Serie A returns in midweek, with newly-promoted Empoli kicking off round four at home to AC Milan on Tuesday. However, the majority of the week's action takes place on Wednesday, when scudetto favourites Juventus and AS Roma will take to the field to play Cesena and Parma respectively. The curtain comes down on the round on Thursday, with Lazio welcoming Udinese to the capital.
Serie A preview, Week 4: Midweek fun on the peninsula
Serie A’s round four is a bonus midweek bonanza!
Giuseppe Bellini
Serie A, Round 4 Fixtures
Empoli vs. AC Milan
Tuesday, September 23 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
Stadio Carlo Castellani, Empoli
On paper Empoli are the weakest squad in Serie A, and they’ve done little to suggest otherwise since their return to the top flight. They have picked up just a point from their opening three games, and it’s tough to see them taking anything from AC Milan here. The rossoneri wil be looking to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Juventus on the weekend.
Wednesday, September 24 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
Stadio Is Arenas, Cagliari
Cagliari and Torino have had very underwhelming starts to the season, with both sitting on a single point after three games. The pressure will seriously start to mount on the side that loses here.
Fiorentina vs. Sassuolo
Wednesday, September 24 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
Sassuolo have picked up just a couple of points from their first three games, and have suffered the embarrassment of a 7-0 hammering away at Inter Milan. Fortunately for them, they go up against a Fiorentina side shorn of its two best strikers here, but the hosts should still pick up all three points.
Hellas Verona vs. Genoa
Wednesday, September 24 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, Verona
So far Hellas Verona have made a mockery of suggestions of second-season syndrome. The mastini sit third in the table, and are still unbeaten after three games. They face a Genoa side that has had a mixed start to the season, with a win, a draw and a loss for the grifone to date.
Inter Milan vs. Atalanta
Wednesday, September 24 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
San Siro, Milan
Inter are still unbeaten this season, though their underwhelming draw at Palermo on the weekend showed they've still got plenty of work to do before becoming serious scudetto contenders. They go up against a solid Atalanta side on Wednesday, with Stefano Colantuono's team having amassed four points from their first three games.
Juventus vs. Cesena
Wednesday, September 24 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Juventus may have lost Antonio Conte and gained Max Allegri, but that hasn't stopped them looking totally dominant in their first three games. Expect them to wipe the floor with newly-promoted Cesena here.
Napoli vs. Palermo
Wednesday, September 24 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
Stadio San Paolo, Napoli
Napoli are already out of the Champions League, and unless they improve their form fast, they’ll be out of the scudetto race too. Rafael Benítez’s side have lost two on the bounce in Serie A, though they should still beat a winless Palermo at home.
Parma vs. AS Roma
Wednesday, September 24 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma
Parma came from behind to beat Chievo in the last round, scoring their first points of the season in the process. However, while they’re famously good against the big teams, don’t expect them to take anything from an in-form Roma.
Wednesday, September 24 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Sampdoria are unbeaten so far this season, though they have only won one of their opening three games. Still, that’s good enough to ensure they’re strong favourites heading into their meeting with Chievo, who have lost two of their opening three.
Lazio vs. Udinese
Thursday, September 24 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The round comes to a close on Thursday, when Lazio host Udinese. Form suggests the visitors are the favourites, though neither of these sides have greatly impressed so far this season. Expect this game to be a close one.
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