Serie A: Juve-Lazio and Roma-Inter headline big matches

The eighth round of Serie A promises excitement, with high-stakes clashes at the top of the table as well as in the relegation battle. The weekend kicks off on Saturday at 3 PM with Como vs Parma, two newly promoted teams, and Genoa vs Bologna.

Looking at the first match, Fabregas’ team seems to be in better form, showing improvement in their style of play despite the recent loss to Napoli. On the other hand, Pecchia will have to contend with players returning from international duty and limited time to prepare for a crucial match. Pecchia, the coach from Lenola, also faces his former team, having played for Como during their last season in Serie A. Meanwhile, Cerri will look to cause trouble for Parma again, having done so in the past. As for Genoa-Bologna, the current standings make it a vital match as Gilardino’s Genoa desperately needs points to climb out of their crisis. The same goes for Vincenzo Italiano, who has yet to win over the hearts of Bologna fans.

Saturday wraps up with Milan vs Udinese: the Rossoneri seek redemption after a loss to Fiorentina, while Udinese aims to continue being the surprise of the season so far. Then there’s Juventus vs Lazio in the evening: Motta will have to make do with key absences, particularly from midfield onwards. On the other side, Baroni looks to keep the positive momentum he’s built in his early months with Lazio. Juventus remains unbeaten in the league, but Zaccagni and his teammates will try to be the first to change that and make a statement at the top of the table.

The most intriguing match of the weekend is Sunday’s 12:30 PM clash between Empoli and Napoli. Not so much for the on-field dynamics, but for the connection between D’Aversa and Conte. The two have been close friends since their time at Siena, with Conte even being the godfather to one of D’Aversa’s daughters. A special bond, but for 90 minutes, they’ll be rivals. Another highlight of the weekend is Roma vs Inter, with Dybala ready to return to the pitch after recent injuries. Interestingly, he could have been playing for Inter, as Marotta had shown interest in signing him in the past.

In between, we have Lecce vs Fiorentina, a special match for Corvino (now Lecce’s director, with a storied past at Fiorentina), followed by Venezia vs Atalanta and Cagliari vs Torino. The matchweek concludes on Monday with Verona taking on Monza.