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REVEALED: Each Serie A team's penalty-taker
A key factor for both them and terrified fans is the penalty taking role, on which, if left to the wrong player, can have disastrous results.
So, without further ado, we outline what the pecking order of each Serie A team looks like, and where the biggest challengers are likely to arise.
NB: The first name listed is that of the designated kicker, those in brackets his pretendants, in order.
ATALANTA – Alberto Paloschi (Pinilla, Gomez). Whichever striker on the pitch will take it, El Papu is the first alternative.
BOLOGNA – Mattia Destro (Brienza). Simone Verdi is also an option.
CAGLIARI – Marco Borriello (Joao Pedro, Farias).
CHIEVO – Sergio Pellissier (Birsa). This only counts when Pellissier is actually on the pitch, hardly a guarantee this saeson.
CROTONE – Raffaele Palladino (Stoian). The former Juventus youth is ahead of Stoian, with Salzano also a possibility.
EMPOLI – Massimo Maccarone (Saponara, Gilardino). Riccardo Saponara hasn't only been overtaken by Massimo Maccarone... he will now have to deal with Alberto Gilardino, too.
FIORENTINA – Josip Ilicic (Rossi, Kalinic). Were Rossi to play, he'd still be the second in line, as his Balkan team-mate netted seven last season.
GENOA – Goran Pandev (Pavoletti, Ocampos). None of these players are experts, so much so that two of them (Pavoletti and Ocampos) have never taken a penalty in Serie A.
INTER – Mauro Icardi (Candreva). Candreva has always kicked penalties, but Icardi is top dog at the San Siro.
JUVENTUS – Paulo Dybala (Higuain). It's a big doubt for Juventus this season, though Dybala took care of this aspect last season, whilst Higuain isn't the greatest spot-kick taker.
LAZIO – Lucas Biglia (Immobile). Formerly Candreva's first alternative, Biglia will now be ahead of Ciro Immobile... who skied a penalty against, you've guessed it, Lazio last season!
MILAN – Bacca (Niang). Though the Frenchman took two when Bacca was on the pitch, it appears as if the centre forward will still be in charge here.
NAPOLI – Insigne (Gabbiadini, Hamsik). Just like last year, it looks like Napoli will be flexible, Marek Hamsik starting out before handing over the reins to Gonzalo Higuain.
PALERMO – Aleksandar Trajkovski (Nesterovski). This one looks neck-and-neck too.
PESCARA – Ledian Memushaj (Caprari). One of the best, as Memushaj has already netted 16 penalties in Italian football alone!
ROMA – Francesco Totti (Dzeko, Perotti). De Rossi can take them too, but Edin Dzeko takes them if Totti's not on the pitch.
SAMPDORIA – Fabio Quagliarella (Muriel). As long as he's on the pitch, Fabio Quagliarella wears the trousers.
SASSUOLO – Domenico Berardi (Matri). Though hardly infallible, it looks like Berardi will be the incumbent here.
TORINO – Andrea Belotti (Ljajic). Though Belotti smashed in four out of four last year, the race with Adem Ljajic is on!
UDINESE – Cyril Thereau (Duvan Zapata). Remember, Duvan fluffed his in Coppa Italia duty.
