The Serie A title race is opening up after defeats for both Napoli (3-2 at Inter Milan) and AC Milan (4-3 at Fiorentina) and the top two will be looking to respond in home matches this weekend.
Napoli are taking on Lazio, while Milan host Sassuolo, who were 2-1 winners at the San Siro in April this year.
Any slip-ups could present an opportunity to third-placed Inter, who head to Venezia with the aim of extending an eight-match unbeaten run.
Injury List Could Hamper Napoli
Napoli’s strong start to the season raised hopes of a first Scudetto since 1989-90 but Luciano Spalletti’s side took just one point from two games either side of the international break and they may struggle to justify 4/5 favouritism when facing Lazio at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Victor Osimhen has led the charge for Napoli with nine goals in all competitions but the Nigerian sustained a fractured cheekbone in last Sunday’s 3-2 loss at Inter and is not expected to return to the fray until well into next year.
Spalletti also has concerns over Italian international attacker Lorenzo Insigne, who missed Wednesday’s 2-1 Europa League loss away to Spartak Moscow with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, his options are further restricted by the absences of right-back Alessandro Zanoli, right winger Matteo Politano (both positive Covid-19 tests) and midfielder Andre Zambo Anguissa (muscle strain).
Under the circumstances it was no great surprise to see Napoli struggle against Spartak and they could be given a hard time by Lazio, who look overpriced 11/10 shots to take at least a point.
Lazio have been a little too inconsistent for the liking of their manager, Maurizio Sarri, but they have scored 25 goals in 13 league games and can make their mark at the weekend.
Deadly Dusan Can Fire Fiorentina to Victory
Serbian centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic is among the hottest properties in Serie A and the Fiorentina front man can help his club clinch an eighth league win of the season when they tackle erratic Empoli at Stadio Carlo Castellani.
The Viola have won seven of 13 league fixtures and Vlahovic has been their undoubted star man, scoring 11 times.
He notched twice in last Saturday’s 4-3 success at home to Milan and will be looking forward to locking horns with 12th-placed Empoli, who have shipped 25 goals and have the worst defensive record among the top 15 clubs.
Empoli have won four times on their travels, including a stunning 1-0 success at Juventus, but they have lost five of seven home fixtures and could be second best to Fiorentina, who look attractively priced at 21/20.
Juve to Erase Stamford Bridge Blues
Juventus suffered a heavy 4-0 loss at Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday but they have been recovering from their poor start to the Serie A season and can make it three league wins in a row by defeating Atalanta in Turin.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side were solid 2-0 winners at Lazio last weekend and still have plenty of time to take closer order in the title race.
They have kept successive Serie A clean sheets and solid defence can help them to justify 23/20 favouritism against fourth-placed Atalanta, who have the worst defensive record (17 conceded) among the top six.
*All odds correct at time of writing