Big guns looking to hit back in Serie A

24 September 2012 09:27

Title contenders Napoli and Lazio will clash at Stadio San Paolo in the pick of midweek Serie A fixtures.

Napoli's perfect domestic campaign was halted at Catania over the weekend, when Walter Mazzarri's men were held to a scoreless draw despite dominating proceedings at Stadio Angelo Massimino.

Lazio also dropped their first points in a 1-0 home defeat to Genoa as Vladimir Petkovic's side struggled to manage European and domestic commitments, having come into the match on the back of a Europa League draw with Tottenham.

While both coaches will be eager to avoid dropping points in consecutive matches, Juventus will be hoping for a draw in order to extend their two-point lead atop the standings.

The reigning champions have carried their dominance from last season into the new campaign, winning each of their four games comfortably.

Caretaker coach Massimo Carrera, deputising while Antonio Conte serves a 10-month ban for charges relating to match-fixing, faces a stern test on Tuesday for the trip to fifth-placed Fiorentina.

While Juventus' rise gathers pace, the flagging fortunes of arch-rivals AC Milan has been one of the major discussion points.

Crippled by the off-season departures of star trio Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Antonio Cassano, Massimiliano Allegri's men have a win and three defeats to show for their efforts so far.

Much-needed points are for the taking against fellow strugglers Cagliari at San Siro.

City rivals Inter have also made a stuttering start but are favoured to return to winning ways at lowly Chievo.

Also on Wednesday, promoted Sampdoria, the undefeated surprise packets sitting in fourth place, face a tricky clash in the Italian capital against Roma.

Palermo will be looking to give new coach Gian Piero Gasperini his first win in charge away to Pescara, with both sides yet to register victory.

Siena, who claimed a stunning 2-0 victory at Inter over the weekend but sit last due to a six-point deduction for their part in the Calcioscommesse match-fixing scandal, welcome Bologna to Montepaschi Arena .

Genoa will seek their third win of the season at home to Parma, while Catania await the visit of Atalanta.