Inter Milan opened up a four-point gap at the top of the Serie A standings thanks to their 5-0 thrashing of Salernitana on Friday night, a result that has ramped up the pressure on I Nerazzurri’s title rivals.
Alexis Sanchez and Lautaro Martinez were among the goalscorers for Inter at the Arechi Stadium, as Simone Inzaghi’s side made it six wins on the spin in Serie A, while they have also gone five matches without conceding.
That intimidating run of form has certainly thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the title challengers in Serie A, with eight matches to come in the Italian top flight across Saturday and Sunday.
Title Rivals Set for Sunday Showdown at San Siro
Inter’s work may be done for the weekend, but their title rivals AC Milan and Napoli still have plenty to do, as the duo will meet at the San Siro on Sunday evening in what promises to be a blockbuster contest.
Both sides enjoyed near perfect starts to the season, winning 10 and drawing one of their opening 11 games, but since then the wheels have come off slightly, with Milan having won just two of their last six, while Napoli have picked up a solitary point from their last three games.
Those recent slips leave Milan second in the standings, three points clear of Napoli in fourth, and it is the Rossoneri, who have seemingly returned to form over recent weeks, taking seven points from a possible nine, that look best placed to secure the spoils on Sunday.
Stefano Pioli’s men have won six of their eight home matches in Serie A to date this season and they are priced at 13/10 to prevail against a Napoli side that are without a win in three on the road across all competitions.
I Viola to Underline Top-Four Credentials
A run of three successive victories has lifted Fiorentina up to fifth in the standings and within touching distance of the top four, as Vincenzo Italiano’s side appear to be emerging as genuine Champions League contenders.
There are two main reasons for I Viola’s rise, one is the goals of Dusan Vlahovic, who is the leading scorer in the division with 15, while the other is their impressive home form that has seen them win five on the spin at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
That record will be put to the test by visiting Sassuolo on Sunday, as I Neroverdi are themselves unbeaten in five and have won away at both Juventus and AC Milan this season.
However, Fiorentina are flying at the moment, so the home win looks a tempting option at 10/11, while the in-form Vlahovic, who has notched an eye-watering 10 goals across his last seven Serie A matches, can be backed at 5/6 to be an anytime scorer.
Empoli to Maintain Impressive Form
Last season’s Serie B champions Empoli were tipped to struggle upon their return to the top flight, but Aurelio Andreazzoli’s side are doing anything but, as they are currently riding high in the top half of the standings following a four-match unbeaten run.
That sequence gets more impressive when going back a little further, as Empoli have lost just once in nine matches across all competitions and have won four of their last five.
Gli Azzurri will have every hope of extending that eye-catching run when they visit Spezia, as Sunday’s hosts have taken just one point from their last five in Serie A and were dumped out of the Coppa Italia on home soil during the week by Serie B outfit Lecce.
Spezia are sleepwalking towards the relegation zone as it stands and Empoli look well placed to inflict further misery on Thiago Motta’s side, with the away win priced at 6/4.
*All odds correct at time of writing