Two derbies headline Serie A game week 27 as Inter Milan host Juventus in Derby d'Italia while Lazio and Roma do battle in the Derby della Capitale.
After what was a good midweek for Italian teams in the Champions League, Serie A action returns with game week 27 headlined by two big games.
Of the 10 games on offer from Friday, March 17 to Sunday, March 19 2023, the Derby d'Italia between Inter Milan and Juventus and the Derby della Capitale between Lazio and Roma are the picks of the bunch.
Lazio v Roma
At any point of any season, the Derby della Capitale is always competitive and feisty but even more so this season as there is a lot more at stake for both teams other than just pride.
Both Lazio and Roma are in a competitive race to finish the 2022/23 season in the top four along with realistically two other teams, competing for three spots as runaway leader Napoli are comfortably number one.
Lazio are third on the log while Roma are fifth but that means little to nothing as both teams are separated by just two points with 12 games still to play this season.
Lazio can draw comfort from their stellar home form against Roma even though they both share the Stadio Olimpico, the Giallorossi have not won the away version of this fixture in six attempts, with the last Roma away win coming in 2016.
Jose Mourinho's men on the other hand have the fourth-best away record in the league this season which they will be hoping to draw inspiration from on Sunday evening.
Inter Milan v Juventus
Also on Sunday, just after the Rome Derby comes the Derby d'Italia as Inter Milan welcomes Juventus to the Guiseppe Meazza in the last match of the game week.
Inter are the closest team to runaway league leaders Napoli despite being 18 points adrift while Juventus's top-four aspirations have been severely wounded by their 15-point deduction earlier in the season but they are still just 10 points off AC Milan in fourth with 12 games to play.
Inter Milan's home form will be a source of worry for Juventus as the Nerrazzuri have won 15 of their last 17 league games at home while also conceding just six times in 13 Serie A home games this season, the best home defensive record in the league.
Juventus on the other hand have won nine of their last 11 games which makes for a tantalising clash between two good teams.
Serie A action on Friday
The 27th round of Serie A games this season kicks off on Friday with two fixtures to whet the appetite for the last game week before the international break.
13th-placed Sassuolo host relegation-battling Spezia in the 6:30 pm kickoff after which Atalanta takes on Empoli in hopes of returning to form.
AC Milan headlines Saturday games in Serie A
Three games will be played on Saturday, first of which is a 3 pm kickoff between Monza and Cremonese, two teams who got promoted to Serie A this season.
Salernitana host Bologna in the 6 pm kick-off after which AC Milan visit Udinese at the Dacia Arena in the late kickoff.
Blockbuster Sunday in Serie A
Sampdoria will start off the proceedings with the early kickoff by 12:30 pm at home to Hellas Varona on Sunday.
After which high-flying Napoli visit Torino with Fiorentina simultaneously hosting Lecce in two 3 pm kickoffs.
Followed by the aforementioned derbies, Derby della Capitale by 6 pm and the Derby d'Italia by 8:45 pm to round off the action of the game week heading into the international break.
Expert Predictions for Serie A gameweek 27
In-house betting expert Kolawole Babatunde gives the best predictions from each game in this Serie A round
- Sassuolo - Spezia - Both teams to score
- Atalanta - Empoli - Atalanta to win
- Monza - Cremonese - Over 1.5
- Salernitana - Bologna - Under 3.5 Goals
- Udinese - Milan - Over 1.5 Goals
- Sampdoria - Hellas Verona - Over 1.5 Goals
- Torino - Napoli - Napoli to win or draw and Under 3.5
- Fiorentina - Lecce - Fiorentina to win
- Lazio - AS Roma - Under 3.5
- Inter - Juventus - Under 2.5 Goals
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