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Christmas cheer with matchday 17

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Campionato Primavera 1 - Matchday 20, 21 and 22

Campionato Primavera 1 - Matchday 19th

Round of 16 Coppa Italia Primavera - Variation date and time Lazio-Juventus

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&lt;p&gt;With Christmas just around the corner, there’s a red and cold tinge to the latest round of fixtures in Serie A. After their impressive victory at the Olimpico, reigning champions Inter are ready to continue their pursuit of top spot. Meanwhile, Atalanta are on the hunt for their eleventh consecutive league win; the last sides to achieve this feat then went on to win the Scudetto. AC Milan and Juventus are aiming to bounce back after underwhelming performances, while Lazio and Fiorentina need to regain momentum if they want to carry on having their say at the top. In the bottom half of the table, the battle to avoid relegation is becoming increasingly intense as we head into a matchday full of vital fixtures, meaning plenty of excitement is in store before Christmas arrives.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;AC Milan&lt;/strong&gt;, who are without a win in two league matches, will travel to the Bentegodi to face Hellas Verona, who are eager for points in their fight to avoid the drop. The Rossoneri, who have launched 37 direct attacks – the most in the league – will look to combine directness with passing quality (89% precision rate) to find a way through a leaky Gialloblù defence. &lt;strong&gt;Verona&lt;/strong&gt;, who have conceded 26 first-half goals – the worst in the main European leagues – and &lt;strong&gt;failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 13 Serie A fixtures&lt;/strong&gt;, will look to build on their victory over Parma by producing a performance full of character.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;3ccdd330-c994-43e0-80ac-a85dbba563f7&#34; data-image-id=&#34;3ccdd330-c994-43e0-80ac-a85dbba563f7&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/48b45b74-a3a4-4a1e-b14e-5ef5189eb41a/Sito_HERO_ver.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;3ccdd330-c994-43e0-80ac-a85dbba563f7&#34; data-image-id=&#34;3ccdd330-c994-43e0-80ac-a85dbba563f7&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;After their victory in Empoli, &lt;strong&gt;Torino&lt;/strong&gt; now also want to return to winning ways on home soil, but a tough task awaits against Bologna. The Granata, who have only scored &lt;strong&gt;twice&lt;/strong&gt; in their last seven matches, need to improve in front of goal, while the Rossoblù, who have won five of their last seven matches, have looked shaky away from the Dall’Ara: Italiano’s men have shipped at least two goals in each of their last three away fixtures. &lt;strong&gt;Physical duels&lt;/strong&gt; could prove key: across the division, &lt;strong&gt;Bologna&lt;/strong&gt; are leading the way in terms of number of tackle made (an average of 106 per match), but it’s an area Torino have struggled in: Paolo Vanoli’s men have won the lowest percentage of duels in the league (46%). Bologna have only conceded four &lt;strong&gt;first-half&lt;/strong&gt; goals this campaign – the fewest in the division – while the Granata have only scored twice in the opening 30 minutes of play (no side has done worse).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;005b97c9-3eca-4966-98da-f5a199200fd5&#34; data-image-id=&#34;005b97c9-3eca-4966-98da-f5a199200fd5&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/bc875bb2-6a3d-4577-a1ab-76653833cf79/Sito_HERO_Torino.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;005b97c9-3eca-4966-98da-f5a199200fd5&#34; data-image-id=&#34;005b97c9-3eca-4966-98da-f5a199200fd5&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;Genoa want to put their home hoodoo against high-flying Napoli to bed when the two teams meet on Saturday: the Rossoblù haven’t beaten the Partenopei at the Ferraris in Serie A since 2009, something they hope to change to maintain their excellent recent form. Napoli, meanwhile, have the &lt;strong&gt;best defence&lt;/strong&gt; in the league and have been particularly solid &lt;strong&gt;on the road&lt;/strong&gt; recently: in their last seven away fixtures, Antonio Conte’s men have only conceded twice and kept five clean sheets. As for the Grifone, they’ve recorded three consecutive shutouts. Both sides have strugged to find the net in the &lt;strong&gt;first half&lt;/strong&gt;: Genoa and Napoli have failed to score on twelve and nine occasions in the opening 45 minutes, respectively.