Paul Pogba and Carlos Tevez have been two influential figures in the Juventus team so far this season.

Juventus are steaming clear of the rest of the field, Roma are struggling to keep up, the two Milan clubs lurch from one crisis to another and Napoli are exasperatingly inconsistent.

The current Serie A season, which enters the second half at the weekend, is turning into a carbon copy of the last one.

Juventus, who won last year’s title by a massive 17 points from Roma, are five points clear at the top, having won 14 out of 19 games, and threatening to race away from the rest of the field again.

They have an excellent chance to extend their lead further when they host lowly Chievo tomorrow and second-placed Roma, who are once again the only team to put up a decent fight, have a difficult match away to Fiorentina.

Although not quite as dominant as last year, Juventus still have the best attack, with 42 goals scored, the stingiest defence, with only nine conceded, and the league’s top-scorer, Carlos Tevez with 13 goals.

In midfielder Paul Pogba, they also have the player who is widely considered to be the most talented in the league.

“We’re in good shape physically and are back motoring along, something that can make the difference in the second half of the campaign,” Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri said.

“But there’s still a long way to go, we know we could experience sticky patches at some stage. We are five points clear and there are 19 league games remaining so we have to work in the same manner.”

Roma, after a promising start, have become bogged down in a series of drawn matches, just as they did last season.

Talismanic forward Francesco Totti, 38, has delivered a few magical moments, including a derby brace against Lazio which he celebrated by taking a selfie in front of the Curva Sud.

Rudi Garcia’s team have dominated most matches but sometimes lack a killer touch and have been held in four of their last six league games, but have an eight-point cushion over Napoli and Sampdoria, who are joint third (33 points)

Napoli, third last season, have beaten both Roma and Lazio, yet have surrendered precious points in draws at home to Empoli and Cagliari and defeat to Chievo.

Only seven points separate them from tenth-placed Palermo and the clubs sandwiched in between include both Milan and Inter, level on 26 points.

Milan have lost their last two home games, both against lower-placed opponents, and Inter have won only twice in eight outings since sacking Walter Mazzarri and bringing back Roberto Mancini for a second stint.

Both believe they can finish third, which would earn a place in the Champions League playoff round.

Inter host Torino tomorrow while Milan visit direct rivals Lazio, fifth with 31 points, in today’s late kick-off.

“The team follows me and we have to turn things around quickly,” said Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi.

“We’re seven points behind third place and we have to try right until the end.”

Fixtures

Serie A

Playing today
Cagliari vs Sassuolo - 18.00
Lazio vs Milan - 20.45

Tomorrow – 15.00
Fiorentina vs Roma - 20.45
Inter vs Torino
Juventus vs Chievo
Parma vs Cesena
Sampdoria vs Palermo
Verona vs Atalanta

Monday
Empoli vs Udinese - 19.00
Napoli vs Genoa - 21.00

Standings: Juventus 46; Roma 41; Napoli, Sampdoria 33; Lazio 31; Fiorentina 30; Genoa 28; Milan, Inter, Palermo 26; Sassuolo 25; Udinese 24; Torino 22; Verona 21; Atalanta 20; Empoli 19; Chievo 18; Cagliari 16; Cesena, Parma 9.

Coppa Italia

Quarter-final pairings
Milan vs Lazio - January 27
Napoli vs Inter - February 4
Roma vs Fiorentina - February 3
Parma vs Juventus - January 28

Serie B

Played yesterday
Catania vs Pro Vercelli - 4-0

Today – 15.00
Avellino vs Cittadella
Crotone vs Latina
Entella vs Bologna
Frosinone vs Spezia
Livorno vs Brescia
Perugia vs Bari
Pescara vs Ternana
Varese vs Carpi
Vicenza vs Trapani

Tomorrow
Modena vs Lanciano - 12.30

Standings: Carpi 43; Bologna 37; Frosinone, Livorno, Spezia 34; Lanciano, Avellino 33; Pescara, Pro Vercelli 31; Trapani 30; Perugia 29; Modena, Ternana, Vicenza 28; Brescia, Bari 26; Entella 25; Catania 24; Varese (-3) 23; Latina, Crotone 21; Cittadella 20.