The fourth week of the Serie A season promises an exciting lineup of matches this weekend, featuring several captivating encounters.
Among the highlights is the season`s inaugural Derby della Capitale, where Lazio and Roma will vie for supremacy at the Stadio Olimpico. Elsewhere, European aspirations collide as Fiorentina hosts Como. Udinese aims to extend its successful run against a formidable Milan side, while Ivan Juric makes a poignant return to his former club Torino, now at the helm of Atalanta.
Let`s delve into four compelling aspects to keep an eye on during this weekend`s fixtures.
High-stakes Return of the Derby della Capitale
The Rome derby is always a fiercely contested affair, but this particular clash carries an added layer of intrigue. Lazio enters the game following a challenging start to the season. After a lackluster performance against Como in their opener, they secured a decisive 4-0 victory over a struggling Verona. However, a subsequent 1-0 defeat at Sassuolo last weekend leaves the Biancocelesti with only three points from their first three matches.
Manager Maurizio Sarri, who rejoined the club in the summer, faced immediate hurdles due to a transfer embargo, limiting new signings to only those previously obligated from loan deals. Consequently, a victory against their bitter rivals presents a prime opportunity for Lazio to reignite their campaign and build crucial momentum.
For Roma, this marks new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini`s first derby. The Giallorossi made several noteworthy summer acquisitions and began the season strongly, only to suffer a surprising home loss to Torino last weekend. Their season commenced with a narrow 1-0 home win against Bologna, followed by another 1-0 away triumph over Pisa. Gasperini`s squad has shown defensive solidity, conceding just once, but has also struggled offensively with only two goals scored, contrasting with Lazio`s four goals scored and three conceded.
Udinese Challenges Allegri`s Milan
Udinese currently occupies an impressive third spot in Serie A, thanks to a strong start to their campaign. Under coach Kosta Runjaic, the team remains unbeaten after three fixtures. Their season kicked off with a 1-1 home draw against Verona, followed by an excellent 2-1 away victory at San Siro against Inter just before the international break. Last weekend, Runjaic`s men secured a hard-fought 1-0 win on the road against newly-promoted Pisa.
Next, Udinese welcomes Milan to the Bluenergy Stadium on Saturday evening. The Rossoneri trail their upcoming opponents by a single point, having experienced a disappointing opening game loss to Cremonese, which was then followed by consecutive wins against Lecce and Bologna.
Manager Massimiliano Allegri returned to the club in the summer, overseeing the arrival of key players such as Luka Modric, Samuele Ricci, and Christopher Nkunku. Modric, in particular, has made an immediate impact, quickly silencing critics who doubted his ability to compete at this level due to his age. However, the trip to Udine is expected to be a tough test for Allegri`s side, as Udinese`s recent victory over Inter serves as a clear warning against underestimating their opposition.
Juric`s Return to Torino and Lookman`s Status
On Sunday afternoon, Atalanta travels to face Torino, a match that sees La Dea`s head coach Ivan Juric come up against his former club. The Croatian managed Torino for three years, from 2021 to 2024, achieving respectable results during his tenure.
Fast forward to today, Juric was appointed Atalanta`s head coach this summer, succeeding Gian Piero Gasperini, who moved to Roma. Atalanta is the seventh Italian club Juric has coached, and he remains unbeaten in the league so far, despite somewhat disappointing draws against Pisa and Parma. A convincing 4-1 win against Lecce last weekend was followed by a heavy 4-0 defeat to PSG in midweek European action.
Another significant talking point is the potential involvement of Ademola Lookman for Atalanta, following his return to team training this week. The Nigerian forward had been training separately due to summer transfer speculation that saw him close to a move to Inter. However, the Nerazzurri failed to meet Atalanta`s valuation, leading to Lookman`s return to Bergamo. It is now crucial for him to refocus and demonstrate his capabilities. Lookman has been integral to Atalanta`s success in recent seasons, and with his contract expiring next summer, performing at his best this season is certainly in his interest.
European Hopefuls Clash in Florence
Another major fixture on Sunday features Cesc Fabregas` Como side journeying to Florence to take on Fiorentina.
Both teams harbor ambitions of qualifying for European football this season. Fiorentina is also preparing for its second consecutive Conference League campaign. For Fabregas` Como, securing a European spot is a significant dream, and a victory over Fiorentina would provide a substantial boost to their credentials.
Como`s season so far has seen one win, one draw, and one loss, placing them ninth in Serie A. The team from Lake Como impressed in their opening game victory against Lazio but struggled against Bologna and conceded a late equalizer to draw with Genoa on Monday night.
Fiorentina, conversely, has endured a difficult start under Stefano Pioli. To their credit, they had two additional matches at the beginning of the season, defeating Polissya over two legs to secure their place in the Conference League group stage. However, in Serie A, La Viola drew 1-1 with Cagliari in their first match, followed by a 0-0 draw at Torino and a 3-1 loss to Napoli last weekend.
Pioli is still seeking his first league win since returning to the club this summer. Similarly, star forward Moise Kean is yet to open his goal-scoring account for the campaign. Como`s visit could prove to be a crucial turning point if Fiorentina can secure all three points.
