Navbar

FROM THE TOP TO THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL: MATCHDAY 16 UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

HeaderContent

Update shirt numbers Clubs Primavera 1 2024-2025

Update shirt numbers Serie A Enilive 2024/2025

Sport Judge Decisions, EA SPORTS FC Supercup 2024/2025 - Semi-Finals

LATEST DOCUMENTS

LatestDocument

RelatedDocument

RELATED PLAYERS

RelatedPlayer

RELATED TEAMS

RelatedTeam

ShareButton

&lt;p&gt;With four matchday’s to go until the end of the first half of the season, matchday 16 promises to untangle an extremely tight league table. There hasn’t been a leader with 34 points or less after 15 matches since the 2015/16 season, when Inter led with 33 points but went on to finish in fourth place. The balance is as evident at the top as it is at the bottom of the table. Lazio and Inter face off in a head-to-head clash at the Olimpico, while Atalanta, Napoli and Fiorentina watch from the sidelines. The Dea travel to Cagliari in a bid to defend their top spot, Napoli aim to bounce back against Udinese and Fiorentina await a challenging game away against Bologna, where no team has managed to claim all three points. Meanwhile, the battle for survival involves ten different sides separated by seven points, with Monza, Lecce, Como and Verona hoping to avoid further mishaps. .&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Empoli&lt;/strong&gt;, who come off the back of a convincing win over Verona, look to consolidate their place in the top half of the table. With four clean sheets in seven home matches and a league-leading 79% of goals scored in the first half of games (11 out of 14), the Tuscan side have shown themselves to be solid when it comes to the &lt;strong&gt;opening stages of matches&lt;/strong&gt;. Defensive organisation will be key to fend off a &lt;strong&gt;Torino&lt;/strong&gt; side, who on the other hand, are aiming to put a difficult period behind them. Torino have gained just two points in their last seven matches, scoring just once. Away from home, Vanoli’s side have &lt;strong&gt;failed to score&lt;/strong&gt; in three consecutive matches. Having scored five headed goals, Torino may look to capitalise on &lt;strong&gt;aerial duels&lt;/strong&gt;, against an Empoli side that have only scored one headed goal this season.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;ff3ed224-5429-4c16-9795-fb218db7bba4&#34; data-image-id=&#34;ff3ed224-5429-4c16-9795-fb218db7bba4&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/e90432ba-42f9-45f7-ae04-682e385287a9/Sito_HERO_emp.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;ff3ed224-5429-4c16-9795-fb218db7bba4&#34; data-image-id=&#34;ff3ed224-5429-4c16-9795-fb218db7bba4&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;Leaders &lt;strong&gt;Atalanta&lt;/strong&gt; head to Cagliari as they aim to set a &lt;strong&gt;new record&lt;/strong&gt;: ten consecutive wins in Serie A. The Bergamaschi are in a &lt;strong&gt;positive run of form when it comes to away matches&lt;/strong&gt;, with four consecutive wins, an average of two goals scored per match and just one conceded in this time. &lt;strong&gt;Cagliari&lt;/strong&gt;, however, pose a difficult challenge, having won two of their last four home games and showing strength in &lt;strong&gt;aerial duels&lt;/strong&gt;, an aspect in which the &lt;strong&gt;Dea&lt;/strong&gt; also excel, boasting the best balance in aerial goals scored compared to conceded (8 to 0). The Bergamaschi will rely on their excellent efficiency in front of goal, with the &lt;strong&gt;highest conversion rate&lt;/strong&gt; in the league (16%), while the Sardi will look to the support of their home fans to secure a prestigious result.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;5a198f02-26cb-4eae-91e4-28110b37267a&#34; data-image-id=&#34;5a198f02-26cb-4eae-91e4-28110b37267a&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/d010bcbd-d2bf-4e5d-b184-9961153d919c/Sito_HERO_cag.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;5a198f02-26cb-4eae-91e4-28110b37267a&#34; data-image-id=&#34;5a198f02-26cb-4eae-91e4-28110b37267a&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Napoli&lt;/strong&gt; face Udinese as they hope to bounce back after two consecutive defeats against Lazio and to maintain an immaculate record against the Friulani, as they are unbeaten against them in 16 matches. Napoli can count on their &lt;strong&gt;defensive reliability&lt;/strong&gt;, with five clean sheets away from home and just six goals conceded from inside the area, but they will need to improve in attack, having scored only 21 goals - a &lt;strong&gt;record low in their attacking department&lt;/strong&gt; since the 2009/10 season. &lt;strong&gt;Udinese&lt;/strong&gt;, however, come into the match after a win against Monza and are looking for two consecutive wins for the first time since the end of September. Aerial play could be decisive in this match, neither side have conceded a headed goal during this campaign.