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;a6edad6a-e25c-4ed4-9d46-186fd48d22b1&#34; data-image-id=&#34;a6edad6a-e25c-4ed4-9d46-186fd48d22b1&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/440fe752-0840-451a-bd3b-793817da0752/Sito_HERO_Genoa.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;a6edad6a-e25c-4ed4-9d46-186fd48d22b1&#34; data-image-id=&#34;a6edad6a-e25c-4ed4-9d46-186fd48d22b1&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;At the Via del Mare, &lt;strong&gt;Lecce&lt;/strong&gt; are set to host a Lazio side that have lost two of their last three matches. The Salentini are unbeaten in four home fixtures and have found some &lt;strong&gt;consistency&lt;/strong&gt; under Giampaolo. The Lecce coach will be hoping his team can cause further problems for the Biancocelesti, who have conceded nine goals in their last three matches. In attack, the Giallorossi have only had five &lt;strong&gt;different goalscorers&lt;/strong&gt; all season, whereas Lazio sit second behind Inter in this regard (13). Baroni’s Lazio pose a particular threat &lt;strong&gt;inside the box&lt;/strong&gt;, where they’ve scored 97% of their goals this campaign.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;9568abb5-330b-449d-b8a7-206e72614559&#34; data-image-id=&#34;9568abb5-330b-449d-b8a7-206e72614559&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/3fdb08a5-4fc5-481c-9dd1-b375d538fae8/Sito_HERO_Lecce.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;9568abb5-330b-449d-b8a7-206e72614559&#34; data-image-id=&#34;9568abb5-330b-449d-b8a7-206e72614559&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;Roma host &lt;strong&gt;Parma&lt;/strong&gt; in a lunchtime match which sees both sides looking to bounce back. The Giallorossi, who haven’t lost at home to the Ducali since 1997, will aim to put an end to their negative run of form with seven defeats in their last nine games. Parma have lost four of their last six matches, but will count on their ability to build &lt;strong&gt;direct attacks&lt;/strong&gt; (31, second only to AC Milan) to surprise a &lt;strong&gt;Roma&lt;/strong&gt; side who are leading the way when it comes to &lt;strong&gt;offensive recoveries&lt;/strong&gt;, with 123 recoveries made in advanced positions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;99477238-8127-436e-a047-df0d8f808d02&#34; data-image-id=&#34;99477238-8127-436e-a047-df0d8f808d02&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/6f1df466-ebec-4157-a6e4-790b99f764fd/Sito_HERO_Dybala.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;99477238-8127-436e-a047-df0d8f808d02&#34; data-image-id=&#34;99477238-8127-436e-a047-df0d8f808d02&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Venezia&lt;/strong&gt; welcome Cagliari to the Penzo for a clash in the battle for survival. The Lagunari, who are unbeaten in their last seven against the Sardinians in the top flight, will look to win in order to reverse a trend of &lt;strong&gt;points lost from winning positions&lt;/strong&gt; (18, the worst in Europe). &lt;strong&gt;Cagliari&lt;/strong&gt;, who are coming off the back of two defeats without scoring and with just one win in their last eight games, have lost &lt;strong&gt;seven matches without finding the net&lt;/strong&gt;. The Rossoblù, who have scored three penalties this season, will be coming up against a Venezia side who have conceded six goals from the&lt;strong&gt; spot&lt;/strong&gt;, more than any other team in the league. Both teams will need to find something to relieve themselves from this critical situation, with Di Francesco’s side needing to avoid lapses of concentration and the Sardinians needing to make the most of dead ball situations.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;c85156b6-3edb-4941-9cce-853ad95f96e7&#34; data-image-id=&#34;c85156b6-3edb-4941-9cce-853ad95f96e7&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/33593923-5ba2-4eb9-8696-c4fe30c88711/Sito_HERO_ven.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;c85156b6-3edb-4941-9cce-853ad95f96e7&#34; data-image-id=&#34;c85156b6-3edb-4941-9cce-853ad95f96e7&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Atalanta&lt;/strong&gt; face Empoli at the Gewiss Stadium as they aim for their eleventh consecutive win, an achievement which has resulted in a Scudetto triumph for the last two teams to do this (Napoli in 2022/23 and Inter in 2020/21). Gasperini’s side are the most prolific when it comes to &lt;strong&gt;headed goals&lt;/strong&gt; (eight goals) and have shown a great resilience and&lt;strong&gt; ability to come from behind&lt;/strong&gt;, obtaining seven points from losing positions. The Nerazzurri will rely on their defensive solidity (they are yet to concede a stoppage-time goal) as they look to continue their positive run and remain top of the table. &lt;strong&gt;Empoli&lt;/strong&gt;, at the same time, will need to use their solidity in key moments to be able to pull off a big result (they also haven’t shipped any goals in injury time this Serie A season). &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;52a3dc09-f711-4a5a-bd8e-3e05e6fa887a&#34; data-image-id=&#34;52a3dc09-f711-4a5a-bd8e-3e05e6fa887a&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/3de28949-2adc-4866-908a-9a4acf1f1c57/Sito_HERO_ata.