Serie A Preview: Juventus Travel To Pisa As Inter Milan Takes On Atalanta

‎As 2025 draws to a close, Serie A prepares for a decisive final round of fixtures.

‎From Juventus’ revival under Luciano Spalletti to Atalanta’s renewed ambition and Napoli’s pursuit of consistency, this weekend promises compelling storylines across Italy.

‎Below is an in-depth preview of the major matches shaping the league table heading into the new year.

‎Juventus Aim to Close the Year in Style Against Struggling Pisa

‎Putting a full stop on a turbulent twelve months, Juventus travels to Tuscany with renewed purpose.

‎After consecutive Serie A victories and further success in Europe, the Bianconeri seek a fourth straight win that would cement their upward trajectory.

‎Under Luciano Spalletti, Juventus has begun to rebuild stability and cohesion after a chaotic period. Though his early matches were unconvincing, the former Italy boss has averaged two points per game since replacing Igor Tudor, who had managed only 1.50.

‎Momentum is finally with the fallen giants, who followed a gritty win in Bologna with a 2-1 victory over Roma, in which Francisco Conceição and Lois Openda delivered decisive contributions.

‎Juventus now sit fifth, only four points adrift of leaders Inter Milan, putting them firmly, if unexpectedly, back into the Scudetto conversation.

‎History also favours them heavily this weekend, as they have never lost to Pisa in 14 Serie A meetings, and the sides have not met in the top flight for nearly 35 years.

‎Team news:

‎Pisa, meanwhile, faces mounting concerns. Last season’s Serie B runners-up have fallen into the relegation zone after three defeats from their last four games.

‎Late drama salvaged a point against Cagliari last weekend, yet Alberto Gilardino’s side remains 19th and desperately short on goals and confidence, especially at home, where they have scored just once.

‎Juventus, however, must contend with severe defensive absences. Daniele Rugani joins Bremer and Federico Gatti on the injury list, forcing Spalletti to improvise again possibly with Teun Koopmeiners in the back line.

‎Openda is expected to lead the line with Dusan Vlahović still out.

‎Pisa also misses key players through injury and AFCON, including top scorer M’Bala Nzola, leaving Henrik Meister and Stefano Moreo to shoulder the burden.

‎Prediction: Pisa 0-2 Juventus

‎Given recent trajectories, Juve’s form and structure should be too strong for Pisa’s fragile squad and weak home record.

‎Udinese and Lazio Battle for Mid-Table Positioning

‎Separated by a single point, Udinese and Lazio enter their final match of the year hoping for stability after frustrating inconsistency.

‎Udinese were humbled 5-1 at Fiorentina last week after goalkeeper Maduka Okoye’s early red card destroyed their defensive shape. Before that, Kosta Runjaic’s side had shocked champions Napoli, highlighting their unpredictable nature.

‎Lazio have enjoyed a mixed December themselves, alternating between gritty resilience and missed opportunities.

‎A heroic nine-man win at Parma briefly instilled belief, but a flat 0-0 draw with Cremonese followed, leaving Maurizio Sarri’s team eighth in the standings.

‎Team news:

‎Remarkably, Ivan Provedel leads Serie A with nine clean sheets, giving Lazio a defensive foundation to build upon despite their attacking struggles.

‎Udinese’s absences, including Okoye, suspended, and several players out injured or at AFCON, complicate their preparations. Lazio face a similar issue, with Guendouzi and Basic suspended and Rovella injured, while AFCON commitments thin their midfield options.

‎Both sides have enough quality to cause problems, but neither has found a consistent rhythm. Udinese’s home form and Lazio’s defensive discipline could cancel each other out.

‎Prediction: Udinese 1-1 Lazio

‎A cautious contest seems likely, with both teams more motivated to avoid defeat than chase victory.

‎Fiorentina Seek First Away Win of the Campaign at Parma

‎Fiorentina enter the weekend buoyed by their first Serie A win of the season an emphatic 5-1 demolition of Udinese that ended a 15-game drought.