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;b62401f5-4b66-4f36-81fa-7cd97d87f03b&#34; data-image-id=&#34;b62401f5-4b66-4f36-81fa-7cd97d87f03b&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/e117d644-8f6b-4cb0-a48d-909f894ed2fb/Sito_HERO_udi.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;b62401f5-4b66-4f36-81fa-7cd97d87f03b&#34; data-image-id=&#34;b62401f5-4b66-4f36-81fa-7cd97d87f03b&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fresh from an impressive win in Europe against Manchester City, Motta’s &lt;strong&gt;Juventus&lt;/strong&gt; side need to translate this enthusiasm into concrete results in the league. The Bianconeri, with nine draws in the first 15 matches, will need to be more &lt;strong&gt;decisive up-front&lt;/strong&gt; to climb up the table. Di Francesco’s &lt;strong&gt;Venezia&lt;/strong&gt; side are currently 20th in the league and have the worst defence in the league (17 goals conceded), and will be the next team to visit the Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening. Juventus are able to dictate the pace of play, a league-best defensive solidity: only 8.3 shots conceded per match, their lowest figure since 2001/02. However, the Venetian side are particularly dangerous &lt;strong&gt;from distance&lt;/strong&gt;, with the highest percentage of goals scored from outside the box, with four out of thirteen of their goals coming from distance.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;7827e734-5f43-4aca-99c9-67033984c1dc&#34; data-image-id=&#34;7827e734-5f43-4aca-99c9-67033984c1dc&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/2f6964b3-358e-4194-a8e0-f6f89ddfd35f/Sito_HERO_juv.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;7827e734-5f43-4aca-99c9-67033984c1dc&#34; data-image-id=&#34;7827e734-5f43-4aca-99c9-67033984c1dc&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Sunday lunchtime match provides us with a crucial head-to-head clash in the fight for &lt;strong&gt;survival&lt;/strong&gt; at the Via del Mare, where &lt;strong&gt;Lecce&lt;/strong&gt; are aiming to find a win after two consecutive draws. The Salentini, unbeaten and with at least one goal scored in their four previous matches with Monza, are the one side with the &lt;strong&gt;lowest number of different scorers&lt;/strong&gt; (only four) in this league campaign, while the biancorossi have six. Both teams have struggled to deal with &lt;strong&gt;aerial balls&lt;/strong&gt;: &lt;strong&gt;Monza&lt;/strong&gt; have scored the most headed goals (8), followed by Lecce (7). Nesta’s Monza side have been more effective on the road, having gained 70% of their points this season in away fixtures - seven out of ten points - and where they hope to achieve their second win of the year.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;7d3ff6d5-1ce7-4fe7-b958-337895830d08&#34; data-image-id=&#34;7d3ff6d5-1ce7-4fe7-b958-337895830d08&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/93323a69-8cbc-4027-9320-a05902cabb3d/Sito_HERO_lec_falco.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;7d3ff6d5-1ce7-4fe7-b958-337895830d08&#34; data-image-id=&#34;7d3ff6d5-1ce7-4fe7-b958-337895830d08&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;At the Dall’Ara, Palladino’s Fiorentina side aim to write a new record with their ninth consecutive win, but to do this, they will have to beat a solid &lt;strong&gt;Bologna&lt;/strong&gt; side who are &lt;strong&gt;unbeaten at home&lt;/strong&gt;. The Rossoblù boast three consecutive clean sheets at the Dall’Ara as well as the ability to interrupt their opponent’s play with the highest pressing rate in the league (194 sequences of play interrupted). &lt;strong&gt;Fiorentina&lt;/strong&gt; will look to build on their brilliant &lt;strong&gt;away&lt;/strong&gt; form, with four wins and five clean sheets in a row. The Gigliati, however, will draw on their strength in the&lt;strong&gt; final stages&lt;/strong&gt;: they have not conceded in the last 30 minutes of play. The match is expected to be open and entertaining, with both teams in the hunt for a European spot and in great form. &lt;br&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;0cce9682-78af-46f5-bee4-fd3ec24b5361&#34; data-image-id=&#34;0cce9682-78af-46f5-bee4-fd3ec24b5361&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/c4325cbb-7b62-4dcc-815f-525b6d5acaa5/Sito_HERO_bol.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;0cce9682-78af-46f5-bee4-fd3ec24b5361&#34; data-image-id=&#34;0cce9682-78af-46f5-bee4-fd3ec24b5361&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Parma&lt;/strong&gt; are aiming for greater &lt;strong&gt;consistency&lt;/strong&gt; at the Tardini, where they have gained just eight points in eight matches. The Ducali have been inconsistent, alternating good performances with moments of fragility, particularly when it comes to &lt;strong&gt;defending crosses&lt;/strong&gt;: seven goals conceded from this situation. &lt;strong&gt;Verona&lt;/strong&gt;, on the other hand, have faced some &lt;strong&gt;difficulties away from home&lt;/strong&gt;, having lost all of their last six matches after their first win against Genoa. On the one hand, Pecchia’s gialloblù &lt;strong&gt;approach&lt;/strong&gt; games well, with no goals conceded in the opening 30 minutes of play, on the other hand Hellas Verona are the one side that have conceded the most in this period of time. The home side will need to be aware and mustn’t underestimate the Scaligeri, as they have shown a lack of composure when facing teams near the bottom of the table, having only earned five points in these matches, the worst tally in the league.