Midweek Madness in Italy’s Serie A

It’s a swift return to action for teams in Italy as a wave of midweek fixtures washes over them as the winter break steadily approaches.

Serie A 2018/19

September 25^th – 27^th 2018

Inter Milan vs Fiorentina – San Siro, Milan



Internazionale followed up an impressive come-from-behind 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday by beating Sampdoria 1-0 in Serie A action on Sunday, just their second domestic win on the campaign, to lift themselves into ninth place on the table and within three points of this weekend’s opponents.

Fiorentina are flying high ahead of their trip to the San Siro, having won three of their opening five fixtures to occupy third spot on the log. Stefano Pioli’s side snapped a two-game winless run by beating SPAL 3-0 on Saturday.

L Viola have not won away at Inter since September 2015, with Luciano Spaletti’s men winning the last two including a 3-0 victory for the home side in the corresponding fixture last season, with Mauro Icardi bagging a brace, replicating his brilliant performance from 2016/17. Add to that the hat-trick he scored in a dramatic 5-4 defeat away from home for the Nezazzurri in the reverse fixture last year, it means the Argentinian forward has netted a total of 10 goals against Fiorentina in just nine matches. He is still yet to get off the mark however in five appearances in all competitions so far this season.
 


Juventus vs Bologna – Allianz Stadium, Turin

A real mismatch sees Serie A table-toppers Juventus put their 100% record on the line when they host Bologna who are languishing down in 18^th place. Cristiano Ronaldo capped off turbulent week, in which he was sent off in the Champions League as Juve were held by Valencia, by scoring a vital late goal away to Frosinone - his third in two matches – to help seal all three points.

Bologna started the season off poorly, picking up just one point from their opening four matches, but finally secured their first win against Roma last time out with Federico Mattiello and Federico Santander’s goals, Bologna’s first of the current campaign, capping off a fine team performance.

The Old Lady are unbeaten in their last 12 league matches against Bologna, since February 2011, winning nine and drawing the other three. Juventus have scored three goals in each of their last four matches against l Rossoblu, including a 3-1 win in the corresponding fixture last season.

Spal vs Sassuolo – Stadio Paolo Mazza, Ferrara



Two teams exceeding early expectations so far in 2018/19, SPAL and Sassuolo who sit 4^th and 6^th respectively, will clash in anticipated encounter. SPAL suffered their second defeat in their last three matches away to Fiorentina however could maintain their perfect home record, and potentially rise as high as second place, with all three points on Thursday.

Sassuolo bounced back from their first defeat of the season away to Juventus a fortnight ago by convincingly overturning Empoli 3-1 on Friday night to keep the pressure on the leaders. The Neroverdi are the leading scorers so far this season having netted 12 times in their opening five fixtures.

This will be just the third top-flight meeting between the duo. Sassuolo are unbeaten in two matches having won this fixture 1-0 last season thanks to Matteo Politano’s goal in the opening minute of the game, before playing out to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in March.



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