There’s no break in Serie A as the Christmas festivities come to an end and the New Year approaches, with the 18th round promising thrilling action. Tonight, the action kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico, where Lazio faces Atalanta. The biancocelesti suffered a heavy defeat in their last high-profile home match against Inter and are seeking redemption against the league’s current top team. Meanwhile, Atalanta has the chance to solidify their position at the top of the table, potentially sending a direct rival nine points behind with a win, thus creating a significant safety margin in the Champions League race and continuing to nurture their dreams of glory. A draw would mathematically secure their place at the top of the standings for the calendar year, allowing them to be tied but not surpassed by Napoli, who face a manageable home match against Venezia.
The second big match of the day features Fiorentina and Juventus at the Stadio Franchi on Sunday at 6:00 PM. The bianconeri ended a streak of four consecutive draws with a narrow 2-1 victory over Monza in the previous round. On the other hand, Fiorentina has struggled after the health scare involving Bove during their match against Inter, resulting in elimination from the Coppa Italia and two consecutive league defeats. The clash against their long-time rivals could be a turning point for the Viola; a victory would reignite their promising season, while a loss could undermine their progress made until December. At 8:45 PM on Sunday, all eyes will be on San Siro for a Milan-Roma match that, while perhaps less significant in terms of standings, remains crucial. Both teams have been the biggest disappointments among the league’s top clubs this season. Roma has struggled until the arrival of Ranieri, who has at least stabilized a team that was previously floundering. The future of the giallorossi rests heavily on this match, as they arrive with only 19 points from 17 matches, a meager return for a team that invested over 100 million in the summer transfer market and openly aimed for a Champions League spot. Winning at San Siro may be their last desperate chance to reignite hope in the league, bringing them to within four points of Milan and setting up a crucial rematch at home in the return leg. A small hope, but hope nonetheless.