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;52a3dc09-f711-4a5a-bd8e-3e05e6fa887a&#34; data-image-id=&#34;52a3dc09-f711-4a5a-bd8e-3e05e6fa887a&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;In Sunday’s late game, &lt;strong&gt;Monza&lt;/strong&gt; will host a Juventus side who will be hoping to finish the first half of the season unbeaten. The Brianzoli, who are last when it comes to number of leads taken (only three) and &lt;strong&gt;minutes spent ahead&lt;/strong&gt; at home (seven), will try to overcome Motta’s Bianconeri, who have been struggling away from home with four consecutive draws. However, the Bianconeri can count on a deep squad – 21 players have played a full 90 minutes at least – and on their ability to control play, with the highest number of &lt;strong&gt;passes completed&lt;/strong&gt; in the league. The clash will be a test for both sides: Monza are aiming to avoid their fourth consecutive home defeat, while &lt;strong&gt;Juventus&lt;/strong&gt; are hoping to get back to winning ways in Serie A.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;49b95d8e-d77f-46d8-b316-a3371ce2e945&#34; data-image-id=&#34;49b95d8e-d77f-46d8-b316-a3371ce2e945&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/91fec46b-e299-4172-b6ce-1b66d507b72a/Sito_HERO_mon.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;49b95d8e-d77f-46d8-b316-a3371ce2e945&#34; data-image-id=&#34;49b95d8e-d77f-46d8-b316-a3371ce2e945&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;On Monday at 18:00 CET, at the Franchi, &lt;strong&gt;Fiorentina&lt;/strong&gt; will face an Udinese side who are unbeaten in their last two away matches. The Viola, who are unbeaten in their last 19 home games in all competitions, will want to get back on track after their loss against Bologna. Palladino’s side have excelled in scoring from &lt;strong&gt;dead ball situations&lt;/strong&gt; (eleven) and can rely on an exceptionally solid defence in the second half, with just two &lt;strong&gt;goals conceded in the second 45 minutes of play&lt;/strong&gt;. Udinese, however, boast an attentive defence and a unique ability to intercept play (143 interceptions).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;6ff019e0-df47-434e-8a6c-3c3f4d4df644&#34; data-image-id=&#34;6ff019e0-df47-434e-8a6c-3c3f4d4df644&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/55b2e3ea-93ec-4f02-925d-eb43538debe3/Sito_HERO_fio.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;6ff019e0-df47-434e-8a6c-3c3f4d4df644&#34; data-image-id=&#34;6ff019e0-df47-434e-8a6c-3c3f4d4df644&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;On the night before Christmas Eve, &lt;strong&gt;Inter&lt;/strong&gt; will round off the matchday by taking on Como, 21 years after their last meeting. The Nerazzurri boast a very good &lt;strong&gt;record&lt;/strong&gt; against the Lariani in Serie A: after having lost their first home match in 1950, they have won all of their next 12 home games against them. Inzaghi’s men, who are coming off the back of three consecutive wins, will want to finish the year in a positive way in front of their fans. &lt;strong&gt;Como&lt;/strong&gt;, who are unbeaten in their last three games, have been &lt;strong&gt;strong going forward&lt;/strong&gt; in the latter stages of matches but tend to suffer defensively late on, with nine goals conceded in the final 15 minutes (the worst record in the division). The contrast between two different philosophies is interesting: percentage-wise, Fabregas’ side sit second when it comes to &lt;strong&gt;successful dribbles&lt;/strong&gt;, while Inter have the lowest number, preferring &lt;strong&gt;well-crafted moves.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;figure data-asset-id=&#34;e10e5278-f2c6-492a-bdaa-2de0a8ba1d74&#34; data-image-id=&#34;e10e5278-f2c6-492a-bdaa-2de0a8ba1d74&#34;&gt;&lt;img src=&#34;https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/84aed23f-8d08-48b1-9b27-ac32113dff95/Sito_HERO_int.png&#34; data-asset-id=&#34;e10e5278-f2c6-492a-bdaa-2de0a8ba1d74&#34; data-image-id=&#34;e10e5278-f2c6-492a-bdaa-2de0a8ba1d74&#34; alt=&#34;&#34;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;p&gt;(Photo Getty Images)&lt;/p&gt;

