Inter Milan Prepare to Host Juventus in Pivotal Serie A Showdown

League frontrunners Inter Milan will welcome a revitalised Juventus to their home ground in Serie A this Saturday, while a tense encounter awaits as the determined title holders Napoli face Roma on Sunday.

Under Cristian Chivu, Inter enter the matchday leading by eight points with 58 from their 24 outings, as Napoli hold third place on 49, only three clear of the approaching Roma side.

Sitting within the leading quartet, Juventus make the trip to Milan after dropping just one result in their previous 10 fixtures, yet Inter come off a run of five straight league victories, including a dominant five-goal thrashing of Sassuolo in their most recent outing.

Juventus carry added motivation following a report in Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport this week, which argued that merely three of their players would earn spots in Inters starting eleven.

That trio comprised defender Gleison Bremer, midfielder Khephren Thuram, and forward Kenan Yildiz, indicating some depth across their squad at least.

Juventus demonstrated grit last weekend too, clawing back from a 2-0 deficit against Lazio at home to secure a draw that preserved their momentum despite the shared points. 

Now energised by Luciano Spallettis guidance, Juventus overwhelmed Napoli with a convincing 3-0 victory a fortnight back.

Southern clash

Napoli need to stay alert for Romas latest addition on loan, the Dutch striker Donyell Malen, who has netted three times in his four appearances for Gian Piero Gasperinis team.

"I believe he will rack up plenty of goals this term, so we need to supply him effectively based on his style," Gasperini commented recently.

"Our forward line now boasts a calibre thats hard to handle, given his wide range of skills."

Dealing with a spate of injuries, the ex-Manchester United duo Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay have embodied the intense style Antonio Conte insists upon, and the Roma matchup promises a charged vibe.

"Were trailing by nine points, yet performing solidly amid these setbacks... still, holding onto the crown looks challenging," Conte noted this week.

Meanwhile, runners-up AC Milan head to Pisa on Friday night, buoyed by the sharp form of French keeper Mike Maignon and Luka Modrics orchestration in the engine room.

Rising outfit Como occupy sixth spot ahead of hosting relegation-battling Fiorentina on Saturday. They also journey to AC Milan midweek for a postponed fixture from the Olympic opening ceremony disruption.

Spotlight player: Lautaro Martinez

This compact Argentine forward has bagged 14 Serie A strikes thus far and could rely on his surging advances versus formidable foes this Saturday, though Inter have amassed an outstanding 57 goals across 24 matches, with contributions from much of their core lineup.

Essential figures

171 - Total Serie A goals by Lautaro Martinez for Inter Milan, placing him third on their all-time list. Leading that chart is Giuseppe Meazza with 284 from the 1930s era.

36 - Juventus hold 36 league titles to their name, though their most recent came in 2015. Inter pursue their 21st Scudetto.

1 - AC Milan visit Pisa Friday, where the home team has managed only a single win from 24 attempts.

Schedule (all times GMT)

Friday

Pisa v AC Milan (1945)

Saturday

Como v Fiorentina (1400), Lazio v Atalanta (1700), Inter Milan v Juventus (1945)

Sunday

Udinese v Sassuolo (1130), Cremonese v Genova, Parma v Verona (1400), Torino v Bologna (1700), Napoli v Roma, Cagliari v Lecce (1945)

Monday

Cagliari v Lecce (1945)