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;e7f752bf-1297-4bfc-b5a9-7b32784f07e8&#34; data-image-id=&#34;e7f752bf-1297-4bfc-b5a9-7b32784f07e8&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/465cc0d6-21af-4da3-a864-4d468a4ea688/Sito_HERO_par.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;e7f752bf-1297-4bfc-b5a9-7b32784f07e8&#34; data-image-id=&#34;e7f752bf-1297-4bfc-b5a9-7b32784f07e8&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Como&lt;/strong&gt; have not won since September and host a &lt;strong&gt;Roma&lt;/strong&gt; side who are looking for their &lt;strong&gt;first away win&lt;/strong&gt; in the league after they put four past Lecce. The Lariani boast the highest number of &lt;strong&gt;successful dribbles&lt;/strong&gt; in the league, a weapon that they will aim to use against the Roma defence and avoid their tenth consecutive game without three points. The side from the capital, however, set themselves apart due to the number of goals coming from &lt;strong&gt;offensive recoveries&lt;/strong&gt; (four), but are in a run of three consecutive losses away from home. The match at the Sinigaglia could offer some surprises, as both coaches seek concrete answers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;e807f0bd-3853-4e75-8584-5246ae65b24b&#34; data-image-id=&#34;e807f0bd-3853-4e75-8584-5246ae65b24b&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/c1c859ca-4513-4f8a-8b98-6ebfbc83ec69/Sito_HERO_como.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;e807f0bd-3853-4e75-8584-5246ae65b24b&#34; data-image-id=&#34;e807f0bd-3853-4e75-8584-5246ae65b24b&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;The late game will be an occasion to celebrate &lt;strong&gt;AC Milan’s 125 year long history&lt;/strong&gt;, as they host a Genoa side who have not lost in five games and come off two away wins without conceding a goal. The Rossoneri will rely on their ability to build &lt;strong&gt;fast attacks&lt;/strong&gt;, with the highest number of &lt;strong&gt;vertical attacks&lt;/strong&gt; in the league (33) and all of their last 12 goals coming from open play. &lt;strong&gt;Fonseca’s&lt;/strong&gt; rossoneri, despite scoring the same number of goals and conceding just one more, have earned seven fewer points compared to last season after 14 games. &lt;strong&gt;Genoa&lt;/strong&gt;, on the other hand, will be a difficult test, but have shown that they have some weaknesses which AC Milan will be able to exploit, such as their &lt;strong&gt;performances in the second half of matches&lt;/strong&gt;, with a record of 17 goals conceded in the second half.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;fa002ae6-3e4d-4634-a01d-febebdad72b9&#34; data-image-id=&#34;fa002ae6-3e4d-4634-a01d-febebdad72b9&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/8d0829d8-1d5c-46e3-a621-e55d82024931/Sito_HERO_mil.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;fa002ae6-3e4d-4634-a01d-febebdad72b9&#34; data-image-id=&#34;fa002ae6-3e4d-4634-a01d-febebdad72b9&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;All eyes are on the big match on Monday evening at the Olimpico. &lt;strong&gt;Lazio&lt;/strong&gt;, who are &lt;strong&gt;riding on the wave &lt;/strong&gt;of five consecutive home wins in the league and with the memory of their win in Amsterdam still fresh in their minds, take on an &lt;strong&gt;Inter&lt;/strong&gt; side who are hoping to bounce back from their midweek defeat in the Champions League. The reigning champions will need to improve when managing &lt;strong&gt;double gameweeks&lt;/strong&gt;, given that they have not won on four of the last six occasions in Serie A after playing a match in the Champions League. The Biancocelesti can show their strength in the&lt;strong&gt; final stages of matches&lt;/strong&gt; with 12 goals scored in the last 15 minutes of matches. On the other hand, Inter has conceded seven out of 15 in that period of time, the highest of any team in the league, but they are lethal in the &lt;strong&gt;first half&lt;/strong&gt; of games (19 goals scored). Both sides can draw on a &lt;strong&gt;deep squad&lt;/strong&gt;, having seen 13 different players score.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;b5bce36e-71da-4a89-9ac1-8c55d2c3718b&#34; data-image-id=&#34;b5bce36e-71da-4a89-9ac1-8c55d2c3718b&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/b207e2f2-9db8-4eea-a29b-68cb47bcd148/Sito_HERO_laz.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;b5bce36e-71da-4a89-9ac1-8c55d2c3718b&#34; data-image-id=&#34;b5bce36e-71da-4a89-9ac1-8c55d2c3718b&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;(Photo Getty Images)&lt;/p&gt;

