Serie A has taken quite a strange turn of late. Just a few weeks ago Juventus dropped points to Sassuolo, and swiftly followed that up with a stunning defeat to Genoa. AS Roma, too, have begun to struggle having won only two of their last five matches. Meanwhile, Lazio and Sampdoria continue to look like two of the best sides in the league, and Parma are actually finally winning matches.
Serie A schedule and preview, Week 11: Napoli’s trip to Fiorentina headlines the round
An unpredictable season in Serie A should take more twists as the action returns on Saturday.
Gabriele Maltinti
Let’s hope this weekend’s round 11 sees the excitement of such unpredictability manifest itself once again. There are a handful of games worth keeping an eye on, starting with high-flying Samp’s clash with AC Milan at the Marassi on Saturday. Then, on Sunday, you can catch Juventus host struggling Parma, an underwhelming Fiorentina do battle with Napoli, and AS Roma’s matchup with Torino to round out the weekend’s action.
Serie A, Round 11 Fixtures
Saturday, November 8 at 6 p.m. local / 12 p.m. ET
Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore, Reggio Emilia
The round starts with one of the more underwhelming fixtures on the bill. Sassuolo have the potential to be a pretty fun team, but so far this season they’ve won only a couple, and scored only 10 goals. That makes it even more upsetting that they’re facing Atalanta, who currently sit just a couple of points above the relegation zone having scored just four times in their first 10 matches. That, unsurprisingly, is the worst attacking record in the division. Don’t expect this one to be a classic.
Saturday, November 8 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
However, Samp’s game at home to Milan should be rather more interesting. Siniša Mihajlović‘s outfit got back to winning ways on the back of a winless run of three matches last time out, when they downed Fiorentina 3-1. They’re now up in fourth place, and take on a Milan side currently down in seventh in Saturday’s late game -- though a win for the rossoneri would move them level on points with Samp in the table.
Sunday, November 9 at 12:30 p.m. local / 6:30 a.m. ET
Stadio Sant’Elia, Cagliari
This game has the potential to be one of the most surprisingly entertaining matches of the entire weekend. Cagliari, under the leadership of attacking madman Zdeněk Zeman, have scored 16 goals in their 10 games so far this season -- that’s as many as scudetto hopefuls Roma. However, they’ve conceded 16, too, and Gian Piero Gasperini’s high-flying Genoa, who have been one of the most overachieving teams in the league so far this season, will look to capitalise on the Sardinian side’s leaky defence.
Chievo Verona vs. Cesena
Sunday, November 9 at 3 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET
Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, Verona
Chievo Verona have already sacked one coach this season, and unless Rolando Maran can improve things fast, he could soon be getting the boot too. They sit rock bottom of the table having won just once so far, making this match against fellow strugglers Cesena an absolutely vital one. With points at a premium, a defeat would be costly for both sides.
Sunday, November 9 at 3 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET
Stadio Carlo Castellani, Empoli
Lazio made a poor start to the season under new coach Stefano Pioli, but he's now beginning to show why he was so highly rated during his time at Chievo and Bologna. His side have surged up into third place, and should be able to continue their hot streak away at Serie A newcomers Empoli on Sunday.
Sunday, November 9 at 3 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Parma finally ended their lengthy run without a win at home to Inter Milan in the last round, when former Juventus man Paolo De Ceglia netted a brace. He will go up against his former club in this match, and will once again have to spring a surprise if the Emilians are to pick up anything away at the league leaders -- Parma have never won at the Juventus Stadium before.
Sunday, November 9 at 3 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET
Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo
Three defeats in the last four abruptly ended Udinese’s great start to the new season, but Andrea Stramaccioni’s side can get back on track against a Palermo side enjoying something of a resurgence at present. After a disappointing start to the campaign, the Sicilian side have won three of their last four, and moved five points clear of the relegation zone.
Fiorentina vs. Napoli
Sunday, November 9 at 6 p.m. local / 12 p.m. ET
Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
Fiorentina have had a terrible start to the season, with their perpetually-injured strike duo of Giuseppe Rossi and Mario Gómez having forced coach Vincenzo Montella into putting faith in youngster Khouma Babacar up top. He's been pretty impressive, but the viola have still lacked a cutting edge, and have scored only 10 times so far this season. Alas, the mid-table outfit face an in-form Napoli on Sunday, with Rafa Benítez's side having bounced back from a poor start to the season with a handy seven-match unbeaten run. Expect them to extend that here.
Sunday, November 9 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 a.m. ET
San Siro, Milan
Inter Milan’s season has gone from bad to worse, with their defeat to Parma last weekend further ratcheting up the pressure on coach Walter Mazzarri. He really needs a win at home to mid-table Hellas Verona this weekend, particularly with Andrea Mandorlini’s side heading into this match on the back of a four game winless streak.
Sunday, November 9 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 a.m. ET
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
AS Roma head into the round three points in arrears of league leaders Juventus, and they’ll be looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing defeat to Napoli by beating Torino on Sunday. Toro haven’t had a great campaign so far, though they’re comfortably ensconced in mid-table after recovering from the loss of star players Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci in the summer.
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