Serie A, Round 20: Seedorf gets off to a winning start at AC Milan

Milan began positively and some flowing passing managed to carve out an opportunity within two minutes but Robinho’s turn-and-shot was weak and Rafael easily gathered.

A minute later and Milan had another good opportunity, Kaká meekly heading Keisuke Honda’s cross wide from close range.

It’s a rare win for Genoa against Inter and one they’ll certainly be celebrating tonight. But Mazzarri’s woes continue, with nerazzurri still looking for a win in 2014. With just one win in their last eight matches, how long until Interisti get fed up?

Genoa (3-4-3): Perin; Antonini, De Maio, Marchese; Vrsaljko, Sturaro (De Ceglie 72’), Cofie, Antonelli; Bertolacci, Gilardino, Feftatzidis (76’)

Berisha made a hash out of clearing his lines and Di Natale almost pounced on the error by challenging for a header. Luckily for Berisha, play was called back for a foul by the forward.

Udinese came back to life five minutes before the break. Michael Ciani ran across the box to pick Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu’s pocket and prevent a clear run on goal. Maicousel latched onto a defence splitting ball to get the better of the Lazio defence, but he stabbed wide when left one-on-one with Berisha.

Milan injuries and suspensions

Verona injuries and suspensions

Gasperini was known for his attacking 3-4-3 formation, a tactic that allows his teams to score frequently, but also makes them susceptible to conceding. He’s become a little more conservative, however, and Genoa haven’t often let more than two goals slip through. But with the amount of shots the opposition take on goal, it was only a matter of time before the rossoblu lost heavily - exactly what happened last week, when they fell 4-0 to Roma.

Gasperini may alter his approach slightly after last week’s defeat, but it is Walter Mazzarri that must make real changes, in order to shake up his Inter side. But will he? Mazzarri isn’t really known for mixing things up. Inter will use the same 3-5-1-1 formation they’ve been using the whole season, with the nerazzurri looking for goals on the break. Their counterattacks haven’t been very effective lately, but it’s highly unlikely Mazzarri will give up on his trusted tactic.

Rafael Benítez’s outfit have strung together a couple of victories to move within two points of second-placed Roma, and though their recent performances have been far from spectacular, the partenopei are very much in the hunt to be the best of the rest in Serie A. Unfortunately the actual title race seems to be as good as over already.

Bologna injuries and suspensions

Antonio Conte’s side retained their eight point lead at the top of Serie A by coming out on top in this six goal thriller at the Juventus Stadium. Samp had completed the league double over the reigning champions last season, but this time around the tables have been turned.

The home side took the lead on 18 minutes. Pogba’s disguised pass found Vidal, who used the outside of his boot to flick the ball past Da Costa.

The Giallorossi opened the scoring on six minutes from their very first attack. Gervinho - despite being in a borderline offside position, dummied Ljajic’s cross, allowing Destro to blast the ball in from the goal-line.

Four minutes before the break, Gervinho missed an open goal after he sent a diving header wide. Destro had an effort chalked off right on half time. The forward had finished a flowing move from the edge of the box, but play was called back for Castan being in an offside position and for obstructing Bardi’s view as he jumped over the ball. Roma didn’t relent. In stoppages, Ceccherini cleared off the line and Strootman blasted wide from outside the box.

Roma won the reverse fixture 2-0 back on the opening day of the season.

AS Roma injuries and suspensions

3 p.m. CET; 9 a.m. ET at Atleti Azzurri d’Italia

Both sides sit on 21 points, and both sides have consistent methods for winning those points. For the visitors, it’s draw, draw, draw: Cagliari have nine draws in nineteen matches, the most in Serie A, and were on a seven match unbeaten run until Juve showed up to spoil the party. As for Atalanta, they’re nearly unbeatable at home, with only Fiorentina and Juve doing the deed. Seriously, why do we let Juventus play again?

3 p.m. CET; 9 a.m. ET at Stadio Città del Tricolore

Sassuolo are fresh off a fabulous victory over Milan last weekend, but they might have planned things better - allowing Domenico Berardi to grab four goals while the January window is still open might mean they see him snatched away. But for now, the neroverdi will simply be hoping the teenager might get just one. Safety would taste so much sweeter if Sassuolo were more than a point above the drop. But Torino’s steadiness means it’s likely the most Sassuolo can hope for is a point.