Lazio and Inter are set to ignite the title race, the Dea go on the road as league leaders, Fiorentina meet Italiano again as they aim for a new record while Napoli look to stay near the top of the table. At the bottom of the table, it’s an all-out battle

Content

Composite93

Serie A

Bologna will want to continue their good run, Verona on the hunt for points to survive

Bologna vs. Hellas Verona will close out 2024

Como and Lecce are separated by just a point and will both want to win to move away from the bottom spots

Como vs. Lecce to get out of the danger zone

The Portuguese coach joins the Rossoneri until 30 June 2026

CONCEIÇÃO IS THE NEW HEAD COACH OF AC MILAN

AC Milan will be looking for a win and consistency against a Roma side galvanised by the 5-0 victory over Parma

AC Milan vs. Roma to finish the year in style

Juventus will want to register a second win on the bounce, Fiorentina will try to forget the defeat to Udinese

Big points up for grabs in Juventus vs. Fiorentina

Napoli on the hunt for a third consecutive win, Venezia want to depart from the bottom

Napoli-Venezia head-to-head challenge

Torino won’t want to drop in the standings, Udinese will want a do-over of the win in Florence

Lunchtime with Udinese vs. Torino 

Battle of direct rivals Lazio and Atalanta divided by six points

Lazio vs. Atalanta, big game at the Olimpico

Cagliari need points but to the Unipol Domus comes a flying Inter side

Inter go to Cagliari on the hunt for the top spot

Empoli and Genoa ring in the last matchday of 2024 at the Castellani Computer Gross Arena

