After Italy’s disappointing showings over the international break, Serie A returns for Week 4 of the season.
Even though it’s early in the season there’s plenty of intrigue, with every team bar Juventus having dropped points.
Likely Capocannoniere contenders Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Mauro Icardi are all yet to score, with Krzysztof Piątek and Marco Benassi currently leading the way.
Here’s what to look out for in Week 4 of Serie A.
After Italy’s disappointing showings over the international break, Serie A returns for Week 4 of the season.
Even though it’s early in the season there’s plenty of intrigue, with every team bar Juventus having dropped points.
Likely Capocannoniere contenders Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Mauro Icardi are all yet to score, with Krzysztof Piątek and Marco Benassi currently leading the way.
Here’s what to look out for in Week 4 of Serie A.
Inter look to consolidate
The international break arguably came at the wrong time for Inter, with Luciano Spalletti’s men winning their first Serie A match of the season in Week 3.
An impressive 3-0 win at Bologna should have provided momentum, but that was interrupted by the first break of the season.
The weekend kicks off with the Nerazzurri facing Parma, and dreams of a Scudetto challenge would fade if they fail to win.
History is on their side though, as Parma have won only one Serie A match against Inter at San Siro, a 3-1 win 19 years ago.
Click here to read our Inter-Parma preview
Napoli out for revenge
Napoli amassed 91 points last season and still failed to win the Scudetto, and Fiorentina had a huge role to play in that.
The 3-0 loss at the Stadio Artemio Franchi effectively handed the title to Juventus, with Maurizio Sarri admitting his squad was affected by watching the Old Lady triumph at Inter the night before.
In the end the Partenopei missed out by four points, and they dropped five to the Viola last season, failing to even score a goal against the Tuscan outfit.
Carlo Ancelotti’s reign started with two comeback wins, but a defeat at Sampdoria in Week 3 piles even more pressure on this match.
Midfielder Allan has confirmed he and his teammates are seeking revenge, though a dispute over ticket prices means they’ll be doing so in front of an almost empty San Paolo.
Click here to read our Napoli-Fiorentina preview
Can Roma fight on two fronts?
Roma’s summer transfer campaign was all about adding depth to the squad, as last season’s run to the Champions League semi-final was matched with a third-place finish in Serie A.
Eusebio Di Francesco’s side make their European bow at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night, but they can’t afford to take Chievo lightly.
The Giallorossi have already dropped four points this season, and criticism of the club will only intensify if they fail to defeat the Flying Donkeys.
Di Francesco will surely make changes ahead of Real Madrid, and this is exactly the kind of game the summer was supposed to address.
Click here to read our Roma-Chievo preview
Sassuolo try to prove a point
Much to their chagrin, Sassuolo have been nicknamed ‘Scansuolo’ by a section of Serie A fans for their repeated defeats to Juventus.
The verb ‘scansare’ translates as ‘to sidestep’ or ‘to get out of the way’, and the Neroverdi have been accused of failing to offer any resistance to the Old Lady.
CEO Giovanni Carnevali admitted this week that the jokes irritate him, and with seven points from a possible nine the Emilian side are in great shape as they head to Turin.
Beating Juve in their own backyard is a tall order, but Sassuolo have a point to prove and will want to at least put up a fight.
Click here to read our Juventus-Sassuolo preview
Tough test for Torino
Torino spent around €60m on new players this summer, and are very much targeting a place in the Europa League.
After a solid but unspectacular start to the season, they travel to face Udinese on Sunday afternoon for the kind of match they really should be winning if their European ambitions are serious.
Coach Walter Mazzarri could pair Andrea Belotti with Simone Zaza, and if those two can click then the Granata really could have the firepower to challenge for a top six place.
Click here to read our Udinese-Torino preview