18 points – that’s Napoli’s lead at the top of the Serie A standings. After losing to Lazio a week ago, Luciano Spalletti’s team beat Atalanta with ease, giving another lesson in modern football. For Napoli’s super striker Victor Osimhen, it was the second game in a row that he failed to score, a detail that annoyed the Nigerian terribly, who had a nervous outburst when he was substituted. Instead, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia did his job again. An avowed fan of FC Barcelona, where he dreams of eventually joining, the Georgian is Real Madrid’s number one target. The European champions are willing to pay €100 million in the summer to secure the services of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. For the player, who joined Italy last year from Dinamo Batumi, it will be a hot and interesting summer. Until then, however, Kvaratskhelia is determined to make history with Napoli, who is ever closer to his first title after a 33-year break. Napoli plays away to carefree Torino this round – 8th place with 37 points.
At the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, Inter – with two defeats in the last three rounds – is visited by Juventus Torino, who lost by 15 points. Without the drop, Juventus Torino would have been in seventh place with 38 points and in second place in Serie A!
The Stadio Olimpico in Rome is the venue this weekend for the 196th episode of the Derby della Capitale! Lazio, the host this time, and Roma are in a direct battle for a Champions League place. Lazio is coming off four wins and a draw in the last five league games, while Roma is not doing too well, two defeats in the last three games.
Four wins for Lazio, four wins for Roma, plus three draws, this is the record of the last 11 direct matches between the two great rivals. Roma’s last win as guests came on 4 December 2016.
Neighbours with the same points tally of 33, Fiorentina and Sassuolo are the only Serie A sides to have won three of their last three games
Fiorentina will play this weekend at home to Lecce, 15th place with 27 points, who in the last three rounds have also recorded three defeats.
Sassuolo plays this weekend at home to Spezia, a team undefeated in three rounds; two wins and a draw.
Verona, Cremonese and Sampdoria, in the three relegation places, seem to be moving away from the top, in which conditions victory in this round is mandatory. While Cremonese will play at Monza – 12th place with 33 points, Verona and Sampdoria will face each other directly in a six-point clash! The match will be played at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. In their last seven away trips to Sampdoria, Verona have only managed one point!
