Champions Juventus will face a challenge on several fronts this season as they bid for a record-equalling fifth consecutive scudetto and other honours, says coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Juventus finished the season on a high with the league and Cup double and missed out on an unprecedented club treble when losing to Barcelona in the Champions League final.

All in all it was a great first season at the club for Allegri, but the 48-year-old Italian believes Inter Milan, Roma, AC Milan and even Napoli will all raise their game in what he believes will be a more "balanced" championship.

"It will be a balanced championship, more than last season," Allegri told media on Saturday, a day ahead of their first match of the season, at home to Udinese.

"Inter, Milan and Roma have done well in the transfer market and I think that, along with us, they will be favourites for the league title.

"And you can't forget Napoli, who will be motivated by having a new coach (Maurizio Sarri), and Fiorentina, who are a strong side. "We'll have to maintain a balance throughout the season, take one step at a time and try to be on top on May 16."

After four years of seeing Juve dominate in near outrageous fashion, it seems some rivals have had enough.

While Roma have pushed Juve closest the past two seasons, albeit finishing 17 points adrift in 2015, fallen giants like Inter and AC Milan are finally waking from their slumber.

Both failed to qualify for Europe, but after missing out on the millions have pledged there will be no repeat this time around.

Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini finished last season pledging to be among the title pretenders and although the club sold Mateo Kovacic last week to Real Madrid, they brought in Stevan Jovetic on loan from Manchester City as well as acquiring highly-rated French midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia from Monaco.

Former Sampdoria coach Sinisa Mihajlovic takes charge of AC Milan in Serie A for the first time, away to Fiorentina on Sunday, and despite a harrowing two seasons for the club he is confident in a top finish.

"The squad have regained self-confidence and belief," he said. "The objective is to finish amongst the top-three in Serie A.

"If we have a good start, then we can do well."

Juventus begin their title defence with a new-look squad having sold midfielders Andrea Pirlo (New York City FC) and Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich) and striker Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors) earlier this summer.

The Turin giants added to the capture of Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Paulo Dybala (Palermo) and Mario Mandzukic (Atletico Madrid) by signing highly-rated Brazilian defender Alex Sandro from FC Porto on Thursday.

Khedira is definitely sidelined through injury for Sunday's opener and after Mandzukic suffered a knock in a friendly on Thursday he could also be rested.

Juventus, however, have plenty of options up front with Fernando Llorente, Simone Zaza, Kingsley Coman and Dybala all fit to play.

Allegri, meanwhile, called for fans to allow his team to gel.

"We need patience, not because we don't have the quality, but because the lads need to get used to each other.

"During our first two games we'll still be in the construction phase, but I'm relaxed about that."