Empoli vs. Genoa opens matchday 18

ContentRepresentation

SocialFooter

SponsorFooter

Footer

FooterBottom

SundAy Night

Radio TV Serie A con RDS

RadioBox

With four matchday’s to go until the end of the first half of the season, matchday 16 promises to untangle an extremely tight league table. There hasn’t been a leader with 34 points or less after 15 matches since the 2015/16 season, when Inter led with 33 points but went on to finish in fourth place. The balance is as evident at the top as it is at the bottom of the table. Lazio and Inter face off in a head-to-head clash at the Olimpico, while Atalanta, Napoli and Fiorentina watch from the sidelines. The Dea travel to Cagliari in a bid to defend their top spot, Napoli aim to bounce back against Udinese and Fiorentina await a challenging game away against Bologna, where no team has managed to claim all three points. Meanwhile, the battle for survival involves ten different sides separated by seven points, with Monza, Lecce, Como and Verona hoping to avoid further mishaps. .Empoli, who come off the back of a convincing win over Verona, look to consolidate their place in the top half of the table. With four clean sheets in seven home matches and a league-leading 79% of goals scored in the first half of games (11 out of 14), the Tuscan side have shown themselves to be solid when it comes to the opening stages of matches. Defensive organisation will be key to fend off a Torino side, who on the other hand, are aiming to put a difficult period behind them. Torino have gained just two points in their last seven matches, scoring just once. Away from home, Vanoli’s side have failed to score in three consecutive matches. Having scored five headed goals, Torino may look to capitalise on aerial duels, against an Empoli side that have only scored one headed goal this season.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure data-asset-id="ff3ed224-5429-4c16-9795-fb218db7bba4" data-image-id="ff3ed224-5429-4c16-9795-fb218db7bba4"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/e90432ba-42f9-45f7-ae04-682e385287a9/Sito_HERO_emp.png" data-asset-id="ff3ed224-5429-4c16-9795-fb218db7bba4" data-image-id="ff3ed224-5429-4c16-9795-fb218db7bba4" alt=""></figure>Leaders Atalanta head to Cagliari as they aim to set a new record: ten consecutive wins in Serie A. The Bergamaschi are in a positive run of form when it comes to away matches, with four consecutive wins, an average of two goals scored per match and just one conceded in this time. Cagliari, however, pose a difficult challenge, having won two of their last four home games and showing strength in aerial duels, an aspect in which the Dea also excel, boasting the best balance in aerial goals scored compared to conceded (8 to 0). The Bergamaschi will rely on their excellent efficiency in front of goal, with the highest conversion rate in the league (16%), while the Sardi will look to the support of their home fans to secure a prestigious result.&nbsp;<figure data-asset-id="5a198f02-26cb-4eae-91e4-28110b37267a" data-image-id="5a198f02-26cb-4eae-91e4-28110b37267a"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/d010bcbd-d2bf-4e5d-b184-9961153d919c/Sito_HERO_cag.png" data-asset-id="5a198f02-26cb-4eae-91e4-28110b37267a" data-image-id="5a198f02-26cb-4eae-91e4-28110b37267a" alt=""></figure>&nbsp;Napoli face Udinese as they hope to bounce back after two consecutive defeats against Lazio and to maintain an immaculate record against the Friulani, as they are unbeaten against them in 16 matches. Napoli can count on their defensive reliability, with five clean sheets away from home and just six goals conceded from inside the area, but they will need to improve in attack, having scored only 21 goals - a record low in their attacking department since the 2009/10 season. Udinese, however, come into the match after a win against Monza and are looking for two consecutive wins for the first time since the end of September. Aerial play could be decisive in this match, neither side have conceded a headed goal during this campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure data-asset-id="b62401f5-4b66-4f36-81fa-7cd97d87f03b" data-image-id="b62401f5-4b66-4f36-81fa-7cd97d87f03b"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/e117d644-8f6b-4cb0-a48d-909f894ed2fb/Sito_HERO_udi.png" data-asset-id="b62401f5-4b66-4f36-81fa-7cd97d87f03b" data-image-id="b62401f5-4b66-4f36-81fa-7cd97d87f03b" alt=""></figure>Fresh