Serie A Preview: Juventus Chase Five Straight Wins, Gasperini Returns To Bergamo, Napoli Faces Lazio

‎As Italian football ushers in 2026, Serie A delivers a blockbuster slate of fixtures that will shape early title narratives, define survival battles, and reignite emotional returns.

‎From Juventus’ resurgence to Gasperini’s dramatic comeback in Bergamo and crucial tests for Inter, Fiorentina, and Napoli, the weekend promises high drama across the country.

‎Resurgent Bianconeri Target Fifth Straight Win

‎Aiming to begin the new year just as they ended the last, Juventus enter the weekend chasing a fifth consecutive victory in all competitions.

‎Under Luciano Spalletti, a side once stagnating has rediscovered efficiency, defensive solidity, and youthful dynamism, keeping itself within touching distance of the Serie A summit.

‎Their latest triumph, a 2–0 win over Pisa, showed the growing influence of teenage star Kenan Yildiz, who secured the result with a late strike. Across their last eight matches in all competitions, Juventus have recorded seven wins, conceding only one goal during that stretch.

‎Such defensive form marks a clear improvement and reflects Spalletti’s organisational imprint.

‎The historical numbers tilt heavily in Juve’s favour. They have not lost their first league match of a new calendar year since 2013, and they have scored in all but one of their home encounters with Lecce.

‎The visitors, meanwhile, remain locked in another relegation battle. After a brief surge, Lecce were comprehensively beaten 3–0 by Como and have struggled to find the net for months, scoring fewer goals than any other top-flight team.

‎Team News

‎Juventus will again rely on Lois Openda to cover for the injured Dusan Vlahović, with Yildiz acting as chief creator.

‎Lecce’s hopes depend on the industrious Ylber Ramadani and the availability of returning AFCON players such as Kialonda Gaspar and Lameck Banda. But based on form and history, the Bianconeri appear primed for a routine home victory.

‎Prediction: Juventus 2–0 Lecce

‎Gasperini’s Emotional Return to Bergamo

‎One of the most compelling stories of the weekend sees Gian Piero Gasperini return to Bergamo for the first time since his celebrated departure from Atalanta.

‎Over nine transformative years, he turned La Dea into one of Europe’s most admired teams, lifting the 2024 Europa League and redefining the club’s identity.

‎Now at the helm of Roma, Gasperini arrives with his side firmly in the top-four race, possessing Serie A’s best defensive record.

‎Roma recently overcame Genoa thanks to early goals from Soule, Kone, and Ferguson, reaffirming their resilience despite inconsistent pre-Christmas results.

‎Atalanta, however, remains unstable in the post-Gasperini era. Raffaele Palladino has steadied the ship after a chaotic managerial transition but ended 2025 with a defeat to Inter.

‎Team News 

‎Their struggles against top-half clubs continue, and with several players still missing, including Ademola Lookman, finding an attacking rhythm remains difficult.

‎Roma also have notable absences, Evan Ndicka at AFCON and Lorenzo Pellegrini sidelined, but they possess a settled back line anchored by Mile Svilar, one of Europe’s standout goalkeepers last year.

‎With both teams tactically shaped by Gasperini’s philosophy, this clash has all the ingredients of a tightly contested, tactical stalemate.

‎Prediction: Atalanta BC 0–0 Roma

‎Inter Milan vs Bologna

‎Inter begin 2026 at the top of the Serie A table, but their recent history against Bologna contains far more frustration than triumph.

‎Their Supercoppa semifinal ended level before Bologna knocked them out on penalties, continuing a trend of close, emotionally charged contests.

‎Despite that setback, Inter reached the new year in excellent form. Lautaro Martínez remains unstoppable, scoring his fifth goal in six games to defeat Atalanta.

‎If he scores again, he will reach double figures in Serie A for the seventh time. Inter’s attack is the most potent in the league, and they have yet to draw a match in Serie A this season.

‎Bologna, meanwhile, has dipped. A series of poor performances, including losses to Cremonese, Juventus, and a draw with Sassuolo, disrupted their fine early-season form.

‎Still, they remain dangerous and have scored in 17 consecutive away matches against Inter an extraordinary statistic.

‎Team News

‎Riccardo Orsolini’s excellent record against Inter offers hope for the visitors, while Santiago Castro or Thijs Dallinga should lead the line.

‎Inter, missing key wing-backs, will look to assert dominance through their midfield trio of Calhanoglu, Barella, and Mkhitaryan.

‎Form points toward Inter finally restoring order in this fixture, though Bologna rarely goes quietly.

‎Prediction: Inter Milan 2–1 Bologna

‎Fiorentina vs Cremonese

‎Few clubs need a reset like Fiorentina. After ending 2025 with a damaging defeat to Parma, they entered 2026 rooted to the bottom of the table with just one win all season.

‎Defensive frailties have cost them dearly; they have conceded in 10 straight home league matches, their worst run since 1938, and set-piece defending remains a chronic weakness.

‎However, history offers a glimmer of hope. Fiorentina are unbeaten in all 12 previous Serie A meetings with Cremonese.

‎The visitors, though, are a different side this season under Davide Nicola. Mid-table and hard to break down, they’ve frustrated several top clubs but have recently struggled for goals, failing to score in their last three matches.

‎Team News

‎The return of Luca Ranieri from suspension and the addition of Manor Solomon provide Fiorentina with some much-needed reinforcement.

‎Meanwhile, Cremonese look to Jamie Vardy and Federico Bonazzoli, whose goals have been crucial to their campaign.

‎Given both teams’ inconsistencies, a tense and unpredictable contest is expected. Fiorentina are desperate; Cremonese are steady. The result may land somewhere in between.

‎Prediction: Fiorentina 2–2 Cremonese

‎Champions on the Rise Return to Rome

‎Napoli ended 2025 with their spirits high after lifting the Supercoppa Italiana and securing a third straight 2–0 victory.

‎Rasmus Højlund, enjoying a strong loan spell, continues to flourish with nine goals already. Antonio Conte has revitalized the champions, and though their away record is poor, they enter 2026 with momentum.

‎Team News

‎Lazio, on the other hand, remains defensively reliable but attacking-light. A transfer embargo has limited reinforcements, and the likely sale of striker Taty Castellanos further weakens their forward line.

‎Fortunately, Ivan Provedel’s brilliance and a well-drilled back four have kept them competitive.

‎Maurizio Sarri’s side has taken only five points from eight matches against top-half teams, a worrying trend ahead of Napoli’s visit. But the Biancocelesti have not lost to Napoli in their last five Serie A meetings, suggesting another close battle awaits.

‎Napoli’s injuries persist, including Kevin De Bruyne and Alex Meret, but their firepower still outweighs Lazio’s current options.

‎With Højlund in form and Conte eager to maintain pressure on Milan and Inter, the champions have a slight edge.

‎Prediction: Lazio 0–1 Napoli