Serie B: winning debut for Palermo, Verona and Pisa falter. Palermo increasingly in “pole position” for the title

The new Serie B season has started with Palermo front and centre after a big summer in the transfer market. Lifted by their Coppa Italia win over Lecce, they followed it up with three points against Juve Stabia on the opening day. The 1-0 win at the Barbera cements the Rosanero as the bookmakers' top picks for the second-tier title, at 2.25 with Planetwin365 and 2.30 with Betpassion, down from 2.85 last week.

Behind them, Verona under Marco Baroni remain the biggest threat in the market despite their home defeat to Ascoli. The Venetians have drifted, though, from 3.25 to 4.00. Rounding out the top three are another team relegated from Serie A, Cremonese under Marco Giampaolo. But the defeat in Empoli has seen the Grigiorossi lose ground, from 5.50 to 6.00.

That surprise win for Empoli is priced at 12.00. Their regional rivals Pisa also stumbled out of the blocks, beaten at home by Padova but still quoted at 11.00. Sampdoria's new side under Bernardo Corradi had to make do with a draw at Cesena. A Sampdoria title win pays 15.00 times the stake.