Sassuolo vs. Spezia (Friday, 5.30pm)
© Reuters
A resurgent Sassuolo host a Spezia side scrapping against relegation in Serie A on Friday evening.
Both clubs kick off the weekend of top-flight football in Italy riding high off the back of victories over Champions League-chasing opposition, with Sassuolo edging Roma in a bonkers Sunday night thriller while Spezia defeated Inter last Friday.
We say: Sassuolo 3-1 Spezia
If Sassuolo continue to play with the verve and swagger which has defined their recent fixtures, then Spezia are likely to suffer the same, goal-laden fate as Milan, Roma and several other clubs in the future.
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Atalanta vs. Empoli (Friday, 7.45pm)
© Reuters
Atalanta BC host Empoli on Friday evening in a Serie A meeting between two managers at opposite ends of the experience spectrum.
Gian Piero Gasperini, Serie A's oldest head coach at 65, will pit his wily wits against Empoli's embryonic 40-year-old Paolo Zanetti, the second-youngest manager in Italy's top flight.
We say: Atalanta BC 2-1 Empoli
Both teams are in rotten runs of form but Atalanta, buoyed by their home crowd, a much stronger squad and their veteran coach, should have enough to end their winless and goalless streak against Empoli this Friday.
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Ben Knapton
