampdoria
• Matchday 4 - vs Bologna
• Matchday 5 - @ Fiorentina (midweek)
• Matchday 6 - vs Atalanta
• Matchday 7 - @ Sassuolo
• Matchday 8 - @ Lazio
• Matchday 9 - vs Juventus
• Matchday 10 - @ Empoli (midweek)
• Matchday 11 - vs Udinese
• Matchday 12 - @ Milan
• Matchday 13 - vs Napoli
• Matchday 14 - @ Venezia
• Matchday 15 - vs Spezia (midweek)
• Matchday 16 - @ Roma
• Matchday 17 - vs Cagliari
• Matchday 18 - @ Salernitana
• Matchday 19 - vs Torino (midweek)
• Matchday 20 - @ Bologna (midweek)
• Matchday 21 - vs Lazio
• Matchday 22 - @ Atalanta
• Matchday 23 - vs Venezia
• Matchday 24 - vs Milan
• Matchday 25 - @ Napoli
• Matchday 26 - vs Sassuolo
• Matchday 27 - @ Genoa
• Matchday 28 - vs Salernitana
• Matchday 29 - @ Torino
• Matchday 30 - vs Fiorentina
• Matchday 31 - @ Juventus
• Matchday 32 - vs Hellas Verona
• Matchday 33 - @ Spezia
• Matchday 34 - vs Roma
• Matchday 35 - @ Udinese
• Matchday 36 - vs Empoli
• Matchday 37 - @ Cagliari
• Matchday 38 - vs Sampdoria

My first reaction is that Simone Inzaghi will have a relatively simple start to life in Milan, as Inter doesn’t play a team above 10th from last season until Matchday 6. The tough games come in bunches, however. Atalanta, Lazio, Sassuolo, and Juventus (Matchday 6-9) in a row is a brutal stretch. Clashes against Lazio, Atalanta, Milan, and Napoli (Matchday 21-25) are only separated by a meeting with Venezia. Luckily, the start and end of the season look much smoother on paper. Inter doesn’t play any top teams in the first or last four games of the season.

What games stand out to you? What about the overall calendar? Let us know in the comments below.

The countdown is on until August 22nd!