Inter Milan vs. Crotone (Sunday, 11.30am)
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Serie A returns after its brief winter break with a David versus Goliath-style encounter between second-from-top Inter Milan and second-bottom Crotone on Sunday.
The Nerazzurri come into 2021 on a run of seven consecutive league wins, while their modest visitors ended a difficult first part of the campaign with a rare win over Parma.
We say: Inter Milan 3-1 Crotone
Inter can afford to pick a full-strength side to take on their plucky Calabrian challengers this Sunday and - after a week's rest and recuperation - look well-placed to continue their relentless pursuit of Milan at the top of the table.
Though Crotone have undoubtedly improved, their defensive inadequacies can be ruthlessly exposed by the Nerazzurri's high-calibre front line at San Siro.
Our tipster partners are predicting over 2.5 goals.
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Atalanta vs. Sassuolo (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Atalanta BC return after the festive break to meet fellow overachievers Sassuolo, as two of the most attractive teams in recent Serie A seasons go head-to-head in Bergamo on Sunday.
Increasingly inconsistent before the turn of the year, La Dea are in seventh place, while Roberto De Zerbi's visitors ended 2020 with all three points against Sampdoria to sit fourth - just above traditional giants Napoli and Juventus.
We say: Atalanta BC 2-2 Sassuolo
These two entertaining outfits are hard to separate and both are often admired for their progressive approach to Calcio.
With the home side far from defensively sound, it is probable that Sassuolo can steal away from Lombardy with at least another point added to their club-record total so far, while Atalanta can look ahead to easier games with Parma, Benevento and Genoa later this month.
Our tipster partners are predicting over 2.5 goals.
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Cagliari vs. Napoli (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Having stalled at the end of 2020, Napoli travel to out-of-form Cagliari on Sunday looking for all three points to keep them in touch with Serie A's top four.
Their Sardinian hosts have plummeted down the standings after failing to win in the league since early November, while Gennaro Gattuso's visitors are now nine points off top spot following three games without victory.
We say: Cagliari 1-2 Napoli
To have any chance of being in the mix for Scudetto glory - and at the very least, to keep pace with their fellow top-four contenders - Napoli must win fixtures such as this.
While a trip to Sardinian soil is rarely straightforward for opponents, Cagliari's defence has been absent without leave this term and could get them in deep trouble again this Sunday.
Our tipster partners are predicting an away win.
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Fiorentina vs. Bologna (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Fiorentina will be aiming to leapfrog Bologna in the Serie A table when the two sides meet on Sunday afternoon.
La Viola are currently in 14th place, having earned a shock 3-0 win over Juventus before Christmas, while I Rossoblu are a point better off in 13th.
We say: Fiorentina 2-1 Bologna
Fiorentina will take great confidence from their victory over Juventus and will feel they can make it two wins in a row against a defensively vulnerable Bologna side, who are out of form and struggle to take control of games.
Our tipster partners are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win.
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Genoa vs. Lazio (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Genoa manager Davide Ballardini will be hoping to make it two wins from two when his side host Lazio in Serie A on Sunday.
Ballardini was only appointed two days before he took charge of the 2-1 win over Spezia on December 23 that moved Il Grifone to within a point of safety in 18th place.
We say: Genoa 0-2 Lazio
The return of Davide Ballardini seems to have given Genoa a boost, but Lazio will be a much tougher test for them than Spezia were. I Biancocelesti did not deserve to lose to AC Milan and should returning to winning ways at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Our tipster partners are predicting under 3.5 goals.
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Parma vs. Torino (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Struggling Serie A side Torino will be hoping that 2021 brings them more joy when they travel to Parma on Sunday.
Il Toro are currently rock bottom of the league table, while I Crociati sit two points above the relegation zone in 16th place.
We say: Parma 1-2 Torino
This is an interesting battle as Serie A's joint lowest scorers host the weakest defence in the league. Both clubs are in desperate need of a victory having not won since November, and we think that Torino might just snatch all three points, having shown promise against Napoli before Christmas.
Our tipster partners are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win.
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Roma vs. Sampdoria (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Former Roma manager Claudio Ranieri returns to his old stomping ground with Sampdoria in Serie A on Sunday.
The 69-year-old had two spells in the Italian capital, with the most recent one lasting only two months in 2019, but has enjoyed a more productive spell in Liguria with his side 11th in the table.
We say: Roma 3-1 Sampdoria
With both teams scoring and conceding plenty this season, we can envisage an entertaining encounter in Rome, with the hosts coming out on top.
Dzeko should be too much for Sampdoria's back line to cope with.
Our tipster partners are predicting over 2.5 goals.
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Spezia vs. Hellas Verona (Sunday, 2.00pm)
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Spezia and Hellas Verona were both playing in Italy's third tier 10 years ago but on Sunday the two teams will meet in Serie A for the first time.
Spezia are currently struggling in 17th position, while Verona are in ninth and eager to go even higher.
We say: Spezia 0-1 Hellas Verona
Both clubs have struggled for form of late, so will view this game as a chance to return to winning ways. Verona are certainly the stronger side despite having a number of players out injured and seem the most likely to come out on top.
Our tipster partners are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win.
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Benevento vs. AC Milan (Sunday, 5.00pm)
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Benevento take on AC Milan in Serie A on Sunday, with the visitors looking to remain ahead of their city rivals at the top of the table.
The hosts, meanwhile, are enjoying a fine return to Italy's top flight after amassing 18 points from 14 games to occupy a top-half position.
We say: Benevento 1-2 AC Milan
We can envisage a tight Milan victory, with former club legend Inzaghi's plucky Benevento side pushing them all of the way.
Ultimately, though, even potentially without Ibrahimovic, Milan should have a little too much offensive quality for them to deal with.
Our tipster partners are predicting under 3.5 goals.
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Juventus vs. Udinese (Sunday, 7.45pm)
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After a much-needed interval for Christmas, underperforming Juventus resume their faltering Scudetto defence against Udinese on Sunday evening.
A shocking 3-0 reverse against Fiorentina saw the Old Lady end last year on a sour note, while Luca Gotti's visiting side went three games without a win to finish 2020 in mid-table - but with relegation concerns still lingering.
We say: Juventus 2-0 Udinese
Only victory will suffice for under-pressure Pirlo and company on Sunday night, as Juventus must embark on a long winning run in pursuit of their 10th successive Scudetto.
With the defence back to full strength - and perhaps even strengthened in the enforced absence of Cuadrado - Juve can shut out the 'other' Bianconeri and secure maximum points on home turf.
Our tipster partners are predicting a home win.
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Barney Corkhill
