Atalanta vs Sampdoria
Gewis Stadium, Bergamo
Saturday, 24-10-2020 @4pm
Atalanta got right back on track in the Champions League midweek, but risk fatigue against a Sampdoria side that is fresh from humiliating Lazio.
La Dea hope that the 4-1 defeat to Napoli was just a blip, as they shook it off to immediately thump Midtjylland 4-0 in Denmark on Wednesday evening. Some squad rotation is expected, although Ruslan Malinovskyi is not at 100 per cent.
Samp already achieved a couple of shock results by beating Lazio 3-0 and Fiorentina 2-1, so will be determined to add another scalp. Keita Balde Diao is likely to get his first start partnering Fabio Quagliarella upfront.
These teams haven’t played a top flight draw in Bergamo since March 2013, followed by four home wins and three for the visitors.
Genoa vs Inter Milan
Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Saturday, 24-10-2020 @7pm
Inter have been stuttering in both Serie A and the Champions League lately, while Genoa are slowly recovering from their COVID-19 outbreak.
These two clubs have suffered more from the virus than any other lately, with the exception of Parma, as the Grifone had to postpone their match with Torino after 17 players and five members of staff tested positive, while Achraf Hakimi was the latest Nerazzurri man to contract Coronavirus just hours before the 2-2 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday.
Because of this situation, it’s difficult to predict who will be fit enough to start on Saturday and what form they will be in.
Genoa had their first match since the outbreak, a dismal draw with Verona, but ex-Inter striker Goran Pandev will be fired up.
Inter have won their last four Serie A meetings with Genoa, scoring 16 goals and conceding zero. The last time they beat a single opponent five times in a row with clean sheets was Atalanta from 1951-53.
Lazio vs Genoa
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Saturday, 24-10-2020 @9:45pm
Lazio are fresh from a convincing display in Europe and aim to bounce back from a poor start in Serie A when Bologna arrive at the Olimpico on Saturday night.
Ciro Immobile should return to the starting line-up after his suspension in the surprising 3-0 defeat to Sampdoria last time and could be paired with Vedat Muriqi from the first minute for the first time.
The Aquile, who needed some time to get going in 2019-20 as well, are expected to fight at the top of Serie A this season, but after a run of three games without a win, the alarm bells have started ringing at Formello.
Simone Inzaghi’s men were back in their best shape against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday and hope the impressive performance can translate to the League this weekend.
Senad Lulic, Stefan Radu and new boy Andreas Pereira are uncertain for the match, as Patric, Luiz Felipe and Acerbi are expected to start, as Pepe Reina could take place in goal for the Biancocelesti.
Luis Alberto and Lucas Leiva seem set for a place in the middle, as Akpa Akpro could keep Sergej Milinkovic-Savic out.
Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men arrive with a host of players out, as Mitchel Dijks, Gary Medel, Andrea Poli, Andreas Skov Olsen and Lorenzo De Silvestri are all struggling, and the confidence at the Rossoblu is low with only three points on the board from four games.
The convincing 4-1 win over Parma in Serie A Week 2 seems a long time ago, as they lost away to newly promoted Benevento and Sassuolo got away from the Renato Dall’Ara with a 4-3-win last time.
Bologna haven’t won in 14 games against Lazio, the last time was in a 3-1 win at the Olimpico on March 11, 2012.
Upcoming Serie A games
Sunday, 25-10-2020
-Cagliari vs Crotone @2:30pm
-Benevento vs Napoli @5pm
-Parma vs Spezia @5pm
-Fiorentina vs Udinese @8pm
-Juventus vs Hellas Verona @10:15pm
Monday, 26-10-2020
-AC Milan vs AS Roma @9:45pm
Results so far
-Sassuolo 3-3 Torino