It’s time for the final round of Serie A Enilive fixtures before Christmas. From Atalanta and Napoli’s dreams of glory and Inter’s hunger for success through to Lazio and Fiorentina’s desire to bounce back and the battle for survival: let’s analyse what’s

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Serie A

Bologna will head to Turin to continue to give chase to the top sides, while the Granata are hoping to push on

Torino v Bologna opens the Saturday action

Genoa will host Napoli at 18:00 CET, with three important points on offer for both sides 

Napoli in Genoa to reclaim top spot

Lecce are hoping to build on their win over Monza, while the Biancocelesti want to move on from their defeat to Inter

Lecce to host Lazio at 20:45 CET

Verona will be looking to build on their victory over Parma against an AC Milan side who drew 0-0 with Genoa last time out

Hellas Verona v AC Milan to kick off matchday 17

The referees for the Serie A matches scheduled from 20 to 23 December

THE REFEREES FOR THE 17TH ROUND

The Sport Judge decisions regarding Round 16 of Serie A 2024/2025

SPORT JUDGE DECISIONS

Atalanta, Napoli and Inter attempt to extend their leads at the top. Inzaghi’s Nerazzurri put on a show with a historic win over Lazio at the Olimpico. The Viola fell to Bologna, unbeaten at home

FIRST ATTEMPTS TO BREAK AWAY

The 16th round of Serie A 2024/2025 has come to an end. Here are some statistics and interesting facts about the matches played (Opta data)

