Parma vs. Udinese (Sunday, 11.30am)
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Enduring a nightmarish period of 13 league games without a win - their worst-ever run in Serie A - crisis club Parma host Udinese at Stadio Ennio Tardini on Sunday.
The 14th-placed visitors were soundly beaten by Roma last time out, ending a fine four-match unbeaten run which included draws with Atalanta and Inter.
We say: Parma 1-1 Udinese
Parma must surely end their goalless run at the Tardini this weekend, as some of their new signings start to settle into their surroundings. However, prospects of the Emilians keeping a clean sheet remain slim, as a combination of personnel and organisational deficiencies still undermine their cause.
An away point against the major European leagues' worst-performing side of 2021 may not seem satisfactory for Udinese, but their attack has not exactly been razor-sharp either.
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AC Milan vs. Inter Milan (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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One of the most significant stagings of the Derby della Madonnina in recent history takes place on Sunday afternoon, as AC Milan have an immediate opportunity to regain the league lead they lost to city rivals Inter Milan last weekend.
Defeat to Serie A surprise package Spezia last time out leaves the Rossoneri one point behind their closest and oldest foes ahead of the 174th Milan derby in the top flight. Antonio Conte's Inter, meanwhile, will not want to relinquish their spot at the summit, as the race for the Scudetto continues.
We say: AC Milan 1-2 Inter Milan
Although there are endless head-to-heads and angles from which to view this potentially historic clash, top billing is reserved for two men only.
Ahead of the final round of their heavyweight bout this season, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored 10 goals in Milan derbies - including two for Inter - and Romelu Lukaku is intent upon becoming the first player since 1973 to score in four consecutive Milan derbies in Serie A.
Lukaku's team, though, can boast recent supremacy in terms of form and have come together as a more cohesive unit since the turn of the year. Only any mental frailties lingering from last term's failure to secure trophies can stop the Nerazzurri from stretching their lead over their younger, more dynamic, but less wily Rossoneri counterparts.
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Atalanta vs. Napoli (Sunday, 5.00pm)
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Locked together on 40 points in the hotly-contested race for a top-four place, Atalanta BC and Napoli go head-to-head at the Gewiss Stadium on Sunday evening.
The visitors travel to Bergamo after a whirlwind week, in which they showed great spirit to defeat Juventus but then fell to a first-leg defeat on their return to Europa League action.
We say: Atalanta BC 2-1 Napoli
If Atalanta can keep distraction by their upcoming European glamour tie to a minimum, they must surely take advantage of Napoli's decimated playing resources and fruitless midweek exertions in Spain.
Luis Muriel's strike rate has been frightening in 2021, so the clinical front man can add to his tally this time out - making his case for a start against Zinedine Zidane's La Liga champions next Wednesday.
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Benevento vs. Roma (Sunday, 7.45pm)
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Seeking a third victory in just over a week, Roma travel to out-of-form Benevento on Sunday, as two very different clubs meet at Stadio Ciro Vigorito.
Domestic and continental successes, over Udinese and Braga, have boosted the Giallorossi's morale after another high-profile defeat against a title rival, so they will be firm favourites ahead of kickoff in Campania.
We say: Benevento 1-3 Roma
Defensive issues and midweek workload aside, there is a strong case for Roma blowing Benevento away at the Vigorito.
With their dynamic attacking unit a sure source of goals, Paulo Fonseca's team are set to particularly dominate the flanks against struggling opposition and can win to keep up the pressure on the Milan clubs just above them at the Serie A summit.
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Barney Corkhill
