Juventus manager Thiago Motta will come up against his former club Bologna, while Atalanta v AC Milan and Napoli v Lazio promise to be thrillers in Matchday 15 of the 2024-25 Serie A season.
Motta has made some impressive strides in his first season in charge of the Bianconeri, but facing the Rossoblu – the team where he made his name and ultimately earned a shot at the big job in Turin – will surely be an emotionally-taxing day for the Italian-Brazilian tactician.
The good news for Juve ahead of hosting Bologna on the evening of Saturday 7 December is that they are unbeaten against their opponents in 26 matches across all competitions – a streak which stretches back as far as 2011.
The round opens on Friday evening with the Milanese clubs in action: champions Inter Milan will first welcome Parma to the San Siro, before AC Milan face a tough test in Bergamo against Atalanta. La Dea are enjoying another fine campaign under manager Gian Piero Gasperini, who recently praised the freedom with which his team expresses itself.
“We don’t have too many thoughts rattling around our minds. We do play a bit like kids, with a sense of freedom,” said the veteran tactician. “I don’t know what the future holds, but we are very satisfied with what we are doing and try to keep going as long as possible.
“Football has certain rules, you learn to win, but above all how to lose, how to respect your opponents. Sport, and in particular football, teaches you lessons that you carry for the rest of your life, in all areas of that life.”
The pick of matches on Sunday 8 December comes from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, where title hopefuls Napoli will welcome a dangerous Lazio. Le Aquile manager Marco Baroni has done a fine job since taking the reins at the Roman club, though he admits that he owes a debt to rising stars such as Senegalese forward Boulaye Dia.
“Boulaye is a player I admire for his mobility and his understanding of his role on a tactical level. So, if Dia is in shape, he will take to the pitch,” said Baroni.
Other matches to watch in this round include Roma at home to Lecce on Saturday night, Fiorentina hosting Cagliari on Sunday afternoon and a Monday night battle between Monza and Udinese.
Watch the matches on DStv or stream on the DStv Stream app.
Broadcast details
Friday 6 December
- 19:30: Inter Milan v Parma – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 1 and SuperSport Maximo 360
- 21:45: Atalanta v AC Milan – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport Maximo 360
Saturday 7 December
- 16:00: Genoa v Torino – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport Maximo 360
- 19:00: Juventus v Bologna – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport Maximo 360
- 21:45: Roma v Lecce – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport Maximo 360
Sunday 8 December
- 13:30: Fiorentina v Cagliari – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport Maximo 2
- 16:00: Verona v Empoli – LIVE on SuperSport Football
- 19:00: Venezia v Como – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport Maximo 360
- 21:45: Napoli v Lazio – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport Maximo 360
Monday 9 December
- 21:45: Monza v Udinese – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport Maximo 360