Serie A returns this weekend with 2 standout matches to look out for. Rome will be buzzing with excitement when Roma face Italian powerhouse AC Milan while defending champions Napoli look to put on a show in the city of Naples when they take on Lazio. Marc Strydom previews.
Friday, 1 September
Sassuolo 1/1 | Draw 5/2 | Verona 13/5
Sassuolo put up a fight in their previous fixture despite losing 2-0 to reigning champions Napoli. Having home ground advantage could lift their spirits to come out fearless and play on the front foot with hopes of registering their first points of the season.
Verona put in a huge shift at home to Roma in their previous fixture and came out victorious with a dramatic 2-1 win. Marco Baroni will demand the same level of performance in this fixture as they look to remain unbeaten and in hot form. Verona to continue in this form and get the win away from home.
Roma 7/4 | Draw 85/40 | AC Milan 13/8
Roma lost 2-1 away to Verona in their previous outing, making it a single point from a possible six. “The Special One” will be asking questions from his team and will expect a champions performance in the city of Rome to pick up their first win of the season.
AC Milan made light work of Torino, brushing them aside on home soil 4-1. The Rossoneri look to be in total control of how they want to do things and are executing their gameplan in fashionable style. Facing Roma at home is no easy task but Pioli will expect nothing less than maximum points. This is always an exciting fixture and I see AC Milan proving to be too strong on the day, AC Milan to win.
Saturday, 2 September
Bologna 4/6 | Draw 5/2 | Cagliari 21/5
Bologna was outstanding in their previous fixture and where unlucky not to come away with maximum points and settled for a well-deserved point away to Juventus. Thiago Motta will be impressed by the commitment and determination to play at this high level and will expect another exceptional display as they look to register their first win of the season.
Cagliari have had a difficult start to the season picking up a single point from a possible six. Claudio Ranieri will motivate his players to keep pushing as they look to find the right balance and fluidity in their game that could get the win they are looking for. Bologna to impress once again and pick up maximum points.
Udinese 77/100 | Draw 13/5 | Frosinone 10/3
Frosinone will be flying high after a hard-fought 2-1 home victory against Atalanta. The win will boost their confidence coming into this fixture and a real determination to go out and fight for the badge. The Canarini will need to stay focused once again if they look to clinch all three points.
Udinese welcome Frosinone to the Udinese Arena after picking up a point in a 1-1 stalemate against Salernitana. Andrea Sottil knows the importance of remaining level-headed and sticking to their strengths as they plan to snatch all three points and register their first win of the season. This could go either way, but I see new boys Frosinone pinching the win.
Atalanta 8/13 | Draw 3/1 | Monza 15/4
Atalanta will be disappointed by their 2-1 loss against new boys Frosinone. Despite losing the game, Atalanta played some quality football and just missed the finishing touches. Playing at home could bring the best out of the Orobici as they look to recover and get back to winning ways.
Monza controlled proceedings and dictated the play which led to a 2-0 home victory against Empoli last time out. The correct approach with the desire to win will be key to their success in this fixture as they look to follow in Frosinone’s footsteps and pinch the points on the day. Atalanta will recover on home soil, back the home team to win.
Napoli 5/8 | Draw 29/10 | Lazio 21/5
Napoli are unbeaten coming into this fixture and have picked up from where they left off last season. Piotr Zielinski and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are players that will be called upon to influence the game in ways Victor Osimhen can continue to terrorise defences with his outstanding centre forward play and lead them to victory in a must win game.
Lazio are surprisingly on a two-match winless streak coming into this huge encounter and will need to prepare and approach the game with the right mindset. Maurizio Sarri can take some inspiration from their previous win against Napoli and implement the same gameplan with the hopes of landing their first points of the season. The best fixture of the weekend but I see Napoli coming out winners in front of their home faithful.
Sunday, 3 September
Inter Milan 8/13 | Draw 29/10 | Fiorentina 4/1
Fiorentina looked well on their way to picking up maximum points in their previous fixture but were held to a 2-2 draw against Lecce. La Viola is playing free flowing football which suits their style of play and could push Inter Milan to the limit as they look to pull off an upset away from home.
Inter Milan cruised to victory in their previous fixture winning 2-0 against new boys Cagliari. Simone Inzaghi will be happy with the start his team has made to the new season but will not allow complacency to settle in as they look to maintain their unbeaten record. Inter Milan to keep up their unbeaten record and get the win.
Torino 1/1 | Draw 85/40 | Genoa 14/5
Torino have a chance to recover from their heavy 4-1 defeat to AC Milan in their previous encounter. It will be back to the drawing boards for Ivan Juric as they look to get back to basics and produce a performance worthy of collecting maximum points in front of their home fans.
Genoa picked up maximum points against title contenders Lazio which will boost their confidence coming into this fixture. Alberto Gilardino will hope to continue with this momentum and take the right steps towards consistency as they look to make back-to-back wins. Genoa to get the win.
Empoli 4/1 | Draw 11/4 | Juventus 5/8
Empoli are winless coming into this fixture and have conceded three goals while failing to score a single goal from open play this season. The home fans will need to come in numbers to get behind their team with the hopes of pulling off an upset against the mighty Juventus.
It was not the usual easy pickings for Juventus as Dusan Vlahovic equalised late on to pick up a point in the 1-1 draw with Bologna. Juventus will look to take advantage of the situation Empoli find themselves in and pick up their second win of the campaign. Juventus for the win.
Lecce 20/21 | Draw 9/4 | Salernitana 14/5
Salernitana picked up a much-needed point in their previous game making it two draws from two fixtures so far. Focus and teamwork can go a long way and coach Paulo Sousa will encourage his players to play without fear and attack the game with maximum points being the priority.
Lecce stuck to their gameplan and were rewarded with a well-deserved point against Fiorentina. Zambia international Lameck Banda who picked up two assists in the previous game will need to deliver once again in the final third to help his team clinch three points and remain unbeaten. Lecce will be brave at home and will look to pick up their second win of the season, Lecce to win
