Serie A Matchday 6: Who plays who, when and where?

SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER

Spezia v Lazio
Orogel Stadium, 15:00 CET

Spezia have defied the odds so far, losing just one of their last six in Serie A - and that was to champions Juventus - and are unbeaten in their last three (W1, D2), despite missing nine first team players through injury.

A 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League leaves Lazio needing just a point to progress to the knockouts, but their league form has been inconsistent - as reflected in their ninth-place position right now - and the 3-1 defeat at home to struggling Udinese last Sunday won't have helped.

Juventus v Torino
Allianz Stadium, 18:00 CET

Juventus have lost just one of their last 28 Serie A matches against Torino (W21, D6) and will be eyeing yet another Derby della Mole victory on Saturday, buoyed by the midweek return of Leonardo Bonucci from injury as Juve swept past Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League.

As for the visitors, they are up against it to improve on that derby record having gone six games without a league win (D3, L3), but will have Andrea Belotti to call upon after the Torino skipper shook off a midweek knock.

Inter Milan v Bologna
Giuseppe Meazza, 20:45 CET

It’s been an important week for Inter who kept their Champions League knockout stage hopes alive with a dramatic 3-2 victory at Borussia Mönchengladbach to make it three wins on the bounce in all competitions, during which they’ve scored 10 times and seen Romelu Lukaku bag four.

One-time Inter player Sinisa MIhajlovic takes his Bologna team to Milan on the back of two consecutive league wins and in the knowledge that his team have won two of their last three trips to the Giuseppe Meazza, although this time they will have to make do without the injured Riccardo Orsolini.

SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER

Hellas Verona v Cagliari
Marcantonio Bentegodi, 12:30 CEST

Despite missing Marco Benassi, Koray Gunter, Nikola Kalinic, Darko Lazovic, Giangiacomo Magnani, Kevin Ruegg and Ronaldo Vieira, Verona earned an excellent 2-0 win at Atalanta on Matchday 9 to move seventh courtesy of goals from Miguel Veloso and Mattia Zaccagni.

Having won three of their previous four, Cagliari are now two without victory in Serie A and have struggled with a spate of positive coronavirus cases as first Diego Godin, then Nahitan Nandez and this week Adam Ounas all contracted the virus.

Parma v Benevento
Ennio Tardini, 15:00 CET

Forma Roma man Gervinho’s brace at Genoa delivered a much-needed end to a five-game winless run for Parma, three points that midfielder Juraj Kucka said brought the “spark” back to the club as they moved exactly that distance clear of the relegation zone.

Gaetano Letizia’s strike on the stroke of half time gave Benevento a fine 1-1 draw with Juve on Saturday, but that game came at a cost for defender Luca Caldirola who was forced off through injury that this week required surgery on his knee that will keep the 29-year-old out of action for at least two months.

Roma v Sassuolo
Stadio Olimpico, 58:00 CET

Roma quickly put to bed the disappointment of the defeat to Napoli by seeing off Young Boys and win Group A in the Europa League on Thursday, but Gianluca Mancini and Chris Smalling are likely to remain absent through injury.

Like the Giallorossi, Sassuolo have made a superb start to the campaign but suffered a chastening defeat of their own as Inter romped past them on MD9 and they will be hoping top-scorer Francesco Caputo is fit enough to feature having returned to training this week.

Udinese v Atalanta
Stadio Friuli, 15:00 CET

Having lost five of their first six matchdays, Udinese are now unbeaten in their last three and have won each of their last two in Serie A but after somehow managing to stay coronavirus free up until last week, they lost coach Luca Gotti and six first team players on the eve of that 3-1 win at Lazio.

Atalanta missed the chance to seal Champions League qualification from Group D on Tuesday - albeit, their 1-1 draw with FC Midtjylland does mean they are just a point away from reaching the knockouts - and they’re league form has suffered recently as La Dea currently stand three games without a win (D2, L1).

Crotone v Napoli
Ezio Scida, 18:00 CET

Crotone are firmly rooted to the bottom of the Serie A table with just two draws and seven defeats to show from their first nine matches, while they haven’t scored in three games and are rapidly descending back into Serie B.

Napoli paid tribute to Diego Maradona in their victory over the Giallorossi at the San Paolo last weekend and they will be pleased to have Tiemoue Bakayoko back from his league suspension, while record-signing Victor Osimhen is getting closer to a return from his dislocated shoulder and could make the matchday squad.

Sampdoria v AC Milan
Luigi Ferraris, 20:45 CEST

La Samp are now four without a win in Serie A; stuttering after what was an impressive opening to the campaign as they go in search of only a second home win of 2020-21 against the current league leaders.

Milan have been exceptional as they’ve claimed seven wins and two draws from nine unbeaten league games so far and have a five point lead at the top of the Serie A table ahead of their trip to the Luigi Ferraris which sees Ismael Bennacer back in contention after injury.

MONDAY 7 DECEMBER

Fiorentina v Genoa
Artemio Franchi, 20:45 CET

La Viola have won just one of their last nine against Genoa and after three losses from their previous four without picking up three points in the league, they are currently on a slippery slope towards the relegation places, which they could drop into with defeat on Monday night.

Genoa’s form has been woeful since their MD1 win over Crotone, losing six times and drawing twice since then and coach Rolando Maran will be feeling the pressure with his side sitting second-bottom in the table.