‎The Viola’s chaotic year has seen managerial turbulence and fan unrest, yet Paolo Vanoli finally enjoyed a moment of respite as Moise Kean scored twice and the team rediscovered attacking bite.

‎Despite this breakthrough, Fiorentina remain bottom of the table, five points from safety. Their away record has been dismal, making Saturday’s trip to relegation rivals Parma absolutely critical.

‎Parma sits just above the drop zone and missed a golden opportunity last weekend, losing at home to nine-man Lazio. Carlos Cuesta’s side has managed only one win at the Tardini all season, and their six-match home winless run reflects ongoing difficulties in converting possession into end product.

‎Team news:

‎Both sides must contend with injury issues, though Fiorentina faces the heavier burden.

‎Robin Gosens, Pablo Marí, and Jacopo Fazzini could all miss out, while Luca Ranieri is suspended. Parma welcomes Alessandro Circati back, but still lacks several key players.

‎With confidence finally flickering at Fiorentina and Parma lacking rhythm after two weeks without a match, this fixture could swing the visitors’ way.

‎Prediction: Parma 1-2 Fiorentina

‎Momentum and urgency tilt the balance toward Fiorentina as they aim for a much-needed away breakthrough.

‎Cremonese Host Napoli Following Supercoppa Triumph

‎Napoli travel to Cremonese in high spirits after lifting the Supercoppa Italiana with a composed 2-0 win over Bologna. David Neres’ two goals capped a compelling run in Saudi Arabia and gave Antonio Conte his first trophy with the club.

‎However, Napoli’s league and Champions League form before the Supercoppa was poor, and their struggles away from home remain a concern.

‎Seven away defeats already this season underline a vulnerability that threatens their title defence, even as they sit just two points behind Inter.

‎Cremonese, meanwhile, continue to impress after promotion. Strong defensive organisation and tactical discipline under Davide Nicola have made them one of Serie A’s toughest mid-table sides. They have beaten Milan and Bologna and held Lazio to a draw last week despite late drama and a red card.

‎Team news:

‎Napoli’s injury list continues to grow, with Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, and Alex Meret all sidelined.

‎Sam Beukema and Mathias Olivera also face late fitness tests. Conte plans to start Rasmus Højlund, with Romelu Lukaku only recently returning from a long absence.

‎Cremonese will rely on the experience of Jamie Vardy and the creativity of Federico Bonazzoli, while their midfield receives a boost with Martin Payero’s return.

‎Prediction: Cremonese 1-2 Napoli

‎Fatigue may complicate Napoli’s task, but their superior attacking edge under Conte should see them through.

‎Inter Look to Protect Narrow Lead in Title Race Against Atalanta

‎Perhaps the marquee fixture of the round sees Inter Milan travel to Atalanta, renewing their long-running regional rivalry.

‎Inter reclaimed top spot before the Supercoppa break, but their failure to lift the trophy after a penalty-shootout exit to Bologna raised fresh questions about their ability to perform in decisive matches.

‎Cristian Chivu’s side remains prolific domestically, having scored freely in recent wins over Como, Pisa, and Genoa. Their attacking duo of Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram continues to flourish, with Lautaro scoring in each of his last three league appearances and boasting a strong record against Atalanta.

‎Inter’s historical dominance in this fixture is also significant: they have won the last six Serie A meetings and remain unbeaten in the last thirteen.

‎Atalanta, however, is showing signs of revival under Raffaele Palladino. A stoppage-time win over Genoa lifted them into the top half, and their victory against Chelsea earlier in the month demonstrated their European calibre.

‎Team news:

‎Despite losing Ademola Lookman to AFCON and still adapting to the post-Gasperini era, La Dea have won four consecutive home matches.

‎Inter must cope without Francesco Acerbi, Denzel Dumfries, and Yoan-Ange Bonny, but Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s return brings stability to midfield.

‎Prediction: Atalanta 1-2 Inter Milan

‎Atalanta will push hard, but Inter’s superior firepower and mental resilience should extend their long winning run in this fixture.