from an impressive win in Europe against Manchester City, Motta’s Juventus side need to translate this enthusiasm into concrete results in the league. The Bianconeri, with nine draws in the first 15 matches, will need to be more decisive up-front to climb up the table. Di Francesco’s Venezia side are currently 20th in the league and have the worst defence in the league (17 goals conceded), and will be the next team to visit the Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening. Juventus are able to dictate the pace of play, a league-best defensive solidity: only 8.3 shots conceded per match, their lowest figure since 2001/02. However, the Venetian side are particularly dangerous from distance, with the highest percentage of goals scored from outside the box, with four out of thirteen of their goals coming from distance.<figure data-asset-id="7827e734-5f43-4aca-99c9-67033984c1dc" data-image-id="7827e734-5f43-4aca-99c9-67033984c1dc"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/2f6964b3-358e-4194-a8e0-f6f89ddfd35f/Sito_HERO_juv.png" data-asset-id="7827e734-5f43-4aca-99c9-67033984c1dc" data-image-id="7827e734-5f43-4aca-99c9-67033984c1dc" alt=""></figure>The Sunday lunchtime match provides us with a crucial head-to-head clash in the fight for survival at the Via del Mare, where Lecce are aiming to find a win after two consecutive draws. The Salentini, unbeaten and with at least one goal scored in their four previous matches with Monza, are the one side with the lowest number of different scorers (only four) in this league campaign, while the biancorossi have six. Both teams have struggled to deal with aerial balls: Monza have scored the most headed goals (8), followed by Lecce (7). Nesta’s Monza side have been more effective on the road, having gained 70% of their points this season in away fixtures - seven out of ten points - and where they hope to achieve their second win of the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure data-asset-id="7d3ff6d5-1ce7-4fe7-b958-337895830d08" data-image-id="7d3ff6d5-1ce7-4fe7-b958-337895830d08"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/93323a69-8cbc-4027-9320-a05902cabb3d/Sito_HERO_lec_falco.png" data-asset-id="7d3ff6d5-1ce7-4fe7-b958-337895830d08" data-image-id="7d3ff6d5-1ce7-4fe7-b958-337895830d08" alt=""></figure>At the Dall’Ara, Palladino’s Fiorentina side aim to write a new record with their ninth consecutive win, but to do this, they will have to beat a solid Bologna side who are unbeaten at home. The Rossoblù boast three consecutive clean sheets at the Dall’Ara as well as the ability to interrupt their opponent’s play with the highest pressing rate in the league (194 sequences of play interrupted). Fiorentina will look to build on their brilliant away form, with four wins and five clean sheets in a row. The Gigliati, however, will draw on their strength in the final stages: they have not conceded in the last 30 minutes of play. The match is expected to be open and entertaining, with both teams in the hunt for a European spot and in great form. &nbsp;<figure data-asset-id="0cce9682-78af-46f5-bee4-fd3ec24b5361" data-image-id="0cce9682-78af-46f5-bee4-fd3ec24b5361"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/c4325cbb-7b62-4dcc-815f-525b6d5acaa5/Sito_HERO_bol.png" data-asset-id="0cce9682-78af-46f5-bee4-fd3ec24b5361" data-image-id="0cce9682-78af-46f5-bee4-fd3ec24b5361" alt=""></figure>&nbsp;Parma are aiming for greater consistency at the Tardini, where they have gained just eight points in eight matches. The Ducali have been inconsistent, alternating good performances with moments of fragility, particularly when it comes to defending crosses: seven goals conceded from this situation. Verona, on the other hand, have faced some difficulties away from home, having lost all of their last six matches after their first win against Genoa. On the one hand, Pecchia’s gialloblù approach games well, with no goals conceded in the opening 30 minutes of play, on the other hand Hellas Verona are the one side that have conceded the most in this period of time. The home side will need to be aware and mustn’t underestimate the Scaligeri, as they have shown a lack of composure when facing teams near the bottom of the table, having only earned five points in these matches, the worst tally in the league.