Ambitious Serie A champions Juventus will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season in an away match at Genoa which is the first of an impressive run of seven in 23 days.
Antonio Conte’s side is aiming for four trophies this season and while recently acquiring Denmark international Nicklas Bendtner, the “Old Lady of Turin” has eyes for a striker with arguably more to offer.
Juve’s trip to Genoa will be short, but next week they travel to Chelsea and then face Chievo, Fiorentina and Roma before hosting Shakhtar in Europe and then league minnows Siena in early October.
It is no wonder the club’s director general, Beppe Marotta, is intent on bolstering a squad some observers feel has a real chance in Europe this season.
“If there’s one Italian side that can excel in the Champions League this season it’s Juventus,” Gianluca Vialli, who won the trophy with Juve and also played with their group rivals Chelsea, said in midweek.
Spain international Fernando Llorente, of Athletic Bilbao, remains Juve’s main target, especially as Fiorentina have included an “anti-Juve” clause in the contract of their Montenegrin international Stevan Jovetic.
Whether Bendtner will get a chance for Juventus soon remains to be seen, although Marotta says the former Arsenal man has impressed Conte in training.
“The first judgment of Conte is very positive,” he added.
Juventus are one of only four teams – along with Napoli, Lazio and Sampdoria – to have won their first two games of the season.
It means other title favourites, Milan and Inter, need three points this weekend if they are to keep the pressure on the leaders.
Milan will be hoping striker Giampaolo Pazzini, who scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Bologna a fortnight ago, shakes off a knock he received in training.
If Pazzini is given the all-clear, Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri could decide to give new signing Bojan Krcic a run-out with the Italy international three days ahead of their Champions League group opener against Anderlecht.
Milan are already missing Robinho, Alexandre Pato, Riccar-do Montolivo and Ignazio Abate but the good news is that midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng is set to play with a newly-fitted arm brace following surgery on a fractured hand bone last week.
Inter make the short trip to Torino looking to make up for their stunning home defeat to a Roma two weeks ago.
Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni, however, could be without Rodrigo Palacio after he picked up a knock playing for Argentina in midweek.
Roma, who sit fifth, host Bologna at the Olympic Stadium looking to replicate the performance which humbled Inter two weeks ago.
Bologna are one of seven teams, the others being Cagliari, Udinese, Palermo, Pescara, Atalanta and Siena, who have yet to win.
Serie A
Playing Today
Milan vs Atalanta 20.45
Palermo vs Cagliari 18.00
Tomorrow – 15.00
Chievo vs Lazio 12.30
Fiorentina vs Catania
Genoa vs Juventus
Napoli vs Parma
Pescara vs Sampdoria
Roma vs Bologna
Siena vs Udinese
Torino vs Inter 20.45
Standings: Juve, Napoli, Lazio 6; Sampdoria (-1) 5; Roma, Catania 4; Torino (-1), Genoa, Inter, Milan, Fiorentina, Chievo, Parma 3; Cagliari 1; Udinese, Bologna, Palermo, Pescara 0; Atalanta (-2) -1; Siena (-6) -5.
Serie B
Played Yesterday
Brescia vs Padova 0-0
Today – 15.00
Ascoli vs Spezia
Cittadella vs Lanciano
Grosseto vs Crotone
Livorno vs Empoli
Novara vs Juve Stabia
Reggina vs Modena
Sassuolo vs Pro Vercelli
Ternana vs Cesena
Vicenza vs Verona
Monday
Varese vs Bari 20.45
Standings: Sassuolo, Livorno 9; Varese (-1) 8; Spezia 7; Crotone 6; Verona 5; Bari (-5), Vicenza, Brescia 4; Pro Vercelli, Cittadella 3; Modena (-2), Lanciano 2; Novara (-4), Reggina (-3), Empoli (-1), Juve Stabia 1; Padova (-2) 1; Ascoli (-1), Ternana, Cesena 0; Grosseto (-6) -4.