Matchday 20: Inter vs Napoli headlines the start of the second half of the season
After a midweek round full of talking points, the league is back in action. At the season’s midpoint, teams are setting their sights on the long, challenging second half; a mix of hopes, fears, and ambitions they’ll face in the months ahead. Matchday 20 is spread over three days: four games day on Saturday and Sunday, concluding on Monday 12 December with two final fixtures.
Relegation battles, European ambitions, and the will to win. Saturday, 10 January serves up a full menu of Serie A action. At 15:00 CET, two matches kick off at the same time: Como vs Bologna could prove decisive for the ambitious plans of both sides, while Udinese vs Pisa is a must-win for both Runjaić (looking to climb the table) and Gilardino (currently struggling at the bottom). The action continues at 18:00 CET at the Olimpico, with Roma hosting Sassuolo. The Giallorossi are determined to keep up in the Champions League race, while the Neroverdi come in off a five-game winless streak. Saturday wraps up at 20:45 CET with Atalanta vs Torino, a test of maturity for La Dea, after an impressive win at the Dall’Ara, and a chance for Torino to bounce back after a heavy home defeat to Udinese. Sunday kicks off with a lunchtime clash between Lecce and Parma, a critical relegation battle. At 15:00 CET, the Franchi hosts a heavyweight match between a resurgent Fiorentina and Milan, chasing Inter at the top. At 18:00 CET, Verona vs Lazio is all about moving up the table and staying on track of each team’s objectives. The main event at 20:45 CET is Inter vs Napoli, a Scudetto showdown that needs no introduction. The matchday concludes on Monday: Genoa vs Cagliari at Marassi at 18:00 CET, while at the Allianz Stadium, Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus looks to secure a win against Nicola’s Cremonese, always capable of surprising.
Fabregas’ Como are flying high, coming off three consecutive wins and now firmly in 6th place. On the other side, Bologna are struggling. Italiano’s team (still with a game in hand) has slowed down since the EA Sports FC Supercup, and last week’s defeat to Atalanta has left the Rossoblù seven points behind Como. The hosts are looking for a statement win in a big matchup, while Bologna need a victory they haven’t managed since November 22 at Udinese.
Udinese and Pisa face off in a clash of contrasting moods. The Bianconeri, in fine form over the Epiphany weekend, beat Torino thanks to goals from Zaniolo and Ekkelenkamp. Seventh place is just three points away, and optimism is high at the Bluenergy Stadium. Pisa, on the other hand, are struggling and in need of a turnaround. Gilardino has urged his squad to keep believing in a climb up the table, but just one win in the first half of the season isn’t enough to boost their survival hopes. On the road, they’ll be looking for a spark to reignite that fight.
Next is Roma vs Sassuolo at the Olimpico on Saturday at 18:00 CET. It is also a managerial duel between Gasperini and Grosso, both eager to start the second half of the season on the right foot. In the first meeting, Dybala decided the game at the Mapei Stadium, giving Roma an important 1-0 victory. The Giallorossi know they can’t afford to slip up: fourth place, now shared with Juventus, remains their main goal, while hoping for slips from the three teams ahead (Inter, Milan, and Napoli). Sassuolo come into a tricky period of their season. Their last win was back on December 6, a 3-1 victory over Fiorentina, and they’ve taken just three points from their last five matches. Fabio Grosso’s side still have a comfortable eight-point cushion over the relegation zone, but confidence needs a boost, and a strong result in Rome could provide just that.
Atalanta vs Torino closes out Saturday’s action in Matchday 20. Atalanta are on the rise, steadily shaping their play to match their coach’s philosophy and putting together convincing performances. Their 2-0 win at Bologna, a direct rival for European spots, reflects a strong recent run under Raffaele Palladino. The absence of Scamacca at the Dall’Ara was covered by a brace from a rejuvenated Nikola Krstovic, and overall, Atalanta have won four of their last five matches (the only blip being the home loss to Inter at the end of December). Torino, meanwhile, continue a rollercoaster season. The Granata were beaten at home by Udinese and now sit in the lower half of the table. Baroni will be looking to lift his team during this dip in form. The two sides are separated by just five points in the standings, and both know there’s no room to drop their guard.
