Serie A: Survival scrap, then Torino-Napoli and Roma-Inter, title race on | OneFootball

Serie A resumes after the international break, with a high-tension Saturday in the race for the Scudetto. The league heats up and offers two top-of-the-table clashes that promise a spectacle: Torino-Napoli at 6:00 PM and Roma-Inter at 8:45 PM.

Serie A, today’s matches: first the relegation battle, then Torino-Napoli and Roma-Inter. The duel at the top is played from a distance

The reigning champions are looking to pull ahead, while the Giallorossi and Nerazzurri prepare for a direct clash that could reshape the standings.

Torino-Napoli, Conte wants to defend the top spot

Antonio Conte’s Napoli opens the day with an away match in Turin. The Azzurri lead the table with 15 points, tied with Roma, and are aiming for a win that could allow them to break away, taking advantage of the direct clash between Gasperini and Chivu in the evening.

Marco Baroni’s Torino, coming off just one win in six matches, is instead looking to turn things around and regain confidence. President Cairo confirmed the coach during the break, but the pressure remains high. With a defense that has already conceded 13 goals, the Granata are changing formation and returning to a 4-3-3, with Ngonge and Vlasic behind Simeone, while Tameze strengthens the midfield.

Conte has to deal with several key absences: Rrahmani and Lobotka are out, as is the Lukaku-Politano duo, although the latter has recovered and will start from the bench. There could be room for Neres and McTominay on the wings, with De Bruyne and Anguissa as central midfielders and Gilmour as playmaker. In defense, Beukema and Juan Jesus are confirmed in front of Meret, while Hojlund returns to lead the attack, boosted by the break with Denmark.

“We’ll need to rotate a lot to manage the tight schedule,” Conte said on the eve of the match. The goal is clear: defend the top spot and reach 18 points before the Champions League commitment.

Roma-Inter, Gasperini and Chivu face off for the summit

At 8:45 PM, the Stadio Olimpico will host a clash for the top: Roma-Inter. Gian Piero Gasperini faces the team that sacked him after just a few matches years ago, and he does so as league leader, determined to claim personal and professional revenge. On the other side, Cristian Chivu, leading the Nerazzurri after the Inzaghi era, is looking for a big result to catch up with Roma.

Roma, which concedes very little but struggles to score, relies on the usual 3-4-2-1. Gasperini is considering a surprise move: Dybala as a false nine, supported by Soulé and Ferguson, with Cristante and Koné in midfield. On the flanks, Wesley and Tsimikas, with Celik among the three defenders. Angelino is out due to bronchitis.

For Inter, Chivu has to do without Thuram and Darmian, but still fields the starting lineup: Bonny alongside Lautaro, Mkhitaryan-Barella-Calhanoglu in midfield, and the classic defensive block with Acerbi, Akanji, Bastoni, and Sommer in goal. “I have great respect for Gasperini, but we’re ready to compete,” said the Romanian coach in a press conference.

The clash is not just a battle for the standings, but also a duel between former colleagues: Chivu began his Italian career at Roma, while Gasperini coached Inter in his first experience at a top club. A match that promises excitement and huge significance for the title race.

Lecce-Sassuolo and Pisa-Verona open the day

The 7th matchday of Serie A kicks off at 3:00 PM with two decisive matches in the relegation battle: Pisa-Verona and Lecce-Sassuolo.

At the “Garibaldi”, Gilardino’s Pisa (2 points) and Zanetti’s Verona (3 points) are playing for a crucial part of their future. Both coaches are under scrutiny but confirmed for now. Watch out for individual duels: Giovane-Orban among the Tuscans and Tramoni-Nzola among the Venetians, with Akinsanmiro and Serdar commanding the midfield.

At the “Via del Mare”, Lecce is looking for consistency after their first win of the season. Striker Francesco Camarda, who scored three goals with the Under 21s, starts behind Stulic in the attacking trio. On the other side, a growing Sassuolo, with three wins in the last four matches and increasingly concrete European ambitions.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.