For Spalletti, it’s derby time at the Stadium; Roma face former star Zaniolo at the Olimpico; Bologna–Napoli is a high-table clash.
Matchday 11 of Serie A brings plenty of intriguing storylines — and several that deserve to be told or remembered.
The headline game comes on Sunday night, with Lazio hosting Inter. On SMIT, you can find a full tactical breakdown of the match, prepared in advance by our Match Analyst Pietro Dell’Anna.
The history between these two clubs is rich with anecdotes and emotion — from the long-standing friendship between their fanbases to the infamous May 5th, 2002, when Inter’s Scudetto dreams died on the Olimpico pitch. Then there was the controversial 2010 matchup, remembered for the Lazio curva’s mocking banner — “OH NOOO” — displayed after an Inter goal to tease Roma fans hoping for a favor from the Biancocelesti in their title chase. The two clubs have also shared plenty of transfer dealings over the years, mostly from Rome to Milan, but sometimes the other way too — another reminder of how intertwined these two institutions have always been.
Among the many clashes between the two, the most memorable came on neutral ground in Paris, when Inter crushed Lazio 3–0 in the 1998 UEFA Cup Final, with Ronaldo “Il Fenomeno” unstoppable and named MVP.
Fast-forward to the present day: Matchday 11 will mark two notable coaching debuts. Daniele De Rossi, replacing Patrick Vieira at Genoa in a bid to pull the team out of the relegation zone, and Paolo Vanoli, who takes over at Fiorentina following Pioli’s sacking — with the same mission. By a twist of fate, their first match will be against each other, on Sunday at Marassi.
Both De Rossi and Vanoli have signed contracts running until June 2026, with an option to extend if they meet the target — survival. It’s the same formula Juventus used with Spalletti, reflecting how job insecurity has become the new normal for coaches, regardless of their résumé.
On one hand, it makes sense to assess a coach step by step, letting results speak. On the other, true long-term planning is something else entirely. Football history is full of managers who built successful dynasties despite rocky starts. By offering only short-term “caretaker” deals, clubs send the wrong message to their squads — that there’s already a scapegoat lined up if the season doesn’t turn around.
Looking at the standings, the game with the most combined points on the pitch will be Bologna vs Napoli. Vincenzo Italiano’s side sit on 18 points, level with Juventus and just four behind league leaders Napoli.
Among the chasers are Roma, coming off a defeat at San Siro but buoyed by their strong Europa League win in Glasgow. The Giallorossi host Udinese and will face Nicolò Zaniolo, a former fan favorite whose exit left plenty of bitterness. The Udinese No. 10 has already scored against his old club while playing for Atalanta — and he’ll surely be eager to hurt Roma again at the Olimpico.
L’articolo Serie A: Inter–Lazio the big match, De Rossi and Vanoli debut on the bench proviene da Soccer Made In Italy.