After picking up the same result in midweek, Lecce and Parma meet just above the relegation zone, setting up one of the most intriguing games of Matchday 20. Lecce sit on 17 points, with Parma just one ahead. In their first encounter, Di Francesco’s side earned a 3-1 win at the Tardini. The teams at the bottom have all been active on the table recently, Lecce lost to Roma, Parma to Inter, making the relegation fight feel like a tightly contested battle. Carlos Cuesta will be looking to keep Parma steady, hoping they don’t slip at the Via del Mare. Lecce, meanwhile, need to get back on track after losing two of their last three league games. A win could break the deadlock in the standings and provide a much-needed morale boost.
Fiorentina vs Milan, on Sunday 11 January, kicks off at 15:00 CET. Fiorentina have found some breathing room in the last two league rounds, but missing out on a win against Lazio still leaves a bitter taste. Vanoli is urging the squad to stay upbeat, and the clash with Milan could be a turning point in their campaign. The Rossoneri remain close on Inter’s heels: despite a home draw with Genoa, Allegri keeps the pressure on, awaiting news from the head-to-head between Inter and Napoli. A win could see Milan temporarily draw level at the top of the table. For the Tuscan side, a victory could lift them out of the relegation zone, depending on other results. High stakes and huge motivation make this a match not to be missed.
Zanetti vs Sarri, Verona vs Lazio kicks off at 18:00 CET. Verona came close to a miracle at the Maradona, holding Napoli to a 2-2 draw in a rollercoaster match. Still, there are positives: they earned a point against Genoa and know they can compete with any opponent. Lazio, on the other hand, need to get back to their usual standards after four winless games. The last-minute draw with Fiorentina wasn’t enough for the Biancocelesti, who are looking for stability amid recent transfer activity. In their first encounter of the season, on August 31, Lazio beat Verona 4-0 at the Olimpico.
Drama at “La Scala del Calcio” as Inter host Napoli at 20:45 CET. After last season’s endless head-to-head battle, it’s these two again at the top of the table, Milan aside. The hosts come into this marquee clash with a four-point lead over Napoli, ready to extend their advantage with a win. Antonio Conte will be hoping to repeat the first-leg result. His Napoli side were held at home by Verona in the last round but are eager to throw themselves fully back into the Scudetto race. Inter are in impressive form: since losing the derby on 23 November, Chivu’s side have won six straight matches against Pisa, Como, Genoa, Atalanta, Bologna, and Parma. Napoli, meanwhile, have been less consistent recently, though they did lift the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia just before Christmas. A clash of nerves and talent, a night of star players: Inter vs Napoli could shape the near future of Serie A 2025/26.
Genoa vs Cagliari is Monday’s first game, at the Luigi Ferraris, 18:30 CET. De Rossi, who came close to a miracle at the San Siro against Milan, will be looking for more positive results to extend the gap over the three teams chasing in the relegation zone. For Cagliari, it was an eventful Monday: their late equaliser at home to Cremonese showed a squad ready to face any challenge. The first meeting of the season ended 3-3 at the Unipol Domus, a thrilling game full of goals.
Juventus vs Cremonese closes out the matchday. Luciano Spalletti’s side is back on track, and emphatically: a 3-0 win at Sassuolo erased the disappointment of the home draw against Lecce, with Jonathan David decisive and the table looking better for them. To secure a place in next season’s Champions League, the Bianconeri need consistency, and home games could be key. Cremonese, still disappointed by their last-minute setback against Cagliari, will be looking to make an impact and start the second half of the season with a big win, as they did in the first round at San Siro against Milan. It’s a tough task, but with Vardy in form and the Grigiorossi’s ability to challenge stronger opponents, this one could go either way.
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