Serie A Preview: Week 12

Week 12 is upon us and the league table is beginning to take shape.  League leaders Napoli remain unbeaten domestically and you’d expect that to continue given they face a mid table Chievo side this Sunday.  After another European defeat their champions league hopes hang by a thread and so a return to Serie A action will be welcomed by all those associated with the club.

Inter will be keen to remain on the heels of the Partenopei and will be confident of taking all 3 points versus what has been an inconsistent Torino side thus far.  Joao Mario and Marcelo Brozovic both return to fitness and all eyes will be on Luciano Spalletti as the Inter boss has some difficult decisions to make.

Juventus currently occupy third spot and were made to work hard for their point in Lisbon midweek.  Serie A whipping boys Benevento will be in town and so its difficult to see anything other than a Juventus victory.  Given the opposition, its thought that Allegri may opt to rotate his squad and the likes of Douglas Costa and Federico Bernardeschi could be given the nod from the start.

Fresh off the back of an outstanding 3-0 victory over English champions Chelsea, Roma travel to Florence and could find this one extremely difficult.  Both sides have been in good form of late but the Giallarossi will be keen not to lose ground on the leading pack of clubs.  Stephan El Shaarawy has been in fine form of late and is certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Lazio welcome Udinese to the Stadio Olimpico and with the Derby della Capitale just around the corner they’ll be keen to keep up their impressive form.  They have won nine consecutive games and given Udinese’s lousy record against Lazio in recent years I expect Ciro Immobile and friends to continue their outstanding run.

Vincenzo Montella’s Milan travel to Sassuolo.  With his job hanging by a thread failing to claim all three points would be a catastrophe.  Sassuolo are without several players but given Milan’s current predicament they will feel they can get something out of this encounter.  Both sides are desperate for points as Milan’s hopes of a European place start to fade and Sassuolo hover dangerously above the drop zone.

Elsewhere:

Atalanta vs SPAL, Bologna vs Crotone, Cagliari vs Verona and Genoa vs Sampdoria