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The 16th Serie A matchday kicks off Sunday with Lecce vs Monza. Since Marco Giampaolo took charge, Lecce, currently 16th with 13 points, has earned four points from three games (a 1-0 win over Venezia, a last-minute 1-1 draw against Juventus, and a 4-1 defeat to Roma at the Olimpico). Meanwhile, Monza, led by Alessandro Nesta, is in crisis, winless since October 21 when they defeated Hellas Verona 3-0. With three draws and four losses in their last seven matches, Monza sits second from bottom with just 10 points.
A balanced clash is expected at the Dall’Ara in the Appennine Derby between Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna and Raffaele Palladino’s Fiorentina. Bologna’s coach aims to break Fiorentina’s streak of eight consecutive wins. The Viola, sitting fourth with 31 points—tied with Inter and Lazio—are enjoying an excellent season. Bologna, in good form, has collected three wins, one draw, and one loss in its last five games. In the past 20 head-to-head matches, Fiorentina has won 11 times, with Bologna claiming three wins and six draws. Last season, Bologna won 2-0 at home with goals from Orsolini and Odgaard.
Expect high tension in the Parma vs Hellas Verona clash. Fabio Pecchia’s Parma has won twice in its last five matches (against Venezia away and Lazio at home), followed by three defeats (against Genoa, Atalanta, and Inter). Parma sits 13th with 15 points. Hellas Verona is enduring a nightmare season with four straight defeats and the league's worst defense (37 goals conceded). Paolo Zanetti’s team, level with Como on 12 points, is third from bottom.
Claudio Ranieri’s Roma heads to Sinigaglia to face Como, hoping to build on a 4-1 win over Lecce that snapped a four-game losing streak. Despite being 11th with 16 points, Dybala and his teammates are determined to climb the table. Como, coached by Cesc Fabregas, is winless since September 29, managing four draws and five losses since then.
After a tough loss to Atalanta, Paulo Fonseca’s Milan is eager for redemption as they host Genoa. The Rossoblù, revitalized under Patrick Vieira, have earned five points in their last three games. Milan is chasing its fifth home win, while Genoa, with three away wins and three defeats, has yet to draw on the road.
The matchday concludes with a blockbuster showdown between Lazio and Inter on Monday night. Both teams are in great form. Marco Baroni’s Lazio rebounded from a defeat at Parma that ended a five-match winning streak by beating leaders Napoli at the Maradona Stadium. With 31 points, tied with Inter, Lazio is just three points behind new league leaders Atalanta (34 points).
Simone Inzaghi’s Inter has been unbeaten since their September 22 derby loss to Milan, winning seven games and drawing two. The Nerazzurri defeated Lazio 2-0 at the Olimpico last season, with goals from Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram on December 17, 2023.