<figure data-asset-id="e7f752bf-1297-4bfc-b5a9-7b32784f07e8" data-image-id="e7f752bf-1297-4bfc-b5a9-7b32784f07e8"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/465cc0d6-21af-4da3-a864-4d468a4ea688/Sito_HERO_par.png" data-asset-id="e7f752bf-1297-4bfc-b5a9-7b32784f07e8" data-image-id="e7f752bf-1297-4bfc-b5a9-7b32784f07e8" alt=""></figure>Como have not won since September and host a Roma side who are looking for their first away win in the league after they put four past Lecce. The Lariani boast the highest number of successful dribbles in the league, a weapon that they will aim to use against the Roma defence and avoid their tenth consecutive game without three points. The side from the capital, however, set themselves apart due to the number of goals coming from offensive recoveries (four), but are in a run of three consecutive losses away from home. The match at the Sinigaglia could offer some surprises, as both coaches seek concrete answers.<figure data-asset-id="e807f0bd-3853-4e75-8584-5246ae65b24b" data-image-id="e807f0bd-3853-4e75-8584-5246ae65b24b"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/c1c859ca-4513-4f8a-8b98-6ebfbc83ec69/Sito_HERO_como.png" data-asset-id="e807f0bd-3853-4e75-8584-5246ae65b24b" data-image-id="e807f0bd-3853-4e75-8584-5246ae65b24b" alt=""></figure>The late game will be an occasion to celebrate AC Milan’s 125 year long history, as they host a Genoa side who have not lost in five games and come off two away wins without conceding a goal. The Rossoneri will rely on their ability to build fast attacks, with the highest number of vertical attacks in the league (33) and all of their last 12 goals coming from open play. Fonseca’s rossoneri, despite scoring the same number of goals and conceding just one more, have earned seven fewer points compared to last season after 14 games. Genoa, on the other hand, will be a difficult test, but have shown that they have some weaknesses which AC Milan will be able to exploit, such as their performances in the second half of matches, with a record of 17 goals conceded in the second half.<figure data-asset-id="fa002ae6-3e4d-4634-a01d-febebdad72b9" data-image-id="fa002ae6-3e4d-4634-a01d-febebdad72b9"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/8d0829d8-1d5c-46e3-a621-e55d82024931/Sito_HERO_mil.png" data-asset-id="fa002ae6-3e4d-4634-a01d-febebdad72b9" data-image-id="fa002ae6-3e4d-4634-a01d-febebdad72b9" alt=""></figure>All eyes are on the big match on Monday evening at the Olimpico. Lazio, who are riding on the wave of five consecutive home wins in the league and with the memory of their win in Amsterdam still fresh in their minds, take on an Inter side who are hoping to bounce back from their midweek defeat in the Champions League. The reigning champions will need to improve when managing double gameweeks, given that they have not won on four of the last six occasions in Serie A after playing a match in the Champions League. The Biancocelesti can show their strength in the final stages of matches with 12 goals scored in the last 15 minutes of matches. On the other hand, Inter has conceded seven out of 15 in that period of time, the highest of any team in the league, but they are lethal in the first half of games (19 goals scored). Both sides can draw on a deep squad, having seen 13 different players score.<figure data-asset-id="b5bce36e-71da-4a89-9ac1-8c55d2c3718b" data-image-id="b5bce36e-71da-4a89-9ac1-8c55d2c3718b"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/b207e2f2-9db8-4eea-a29b-68cb47bcd148/Sito_HERO_laz.png" data-asset-id="b5bce36e-71da-4a89-9ac1-8c55d2c3718b" data-image-id="b5bce36e-71da-4a89-9ac1-8c55d2c3718b" alt=""></figure>(Photo Getty Images)

FROM THE TOP TO THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL: MATCHDAY 16 UNDER THE MICROSCOPE | News

FROM THE TOP TO THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL: MATCHDAY 16 UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

Lazio and Inter are set to ignite the title race, the Dea go on the road as league leaders, Fiorentina meet Italiano again as they aim for a new record while Napoli look to stay near the top of the table. At the bottom of the table, it’s an all-out battle

RELATED ARTICLES

FROM THE TOP TO THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL: MATCHDAY 16 UNDER THE MICROSCOPE | News