Serie A was given an additional spot in the Champions League next season because they’ve done well in European competitions this year. And with Atalanta winning the Europa League last night, a huge opportunity has opened up for AS Roma and Lazio.
Atalanta are guaranteed a Champions League spot next season, so AS Roma and Lazio are going to compete for the final Champions League berth, making this weekend’s set of Serie A 2024 results crucial.
Lazio face an uphill climb to qualify, but they still have a puncher’s chance. Igor Tudor’s men must beat Sassuolo for starters, and they’re hoping that Empoli will score a huge upset victory over AS Roma.
Speaking of Atalanta, they are the most in-form team in the league right now, and they’ll look to cap off their successful season with back-to-back victories over Torino and Fiorentina.
Read more below for the abbreviated SBOTOP preview of matchday 38.
Empoli vs AS Roma
Fortunately for AS Roma, the Serie A 2024 odds favour them to win simply because they’re the better team. That was evident in their reverse fixture last September, where they notched a 7-0 win over their Tuscany-based counterparts, as five AS Roma players found the back of the net.
Paulo Dybala will be tasked with leading AS Roma’s attack again after he scored a brace in the reverse fixture. The Argentinean, who has 15 goals and 10 assists this season, will link up with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Tammy Abraham up front.
Romelu Lukaku is suspended on Sunday after picking up yet another yellow card against Genoa, while Leandro Paredes is also unavailable after picking up a straight red card in the same match.
Empoli, on the other hand, are fighting for their Serie A lives, so they also need this victory. If they upset AS Roma on Sunday and Udinese lose or draw to Frosinone, then Gli Azzurri will maintain their top-flight status.
M’Baye Niang saved the day for Empoli with his late equaliser (penalty) against Udinese last week, and Gli Azzurri will need his heroics against I Giallorossi once more. The 29-year-old forward is the team’s leading scorer with five goals this season.
Lazio vs Sassuolo
Despite being the only double-digit scorer for Lazio this season, many feel that Father Time is catching up to Ciro Immobile, as he was benched in the Biancocelesti’s commendable 1-1 draw against Inter Milan on Sunday.
The 34-year-old striker has 11 goals this season, which is below his usual numbers when he was always a contender for the Capocannoniere. However, Ciro Immobile can prove his doubters wrong if he starts against Sassuolo this weekend.
But if Igor Tudor doesn’t start Immobile, who is linked with a potential move to the Saudi Pro League this summer, Taty Castellanos will likely take the No. 9 role, and he’ll be accompanied by Mattia Zaccagni and Daichi Kamada up front, while Matias Vecino is another top attacking option.
As for Sassuolo, they will aim to finish the 2023-24 campaign on a positive note.
Unfortunately for Davide Ballardini’s side, they will be missing Matheus Henrique, one of their most important players, because he was red carded in their 2-0 loss to Cagliari last time out. Domenico Berardi is also unavailable on Sunday because he is still recovering from the Achilles tendon injury he picked up in March.
With the two of them sidelined, the Neroverdi will rely heavily on Andrea Pinamonti, Armand Lauriente, and Kristian Thorstvedt, who have combined for 22 goals and six assists this season.
Atalanta vs Torino
Fatigue may be a concern for Atalanta because they have two more games to play to round out their successful 2023-24 campaign.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side is coming off an emotional Europa League final win over Bayer Leverkusen last night, so there might be some championship hangover for them ahead of this weekend.
Ademola Lookman is going to be on top of Torino’s scouting report, as he just scored a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen. The 26-year-old attacking midfielder is La Dea’s second-leading scorer this year with 14 goals and seven assists in all competitions.
Like Atalanta, who have won five straight, Torino are on a winning streak themselves, with back-to-back victories against AC Milan and Hellas Verona.
Duvan Zapata has been solid in his loan stint in Turin, and he will get to face his mother club on Sunday. The Colombian striker is Il Toro’s top attacking threat this season, with 12 goals and four assists, and he will be paired with the young Pietro Pellegri up front.
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