Serie A Preview: Fiorentina Seek First Win Of The Season As Inter Face Tough Test At Genoa

‎From Fiorentina’s desperate search for a first league win to AC Milan’s title ambitions, the day is stacked with high-stakes encounters that could reshape the standings.

‎Here is a comprehensive breakdown of all the action coming up across Italy.

‎Fiorentina vs Hellas Verona: 

‎Still winless after 14 league matches, Fiorentina’s 2025–26 Serie A campaign has dramatically unraveled. What was expected to be a season of continuity, following last year’s sixth-place finish and consecutive European finals, has turned into an unexpected crisis.

‎With only six points on the board and rooted to the bottom of the table, La Viola are in danger of becoming the first team in Serie A history to avoid relegation from such a position at this stage.

‎Their last match summed up their struggle an early penalty from Rolando Mandragora offered hope against Sassuolo, but defensive frailties resurfaced as they fell to a 3–1 defeat.

‎Yet, their midweek 2–1 Conference League victory over Dynamo Kyiv might just spark the resurgence they desperately need.

‎The challenge for Fiorentina lies especially at home. Their last win at the Artemio Franchi came back in May, and only two of their six points have been earned on home soil.

‎The pressure will be immense as Verona, fresh off their first victory of the season, a 3–1 triumph over Atalanta, arrives looking to build momentum.

‎Paolo Zanetti’s side have lifted themselves to 19th and remain just four points from safety.

‎However, their away record remains alarmingly poor, with no victories in seven away fixtures and only three goals scored on the road.

‎Predicted Lineups

‎Fiorentina:

‎De Gea; Mari, Ranieri, Pongracic; Dodo, Ndour, Nicolussi, Mandragora, Parisi; Kean, Gudmundsson

‎Hellas Verona:

‎Montipo; Bella-Kotchap, Nelsson, Nunez; Frese, Bernede, Gagliardini, Niasse, Belghali; Giovane, Mosquera

‎Prediction: Fiorentina 1–1 Hellas Verona

‎Expect a cagey, high-pressure encounter between two sides desperate for points. Verona’s away woes and Fiorentina’s inability to convert performances into wins point toward a stalemate.

‎Bologna vs Juventus: 

‎Bologna have been one of Serie A’s standout stories this season. Sitting in seventh and flying across all competitions, Vincenzo Italiano’s men will welcome Juventus with confidence and purpose.

‎Their recent 1–1 draw against Lazio and a solid defensive record at home underline a team capable of competing with the league’s top sides.

‎Juventus, meanwhile, is experiencing an identity crisis. Luciano Spalletti’s tenure has yet to ignite, with the Bianconeri sitting a distant seventh and showing concerning inconsistency.

‎Their midweek European triumph over Pafos was a relief, but three losses in their last five away league matches highlight ongoing vulnerabilities.

‎History favours Juve, Bologna have not beaten them at home since 1998, but momentum is firmly with the Rossoblù.

‎Predicted Lineups

‎Bologna:

‎Ravaglia; Holm, Lucumi, Heggem, Miranda; Moro, Ferguson; Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi; Castro

‎Juventus:

‎Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Conceicao, Yildiz; David

‎Prediction: Bologna 2–1 Juventus

‎With Bologna in strong home form and Juve lacking cohesion, a narrow win for the hosts looks likely.

‎Genoa vs Inter Milan: 

‎Inter Milan look unstoppable against smaller sides, but their struggles in big matches have resurfaced following defeats to Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Juventus, and AC Milan.

‎Their Champions League campaign suffered another blow midweek, but domestically they remain firmly in the title race, sitting just a point off the top.

‎Genoa, revived under Daniele De Rossi, has surged out of the relegation zone thanks to 11 goals in five matches.

‎Their newfound attacking dynamism was on display in Monday’s win over Udinese, with Brooke Norton-Cuffy scoring the decisive goal.

‎Inter’s away form at Marassi has been mixed, they have gone five years without winning there, yet the Nerazzurri’s depth and attacking variety may just prove decisive.

‎Predicted Lineups

‎Genoa:

‎Leali; Marcandalli, Otoa, Vazquez; Norton-Cuffy, Frendrup, Malinovskyi, Thorsby, Martin; Vitinha, Colombo

‎Inter Milan:

‎Sommer; Akanji, Bisseck, Bastoni; Augusto, Barella, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez

‎Prediction: Genoa 1–2 Inter Milan

‎Inter may find resistance from an improving Genoa, but their late-game scoring habit should see them edge the contest.

‎Udinese vs Napoli:

‎Napoli have clicked into gear domestically, with five straight wins culminating in a morale-boosting victory over Juventus.

‎Rasmus Hojlund’s sharp form and David Neres’ resurgence have turned Antonio Conte’s side into genuine Scudetto defenders once more.

‎However, European frustrations persist after their limp loss to Benfica. These issues aside, history heavily favours Napoli against Udinese unbeaten in 18 straight meetings.

‎Udinese, meanwhile, has slipped into poor form. Defensive leakiness has seen them concede 13 second-half goals, and their recent loss to Genoa showed a worrying trend of fading late in matches.

‎Predicted Lineups

‎Udinese:

‎Okoye; Bertola, Kabasele, Solet; Zanoli, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom, Piotrowski, Modesto; Zaniolo, Davis

‎Napoli:

‎Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, McTominay, Elmas, Spinazzola; Politano, Neres; Hojlund

‎Prediction: Udinese 0–1 Napoli

‎Napoli’s consistency against lower-ranking teams should continue, even if their European fatigue results in a tighter contest.

‎AC Milan vs Sassuolo: 

‎AC Milan enters the weekend level on points with Napoli and on a 13-game domestic unbeaten run.

‎Max Allegri’s side has shown grit and resilience, exemplified by their comeback win over Torino. With Christian Pulisic in top form and Christopher Nkunku linking play effectively, Milan look like genuine title contenders.

‎Sassuolo, however, has a history of troubling Milan. They defeated the Rossoneri 5–2 at San Siro in 2023 and played out a thrilling 3–3 draw in their last league meeting.

‎Their confidence is high after beating Fiorentina 3–1, and their away form this season has been surprisingly solid.

‎Prediction: AC Milan 2–1 Sassuolo

‎Milan’s momentum and attacking quality should be enough, but Sassuolo’s fearless approach will ensure a tight game.