RECORDS AND FACTS OF ROUND 16

A big clash at the top of the table between two sides on 31 points

Lazio vs. Inter, finishing with a bang

A big clash at the bottom between two sides separated by just three points

Lecce vs. Monza, a lunchtime six-pointer

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With Christmas just around the corner, there’s a red and cold tinge to the latest round of fixtures in Serie A. After their impressive victory at the Olimpico, reigning champions Inter are ready to continue their pursuit of top spot. Meanwhile, Atalanta are on the hunt for their eleventh consecutive league win; the last sides to achieve this feat then went on to win the Scudetto. AC Milan and Juventus are aiming to bounce back after underwhelming performances, while Lazio and Fiorentina need to regain momentum if they want to carry on having their say at the top. In the bottom half of the table, the battle to avoid relegation is becoming increasingly intense as we head into a matchday full of vital fixtures, meaning plenty of excitement is in store before Christmas arrives.AC Milan, who are without a win in two league matches, will travel to the Bentegodi to face Hellas Verona, who are eager for points in their fight to avoid the drop. The Rossoneri, who have launched 37 direct attacks – the most in the league – will look to combine directness with passing quality (89% precision rate) to find a way through a leaky Gialloblù defence. Verona, who have conceded 26 first-half goals – the worst in the main European leagues – and failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 13 Serie A fixtures, will look to build on their victory over Parma by producing a performance full of character.<figure data-asset-id="3ccdd330-c994-43e0-80ac-a85dbba563f7" data-image-id="3ccdd330-c994-43e0-80ac-a85dbba563f7"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/48b45b74-a3a4-4a1e-b14e-5ef5189eb41a/Sito_HERO_ver.png" data-asset-id="3ccdd330-c994-43e0-80ac-a85dbba563f7" data-image-id="3ccdd330-c994-43e0-80ac-a85dbba563f7" alt=""></figure>After their victory in Empoli, Torino now also want to return to winning ways on home soil, but a tough task awaits against Bologna. The Granata, who have only scored twice in their last seven matches, need to improve in front of goal, while the Rossoblù, who have won five of their last seven matches, have looked shaky away from the Dall’Ara: Italiano’s men have shipped at least two goals in each of their last three away fixtures. Physical duels could prove key: across the division, Bologna are leading the way in terms of number of tackle made (an average of 106 per match), but it’s an area Torino have struggled in: Paolo Vanoli’s men have won the lowest percentage of duels in the league (46%). Bologna have only conceded four first-half goals this campaign – the fewest in the division – while the Granata have only scored twice in the opening 30 minutes of play (no side has done worse).<figure data-asset-id="005b97c9-3eca-4966-98da-f5a199200fd5" data-image-id="005b97c9-3eca-4966-98da-f5a199200fd5"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/bc875bb2-6a3d-4577-a1ab-76653833cf79/Sito_HERO_Torino.png" data-asset-id="005b97c9-3eca-4966-98da-f5a199200fd5" data-image-id="005b97c9-3eca-4966-98da-f5a199200fd5" alt=""></figure>Genoa want to put their home hoodoo against high-flying Napoli to bed when the two teams meet on Saturday: the Rossoblù haven’t beaten the Partenopei at the Ferraris in Serie A since 2009, something they hope to change to maintain their excellent recent form. Napoli, meanwhile, have the best defence in the league and have been particularly solid on the road recently: in their last seven away fixtures, Antonio Conte’s men have only conceded twice and kept five clean sheets. As for the Grifone, they’ve recorded three consecutive shutouts. Both sides have strugged to find the net in the first half: Genoa and Napoli have failed to score on twelve and nine occasions in the opening 45 minutes, respectively.<figure data-asset-id="a6edad6a-e25c-4ed4-9d46-186fd48d22b1" data-image-id="a6edad6a-e25c-4ed4-9d46-186fd48d22b1"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/440fe752-0840-451a-bd3b-793817da0752/Sito_HERO_Genoa.png" data-asset-id="a6edad6a-e25c-4ed4-9d46-186fd48d22b1" data-image-id="a6edad6a-e25c-4ed4-9d46-186fd48d22b1" alt=""></figure>At the Via del Mare, Lecce are set to host a Lazio side that have lost two of their last three matches. The Salentini are unbeaten in four home fixtures and have found some consistency under Giampaolo. The Lecce coach will be hoping his team can cause further problems for the Biancocelesti, who have conceded nine goals in their last three matches. In attack, the Giallorossi have only had five different goalscorers all season, whereas Lazio sit second behind Inter in this regard (13). Baroni’s Lazio pose a particular threat inside the box, where they’ve scored 97% of their goals this campaign.<figure data-asset-id="9568abb5-330b-449d-b8a7-206e72614559" data-image-id="9568abb5-330b-449d-b8a7-206e72614559"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/3fdb08a5-4fc5-481c-9dd1-b375d538fae8/Sito_HERO_Lecce.png" data-asset-id="9568abb5-330b-449d-b8a7-206e72614559" data-image-id="9568abb5-330b-449d-b8a7-206e72614559" alt=""></figure>Roma host Parma in a lunchtime match which sees both sides looking to bounce back. The Giallorossi, who haven’t lost at home to the Ducali since 1997, will aim to put an end to their negative run of form with seven defeats in their last nine games. Parma have lost four of their last six matches, but will count on their ability to build direct attacks (31, second only to AC Milan) to surprise a Roma side who are leading the way when it comes to offensive recoveries, with 123 recoveries made in advanced positions.