Serie A’s next round arrives with clubs looking for a change of rhythm, whether that means responding to defeat, extending a home run or turning individual form into points. Set-piece delivery, wide service and the weight of a few emerging players could all shape a weekend in which several sides are trying to move their season forward.
Set pieces and attacking responses
Frosinone must react after losing to Napoli, and Giacomo Calò remains their clearest creative reference. He has fashioned 24 opportunities for team-mates in the league this season, with 17 coming from dead-ball situations. That total is the highest recorded across Europe’s five major leagues.
- Armand Laurienté remains a central figure for Aquilani’s side despite his difficult opening spell. The forward has taken 20 Serie A shots without scoring and has missed chances worth 1.84 expected goals, the largest negative figure in his team.
- Venezia’s early disciplinary record has been costly: the bottom club have received 18 yellow cards, more than any other Serie A side. Antoine Hainaut is the exception in their squad, having contributed two goals and an assist. His 35 open-play crosses lead the division, at least 11 more than any other player.
- Napoli can look to Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s experience in his contest with Sagrado. Lorenzo Lucca may also be given an opportunity, allowing Hojlund to avoid excessive minutes. Lucca has not scored since 6 February, when he was at Nottingham Forest, but faces the league’s weakest defence.
- Bologna’s five league goals have been shared among five different scorers: Piccoli, Dovbyk, Bernardeschi, Orsolini and Enem. Nicolò Cambiaghi is pushing to join them after supplying two assists against Lecce. He has attempted nine shots, fewer only than Bernardeschi and Piccoli in the Bologna squad.
- Inter will ask Pio Esposito to fill the gap left by captain Lautaro, while Piotr Zielinski offers a threat from distance in midfield.
Home strength, new faces and an aerial contest
Roma return to an Olimpico that has offered protection throughout the campaign. The Giallorossi have gone 15 home league matches without defeat, winning 11 and drawing four. Their last Serie A loss in Rome came against Napoli on 30 November 2025, although the demands of Champions League football may now test that resilience.
- Lulli has impressed in recent appearances and has provided dependable defensive performances for Roma.
- Genoa’s attacking hopes rest heavily with Milutin Osmajic, who has scored three times in five outings for the Rossoblù. In the three-points-for-a-win era, only Krzysztof Piatek, with eight, Diego Milito, with five, and Marco Borriello, also with five, scored at least four goals in their first six Serie A games for the Grifone.
- Castro is expected to lead the line in Malen’s absence.
- Lecce have found an intriguing option in Amar Fatah. The Swedish player completed seven dribbles against Bologna and, despite limited playing time, already ranks third in Serie A for successful take-ons. Only Giorgi Kvernadze and Assane Diao are ahead of him. He could make an impact even from the bench.
Lecce and Udinese meet with both teams searching for a recovery after a month without a league victory. Their set-piece strength is one of the few encouraging themes: alongside Inter, they are among the three Serie A clubs with the most goals from corners. Solet and Tiago Gabriel are therefore important presences in the respective penalty areas.
Midfield influence in the race for momentum
Fiorentina and Como also carry the pressure of a fixture between sides trying to restore direction. Nicolò Fagioli has been Fiorentina’s most involved player, touching the ball 402 times—more than 100 ahead of any team-mate—while also leading the squad for completed passes with 263 and possession recoveries with 30.
- Como will hope Douvikas can bring his European form into Serie A. He has been without a league goal for an extended period but scored against Feyenoord in the Champions League.
- Couto could find room down the flank against Valdepeñas, whose defensive limitations have been exposed.
- Adrien Rabiot has been Milan’s outstanding midfielder in 2026. No Serie A midfielder has had a hand in more goals during the period, with 12 direct involvements.
- After an assist against Lazio and goals versus Lecce and Sassuolo, Rabiot could be involved in a goal for a fourth consecutive league match. He has never achieved that run in Europe’s five leading leagues.
- For Sarri, Zappacosta may offer a route forward. The Atalanta defender has attempted more shots than any other player in the side’s back line and comes up against Estupiñán, who has not always been secure defensively.
- Charles De Ketelaere leads Atalanta for crosses and key passes, making him a continuing source of attacking possibility.
Established rivalries and clubs seeking a lift
Juventus have a long scoring record at home to Lazio. They have found the net in each of their past 13 Serie A home meetings with the Biancocelesti, producing 30 goals in total at an average of 2.3 per game. Europa League exertions are a consideration, but the recent history remains firmly in Juventus’ favour.
- Randal Kolo Muani has registered one goal and one assist across his last three league appearances. Those two direct contributions equal his total from the previous 33 matches he played in Europe’s top five leagues.
- Pierre Kalulu is among the leading providers of crosses in Spalletti’s Juventus side, although he is still waiting for his first assist.
- Lazio can turn to Tijjani Noslin, whose two goals and two assists in his past three matches represent the best goals-and-assists rate of his career. He is currently producing a direct contribution every 65 minutes.
Monza host a Cagliari side enjoying a strong sequence under Pisacane. The Sardinians are unbeaten in four league fixtures, with three wins and one draw. Daniel Maldini has particular reason to fancy the contest, as Monza are the opponent he has scored against most often in Serie A. Paul Mendy, meanwhile, ranks second in Cagliari for expected goals, behind the club’s number 70.
- For Juric’s Monza, Mangas leads the team for key passes and Birindelli has the highest average number of crosses. Both offer useful options from wider areas.
- Elia Caprile continues to provide reliable goalkeeping returns and could still be valuable even if Cagliari concede.
- Parma’s Simone Lontani has been one of the few bright notes in their start. Born in 2008, he is the youngest scorer in this Serie A season after netting against Monza. He also leads Parma for attempted dribbles, with 11, and successful ones, with six.
- Del Prato remains an important Parma outlet as well. Although a defender, he is fourth in the squad for shots attempted.
- Torino need a response from Simeone, who has missed more clear chances than any other Granata player. Cacciamani’s forward running could also matter against a defence that has shown vulnerabilities, with the prospect of his second league assist.
