The Serie A sides will have to shake off any heavy legs from the midweek round, as they're all back in action again over the next three days. Serie A's Champions League representatives -- Juventus and AS Roma -- both play on Saturday, where they'll both be hoping to take an outright lead at the top of the table. Most other big teams face-off on Sunday.
Serie A schedule and preview, Week 5: Will Juventus, Roma stay neck and neck?
We’re coming into the fifth round of Serie A action, and Juventus and Roma are still tied at the top. Will we have an outright leader by the end of the weekend?
Paolo Bruno
In the early kickoff, an out-of-sorts Napoli travels to face Emilian minnows Sassuolo in a potential banana skin -- not least with the Neapolitans’ coach Rafael Benítez coming under fire over his side’s poor start to the season. Later in the day, newly-promoted Cesena hosts AC Milan, bottom club Cagliari visits an in-form Inter and Genoa face-off against cross-town rivals Sampdoria in the Derby della Lanterna.
Serie A, Round 5 Fixtures
AS Roma vs. Hellas Verona
Saturday, September 27 at 6 p.m. local / 12 p.m. ET
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Roma kick off the round at home to Hellas Verona, who are still unbeaten this season. They looked set to suffer their first loss at home to Genoa in midweek, though they battled back from two goals down to keep their record intact. Alas, Roma should break it on Saturday.
Atalanta vs. Juventus
Saturday, September 27 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, Bergamo
Likewise, expect Juventus -- who are the only team in the league yet to concede a goal -- to have few problems in recording yet another victory in Saturday's late game. They travel to play Atalanta, who come into this match on the back of consecutive defeats to Fiorentina and Inter Milan.
Sunday, September 28 at 12:30 p.m. local / 6:30 a.m. ET
Mapei Stadium-Città del Tricolore, Reggio Emilia
Rather more interesting should be Sunday’s early kickoff, in which Sassuolo host an out-of-sorts Napoli. Rafael Benítez’s side twice through away leads against Palermo in midweek to draw 3-3, meaning they’ve picked up just four points in as many games this season. Top-heavy Sassuolo are still winless, though their visitors’ poor form will give them reason for optimism.
Cesena vs. AC Milan
Sunday, September 28 at 3 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET
Stadio Dino Manuzzi, Cesena
Poor Cesena's horrible start to the season continues. Pierpaolo Bisoli's side were thrashed 3-0 by Juventus in midweek, and now they face AC Milan at the Dino Manuzzi. If they can take heart from anything, it's that Milan dropped a couple of points away at another newly-promoted side, Empoli, on Tuesday, with Filippo Inzaghi's side still looking very flimsy at the back.
Chievo Verona vs. Empoli
Sunday, September 28 at 3 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET
Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi
This probably won’t be high on your weekend ‘what to watch’ list. Chievo have lost three of their opening four games, and sit just a point clear of the winless Empoli. However, the Tuscans have shown attacking promise in their first few matches, so they may feel confident heading into their Venetian trip.
Inter Milan vs. Cagliari
Sunday, September 28 at 3 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET
San Siro, Milan
Inter are still unbeaten so far this season, though they’re yet to be seriously tested. They should continue to make hay while the fixture list shines on Sunday, as they face bottom club Cagliari. Another defeat for the Sardinians, and coach Zdeněk Zeman could face the axe.
Torino vs. Fiorentina
Sunday, September 28 at 3 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET
Stadio Olimpico di Torino, Turin
Last season’s surprise package Torino haven’t really coped very well with the departures of attacking stars Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile. They’ve picked up just four points from as many games, though they could take something from a Fiorentina side struggling with a spate of attacking injuries.
Genoa vs. Sampdoria
Sunday, September 28 at 8:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET
Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
It’s a local derby! Genoese rivals Genoa and Sampdoria go head-to-head at the Luigi Ferraris in Sunday’s late kickoff, in a match which very rarely fails to entertain. What’s more, both of these sides have looked pretty good so far this season, with Sampdoria still unbeaten and Genoa having not lost since the opening round of the campaign. Let the battle commence ...
Udinese vs. Parma
Monday, September 29 at 7 p.m. local / 1 p.m. ET
Stadio Friuli, Udine
In the first of the Monday games, Udinese host Parma at the Friuli. Heading into the round, the zebrette are in third place, having won three of their opening four games of the season. Parma, meanwhile, have won just once, though still boast the league's joint-top scorer in Antonio Cassano.
Palermo vs. Lazio
Monday, September 29 at 9 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET
Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo
The round draws to a close with a match between two sides yet to hit their best form. Stefano Pioli has lost three of his opening four games as Lazio coach, while Palermo's Beppe Iachini is already coming under pressure from the Sicilians' trigger-happy president Maurizio Zamparini, who is yet to see his team win this season.
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