<figure data-asset-id="99477238-8127-436e-a047-df0d8f808d02" data-image-id="99477238-8127-436e-a047-df0d8f808d02"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/6f1df466-ebec-4157-a6e4-790b99f764fd/Sito_HERO_Dybala.png" data-asset-id="99477238-8127-436e-a047-df0d8f808d02" data-image-id="99477238-8127-436e-a047-df0d8f808d02" alt=""></figure>Venezia welcome Cagliari to the Penzo for a clash in the battle for survival. The Lagunari, who are unbeaten in their last seven against the Sardinians in the top flight, will look to win in order to reverse a trend of points lost from winning positions (18, the worst in Europe). Cagliari, who are coming off the back of two defeats without scoring and with just one win in their last eight games, have lost seven matches without finding the net. The Rossoblù, who have scored three penalties this season, will be coming up against a Venezia side who have conceded six goals from the spot, more than any other team in the league. Both teams will need to find something to relieve themselves from this critical situation, with Di Francesco’s side needing to avoid lapses of concentration and the Sardinians needing to make the most of dead ball situations.&nbsp;<figure data-asset-id="c85156b6-3edb-4941-9cce-853ad95f96e7" data-image-id="c85156b6-3edb-4941-9cce-853ad95f96e7"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/33593923-5ba2-4eb9-8696-c4fe30c88711/Sito_HERO_ven.png" data-asset-id="c85156b6-3edb-4941-9cce-853ad95f96e7" data-image-id="c85156b6-3edb-4941-9cce-853ad95f96e7" alt=""></figure>Atalanta face Empoli at the Gewiss Stadium as they aim for their eleventh consecutive win, an achievement which has resulted in a Scudetto triumph for the last two teams to do this (Napoli in 2022/23 and Inter in 2020/21). Gasperini’s side are the most prolific when it comes to headed goals (eight goals) and have shown a great resilience and ability to come from behind, obtaining seven points from losing positions. The Nerazzurri will rely on their defensive solidity (they are yet to concede a stoppage-time goal) as they look to continue their positive run and remain top of the table. Empoli, at the same time, will need to use their solidity in key moments to be able to pull off a big result (they also haven’t shipped any goals in injury time this Serie A season). &nbsp;<figure data-asset-id="52a3dc09-f711-4a5a-bd8e-3e05e6fa887a" data-image-id="52a3dc09-f711-4a5a-bd8e-3e05e6fa887a"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/3de28949-2adc-4866-908a-9a4acf1f1c57/Sito_HERO_ata.png" data-asset-id="52a3dc09-f711-4a5a-bd8e-3e05e6fa887a" data-image-id="52a3dc09-f711-4a5a-bd8e-3e05e6fa887a" alt=""></figure>In Sunday’s late game, Monza will host a Juventus side who will be hoping to finish the first half of the season unbeaten. The Brianzoli, who are last when it comes to number of leads taken (only three) and minutes spent ahead at home (seven), will try to overcome Motta’s Bianconeri, who have been struggling away from home with four consecutive draws. However, the Bianconeri can count on a deep squad – 21 players have played a full 90 minutes at least – and on their ability to control play, with the highest number of passes completed in the league. The clash will be a test for both sides: Monza are aiming to avoid their fourth consecutive home defeat, while Juventus are hoping to get back to winning ways in Serie A.<figure data-asset-id="49b95d8e-d77f-46d8-b316-a3371ce2e945" data-image-id="49b95d8e-d77f-46d8-b316-a3371ce2e945"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/91fec46b-e299-4172-b6ce-1b66d507b72a/Sito_HERO_mon.png" data-asset-id="49b95d8e-d77f-46d8-b316-a3371ce2e945" data-image-id="49b95d8e-d77f-46d8-b316-a3371ce2e945" alt=""></figure>On Monday at 18:00 CET, at the Franchi, Fiorentina will face an Udinese side who are unbeaten in their last two away matches. The Viola, who are unbeaten in their last 19 home games in all competitions, will want to get back on track after their loss against Bologna. Palladino’s side have excelled in scoring from dead ball situations (eleven) and can rely on an exceptionally solid defence in the second half, with just two goals conceded in the second 45 minutes of play. Udinese, however, boast an attentive defence and a unique ability to intercept play (143 interceptions).<figure data-asset-id="6ff019e0-df47-434e-8a6c-3c3f4d4df644" data-image-id="6ff019e0-df47-434e-8a6c-3c3f4d4df644"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/55b2e3ea-93ec-4f02-925d-eb43538debe3/Sito_HERO_fio.png" data-asset-id="6ff019e0-df47-434e-8a6c-3c3f4d4df644" data-image-id="6ff019e0-df47-434e-8a6c-3c3f4d4df644" alt=""></figure>On the night before Christmas Eve, Inter will round off the matchday by taking on Como, 21 years after their last meeting. The Nerazzurri boast a very good record against the Lariani in Serie A: after having lost their first home match in 1950, they have won all of their next 12 home games against them. Inzaghi’s men, who are coming off the back of three consecutive wins, will want to finish the year in a positive way in front of their fans. Como, who are unbeaten in their last three games, have been strong going forward in the latter stages of matches but tend to suffer defensively late on, with nine goals conceded in the final 15 minutes (the worst record in the division). The contrast between two different philosophies is interesting: percentage-wise, Fabregas’ side sit second when it comes to successful dribbles, while Inter have the lowest number, preferring well-crafted moves.<figure data-asset-id="e10e5278-f2c6-492a-bdaa-2de0a8ba1d74" data-image-id="e10e5278-f2c6-492a-bdaa-2de0a8ba1d74"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/6be6dbcf-fd70-012d-ec80-2d3245f5ce6a/84aed23f-8d08-48b1-9b27-ac32113dff95/Sito_HERO_int.png" data-asset-id="e10e5278-f2c6-492a-bdaa-2de0a8ba1d74" data-image-id="e10e5278-f2c6-492a-bdaa-2de0a8ba1d74" alt=""></figure>(Photo Getty Images)

Christmas cheer with matchday 17 | News

Christmas cheer with matchday 17

It’s time for the final round of Serie A Enilive fixtures before Christmas. From Atalanta and Napoli’s dreams of glory and Inter’s hunger for success through to Lazio and Fiorentina’s desire to bounce back and the battle for survival: let’s analyse what’s

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Christmas cheer with matchday 17 | News