AS Roma start the new Serie A campaign at home against top 3 rivals Fiorentina determined to prove they have what it takes to mount a serious title challenge.

Meanwhile, Viola go into the new season hoping to finally clinch Champions League qualification and what better way to prove their credentials than to win at Stadio Olimpico.

There have been plenty of new arrivals in Rome this summer, but with only Benatia and Dodo leaving, the Giallorossi are right to harbour big ambitions.

Juan Iturbe and Ashley Cole seem to have already nail down regular starting berths, whilst the likes of Manolas, Astori, Paredes, Emanuelson, Keita, Ucan and Sanabria will have enough chances to impress given that Roma will also be playing Champions League football.

The Giallorossi were handed a very tough group, having been pitted against Manchester City, CSKA Moscow and Bayern Munich, but now it’s time to focus on the opening Serie A fixture.

Judging by some good attacking performances in pre-season, Roma players seem ready for the start of the campaign, with home win paying 1.80 (4/5).

Club icon Francesco Totti will again be preferred to Mattia Destro, and the veteran forward is 2.62 (13/8) at Betfair to score anytime.

While Kevin Strootman and Federico Balzaretti remain sidelined, Leandro Castan and Douglas Maicon are both injury doubts.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): De Sanctis – Torosidis, De Rossi, Astori, Cole – Nainngolan, Keita, Pjanic – Iturbe, Totti, Gervinho.

These past few days of the summer transfer window are likely to prove quite busy for Fiorentina officials seeing as how top European clubs are still circling around Juan Cuadrado, while several quality midfielders are being linked with a move to Artemio Franchi.

Meanwhile, Vincenzo Montella and his charges are in the final stage of the pre-season preparations as the first match of the campaign against AS Roma is just around the corner.

Viola have signed several quality players this summer as Marko Marin, Jose Basanta and Josh Brillante all joined, while a number of footballers returned from loan spells.

Even if pre-season results could be misleading, it is important to note that Fiorentina won most fixtures, beating Malaga, Real Betis and Real Madrid among other sides.

And with Viola winning four of last five away fixtures in the league, there may be value in odds of 5.40 (17/5) offered on away win.

Juan Cuadrado and Genoa-bound Facundo Roncaglia are banned, whereas Giuseppe Rossi is out injured. Marko Marin and Matias Fernandez face fitness tests.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-1-2): Neto – Tomovic, Rodriguez, Savic, Pasqual – Aquilani, Pizarro, Valero – Ilicic – Gomez, Bernardeschi.