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After a year in which the football world collectively compressed a season-and-a-half worth of fixtures into a 12-month span, plus somehow managed to contest the Copa America, Euro 2020, and soon the Tokyo Olympics in the face of a still-raging global pandemic, it's still a bit hard to find one's bearings. Football around the clock seems exciting on the surface, but we've already seen many players and clubs pay the price for this break-neck pace.
However, with the majority of players enjoying a somewhat typical summer break, Serie A and the rest of the world's major football leagues should enjoy some shred of normality as they prepare for the 2021-2022 season. All the usual guideposts have already been in place this summer: summer retreats, pre-season friendlies against clubs you've never heard of, new kit promotions, new signings, last-minute departures, and, of course, the release of the new fixture list, which Serie A announced moments ago:
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— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) July 14, 2021
Ready for the new campaign! #ASRoma pic.twitter.com/Nt4jhtKGtU
Roma will begin the season against Dusan Vlahovic and Fiorentina on August 22nd before facing newly-promoted Salernitana the following week on the 29th. Of course, with Roma's appointment of José Mourinho to the managerial bench, the Giallorossi's entire season should be drenched in intrigue and drama, but all Serie A fans will want to take note of a few key dates on the calendar:
- Mourinho vs. Maurizio Sarri in the Derby della Capitale on September 26th
- Mourinho vs. Max Allegri and Juventus October 17th
- The Special One vs. Spalletti in the Derby del Sole on October 24th
- Mourinho's return to the San Siro against Inter on April 24, 2022
Other fixtures of interest include Roma's first look at newly-promoted Empoli on October 3rd and Venezia on November 7th, while they're spared the sight of Gian Piero Gasperini and Atalanta until December 19th.
With only six weeks before the season begins, look for our season preview coverage to kick off later this month!