Juventus are again at the centre of a match-fixing scandal and it could destabilise the Bianconeri next season.

Head coach Antonio Conte faces a lengthy ban for failing to report alleged match-fixing while boss at Siena. Juve have already accepted a six-points deduction for next season as well.

Absence

Juventus enjoyed  a fine campaign under Conte, as the Bianconeri reclaimed the Serie A title, and remained undefeated in the process. The loss of their boss could be key to destabilising Juve and allowing their rivals to capitalise.

Departures

All the top Italian clubs seem to be in transition after losing key players this summer. AC Milan are facing life without talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and classy defender Thiago Silva. The Rossoneri look like they need to rebuild this summer.

Napoli have looked like genuine challengers in recent seasons, but have failed to produce when he has really mattered. The Azzurri have lost talented attacker Ezequiel Lavezzi this summer. The Argentinian joined Silva and Ibrahimovic at French Nouvre-riche giants PSG.

Internazionale are also in the period of transition under young head coach Andrea Stramaccioni. Some of the Inter old guard have left, with the likes Ivan Cordoba, Lucio and Diego Forlan exiting the club this summer.

Lucky

The six-point deduction may not matter to Juve with all their rivals in such periods of transition. The usual suspects are likely to be up at the top of the Serie A table challenging next season. However, even if Conte does serve a ban I believe that Juve could still have enough to win Serie A in new season.

The last time Juve were involved in a match-fixing scandal it had dire effects on the club. They were demoted and have only recently recovered from that. It looked like Conte was building something special at Juventus last season.

However, nothing ever seems to be simple in Italian football and this just another incident in a long line that has cast a grey shadow over the beautiful game in Italy.

Can Juve’s rivals capitalise on the match-fixing scandal?