Top Match Round-Up: Juventus close in on historic Scudetto

With Italy without any representatives in Europe, focus is firmly on league action where there is still a lot to play for at both ends of the table

Carpi vs Genoa – Saturday, Saturday 17:00 KO

The home side have the chance to put some distance between themselves and the bottom three with a win against Genoa. They are currently only above the bottom three on goal differential but with Palermo travelling to Juventus they could move three points clear of the relegation zone. Added to the fact that only Frosinone  have picked up fewer points on the road than Genoa this season (10), there is a real chance for points here.

Inter vs Napoli – Saturday, 19:45 KO

Napoli comfortably beat Verona in the first match without Gonzalo Higuain but this will be the true test of how dependent Maurizio Sarri’s men are without Serie A’s top goalscorer (30). Higuain has scored nearly half of Napoli’s goals in the league this season (47%) but they will have to find a way past the third best defence in the league without him (30 goals conceded). Inter still haven’t given up hope of finishing third but defeat here would all but end their hopes of cutting Roma’s current six-point lead.

Fiorentina vs Sassuolo –Saturday, 14:00 KO

The Viola are in meltdown at the moment and with their manager reportedly in talks to become Zenit’s next manager it doesn’t bode well for a happy end of season finish. Paulo Sousa’s men are winless in six in the league and will be charged with fending off a Sassuolo outfit that can still finish in sixth.

Juventus vs Palermo – Saturday, 14:00 KO

Massimiliano Allegri’s men can pull a step closer to securing their fifth league title on the trot, achieving the feat for the first time since the 1930s. The Old Lady have kept a clean sheet in each of their last seven home league matches and will face against a Palermo side without a win in their last 11. They have also just made their ninth managerial chance of the season, which means they’ve had a new face in the dug out more times than they have had wins this season (7).

Sampdoria vs AC Milan – Sunday, 19:45 KO

Cristian Brocchi’s first game in charge as AC Milan manager is the last match of the weekend in Serie A. By the time this game kicks off, Sassuolo could have leapfrogged Milan into sixth place. He will be tasked with improving their away form, with the formbooks reading just four wins on the road all season in the league.