Serie A midweek: Lazio open round nine at Sassuolo as Inter visit bottom side Venezia before the Milan derby
Inter and Lazio are level on 22 points as Serie A plays a full midweek round from Tuesday to Thursday. Every fixture with Malaysia kick-off times.
Serie A squeezes a full round into the middle of the week, and the two clubs sharing first place will both be in action before the weekend's Milan derby. Inter and Lazio are level on 22 points after eight matches, with Inter ahead on goal difference. Lazio open matchday nine away to Sassuolo on Tuesday evening in Italy, which is 1.30am on Wednesday in Malaysia, and Inter visit bottom club Venezia 24 hours later.
The top of the table
Inter rejoined Lazio at the summit at the weekend after two stoppage-time goals gave them victory over Fiorentina. Inter's goal difference is +13 and Lazio's +11. Roma and AC Milan are four points back on 18, with Como fifth on 17. Frosinone are a surprising sixth on 14 points, level with Juventus.
At the other end, Venezia are last with three points and a goal difference of -11. Fiorentina, Parma and Udinese are just above them on four points each.
Fixtures and Malaysia kick-off times
Kick-offs are 6.30pm or 8.45pm in Italy, which translates to 1.30am or 3.45am the following day in Malaysia.
Tuesday 27 October (Italy) / Wednesday 28 October (Malaysia)
- Sassuolo v Lazio: 1.30am
- Roma v Cagliari: 3.45am
- Torino v Como: 3.45am
Wednesday 28 October (Italy) / Thursday 29 October (Malaysia)
- AC Milan v Bologna: 1.30am
- Parma v Udinese: 1.30am
- Venezia v Inter: 1.30am
- Genoa v Juventus: 3.45am
- Monza v Napoli: 3.45am
Thursday 29 October (Italy) / Friday 30 October (Malaysia)
- Frosinone v Lecce: 1.30am
- Fiorentina v Atalanta: 3.45am
Ties to watch
Lazio's trip to Sassuolo comes against a side 14th on eight points. Because it is the first game of the round, a Lazio win would put them top at least until Inter play the following night.
Inter's opponents Venezia were promoted as Serie B champions but have lost seven of their eight league matches. Their only win came against Napoli. The Venetian club tend to keep the ball, averaging around 57 per cent possession, but they have scored just six goals and conceded 17.
Roma, third on goal difference, host a Cagliari side ninth on 13 points, while Torino against Como is a meeting of the eighth- and fifth-placed teams. Milan take on Bologna at San Siro knowing they will host Inter in the derby only three days later.
Napoli, only tenth on 11 points after a 3-3 draw with Roma at the weekend, travel to Monza. At the bottom, Parma v Udinese is a meeting of two sides on four points, and Fiorentina, also on four, host Atalanta on Thursday.
Derby weekend ahead
The midweek round leads straight into a heavyweight matchday ten. AC Milan host Inter on Saturday 31 October at 8.45pm Italian time, which is 3.45am on Sunday 1 November in Malaysia. Juventus then welcome Napoli on Sunday 1 November at 8.45pm, or 3.45am on Monday in Malaysia.
With Milan only four points behind Inter, the derby could reshape the title race, but the leaders first need to deal with the midweek round.
Key takeaways
- Inter and Lazio are level on 22 points, with Inter top on goal difference.
- Lazio play first, at Sassuolo, at 1.30am on Wednesday Malaysia time.
- Inter visit bottom club Venezia at 1.30am on Thursday Malaysia time.
- Roma and AC Milan are four points off the top on 18.
- AC Milan v Inter follows on Saturday 31 October in Italy.
FAQ
What time is Sassuolo v Lazio in Malaysia? Kick-off is 1.30am on Wednesday 28 October, Malaysia time.
What time does Inter play Venezia in Malaysia? The match at the Penzo starts at 1.30am on Thursday 29 October, Malaysia time.
When is the Milan derby? AC Milan v Inter is on Saturday 31 October at 8.45pm in Italy, which is 3.45am on Sunday 1 November in Malaysia.
Sources: Goal, Inter.it, Sports Mole