Serie A Matchday 30: A statistical guide to this weekend's games

Will Evans

LiveScore

Inter Milan are marching towards Serie A glory

Unstoppable Inter Milan look to have the Scudetto in the bag — but Serie A’s chasing pack still have plenty to play for this weekend.

AC Milan take on relegation-threatened Parma on Saturday, before Antonio Conte’s Inter try to reinforce their lead at the top when they host strugglers Cagliari.

Then it is the turn of Atalanta, Juventus and Napoli to go in search of maximum points in the battle for a coveted Champions League spot.

Parma vs AC Milan (Saturday, 5pm)

An 11-point gap at the summit means Milan’s title challenge is all but over — and now they have to focus on remaining in the top four.

Stefano Pioli’s men will be confident of victory against a Parma side who have struggled at both ends of the pitch this season.

No team in Serie A has scored fewer than the Gialloblu’s 0.97 goals per 90 minutes in 2020-21, while only bottom side Crotone (2.55) have conceded more than Parma’s 1.93 goals against per 90.

Saturday's other games

Spezia vs Crotone (2pm)
Udinese vs Torino (7.45pm)

Inter Milan vs Cagliari (Sunday, 11.30am)

Inter boss Antonio Conte is on course for another title

It will take a mammoth effort from Cagliari if they are to beat an Inter side that have now won an impressive eight matches in succession en route to the club's first league title since an historic treble in 2009-10.

Their hopes of an upset will rest on the shoulders of Brazilian marksman Joao Pedro.

The 29-year-old’s 13 league strikes represent more than a third of Cagliari’s total goals (31) — but he will have to end a three-match drought if he is to fire the Sardinians to victory at the San Siro.

Juventus vs Genoa (Sunday, 2pm)

After failing to win against Benevento and Torino, a 2-1 midweek success against Napoli has done wonders for Juve’s hopes of Champions League qualification.

It is hard to look past the Old Lady building on that result against a Genoa team who have had the fewest shots (8.34) and created the fewest chances (6.31) per 90 in Serie A.

With Juventus allowing a paltry 5.79 shots from inside the box per game this season, a ninth clean sheet of 2020-21 could be on the cards.

Sampdoria vs Napoli (Sunday, 2pm)

Wednesday’s defeat to Andrea Pirlo’s outfit brought Napoli’s four-match winning run to a shuddering halt — but they are still just two points off the top four ahead of their trip to Liguria.

Sampdoria will need to bring their shooting boots if they are to breach a defence that has managed 11 shutouts this season and their best chance of success may come from wide areas.

No team in Italy’s top flight has attempted more crosses (21.34 per 90) and winger Antonio Candreva has six assists for the campaign.

Fiorentina vs Atalanta (Sunday, 7.45pm)

Luis Muriel is in fine form for Atalanta

Atalanta are hitting form when it counts.

La Dea have won seven of their last eight league matches as their rampant attacking approach continues to take Serie A by storm.

The division’s top scorers (2.34 goals per 90 minutes) have created more chances than any of their rivals (12.97 per 90) and in-form frontman Luis Muriel is only too happy to finish them.

He has now scored seven in his last nine league outings and will hope to keep that run going against a Fiorentina side who have only won twice in their previous 10 fixtures.

Watch Fiorentina vs Atalanta live for FREE on the LiveScore app on Sunday at 7.45pm (UK and Ireland only).