Serie A schedule and preview, round 7: Inter vs. Napoli highlights the week

The international break has been put to rest and it’s time to get on with the business of calcio. Alas, the gods of Serie A have decided to start off the week with matters that should be routine, with Roma and Juventus playing sides that will barely put up a whimper of resistance.

Fortunately, Sunday’s games should make up for the drudgery of Saturday. Fiorentina and Lazio both have much to prove as they face off, Sampdoria is looking for their seventh in a row unbeaten, and Napoli’s visit to Inter has the potential for plenty of drama. Even Monday night’s clash between Genoa and Empoli could be a fun one.

6 p.m. local, 12 noon ET at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Serie A’s second-placed side goes up against a team that has just four points. Plus, Roma will be desperate to avenge the ghosts of last week, when Juventus edged a 3-2 victory that the giallorossi claim was beyond unfair. They’ll get their heads in order for this one.
Advantage: Roma. Duh.

8:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET at Juventus Stadium, Turin
Saturday’s top billing goes to the bianconeri, for some unknown reason. We’ve seen this script before. Juve beat up on bottom-dwellers Sassuolo. It’s hardly a match that requires watching.
Advantage: Juventus. Double duh.

12:30 p.m. local, 6:30 a.m. ET at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
This one’s being billed as a meeting of great importance but...let’s face it, with just nine points each, neither Fiorentina or Lazio are lighting up the league. But the viola will still be a bit high from beating Inter last week, particularly as they actually scored. With the 3-0 victory, they’ve now got five goals to their name.
Advantage: Fiorentina

3 p.m. local, 9 a.m. ET at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, Bergamo
17th, meet 18th. These teams should be better than they are. But until they shake off whatever ails, it’s almost painful to watch either side. Particularly considering Atalanta have scored a mere two goals.
Advantage: watching another match

3 p.m. local, 9 a.m. ET at the Stadio Sant’Elia, Cagliari
Come back from a three week vacation, look at the table, rub eyes. Sampdoria are in third?!? It wouldn’t be all that astonishing five years ago, but after a tough time last season, seeing Samp go unbeaten in six is quite remarkable. Meanwhile, Cagliari are likely starting to question the wisdom of bringing on Zdenek Zeman, as 15th place is starting to feel quite familiar.
Advantage: Sampdoria

3 p.m. local, 9 a.m. ET at the Bentegodi, Verona
Milan may be in fifth, but draws against newly-promoted Empoli and Cesena don’t exactly impress. Nor does a routine win over Chievo. They’ll need to dial it up against the other side of Verona, as it’s sure looking unlikely that a “wild card entry” will be added to the Champions League.
Advantage: Neither.

3 p.m. local, 9 a.m. ET at the Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo
Palermo have yet to win a game this season, but they won’t stop holding out hope that this just might be the week. They should be soothed by having to face another newly-promoted side in Cesena, holders of just one win themselves, but after their 3-0 loss at Empoli last week, the thought of the Seahorses likely doesn’t soothe their souls. Yet desperation, combined with a home-turf advantage, just may give the rosanero the edge.
Advantage: Palermo

3 p.m. local, 9 a.m. ET at the Stadio Olimpico, Turin
Udinese, under Andrea Stramaccioni, are right back up there in the European position -- the exact place where anyone that cares about the Serie A coefficient does not want them to be. Torino, meanwhile, are still struggling to overcome the loss of both Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci, having scored just four goals in their absence.
Advantage: Udinese

8:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET at the San Siro, Milan
By far the highlight of the Serie A week. Not only does this match pit two teams struggling to live up to expectations, but there’s a greater drama involved, in that the visiting Napoli could be the ones to shove Walter Mazzarri out the San Siro door, less than 18 months after he left them for the greener pastures of Milan. The football may not be fantastic, but the tension may make up for it.
Advantage: neutrals

8:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET at the Marassi, Genoa
Genoa pulled off a win against Parma last week, despite being down a man, while Empoli put in three unanswered at home to Palermo. Is it possible that Serie A have finally given us a fun Monday night match? Nah, probably not.
Advantage: Genoa