Bologna vs. Inter Milan (Thursday, 11.30am)
Scudetto holders and Serie A leaders Inter Milan seek to start the new year in the same manner 2021 ended, as they aim to extend a seven-match winning streak at Bologna on Thursday.
Crowned 'Winter Champions' just before the mid-season break, the Nerazzurri have been relentless since their last league loss back in October, so will make formidable opponents for an inconsistent home side.
We say: Bologna 1-3 Inter Milan
Unbeaten in their last 11 league fixtures ahead of the game, the visitors can continue their positive momentum on Thursday lunchtime, as they visit one of their favourite sides to meet.
Recent dominance over Bologna - and an enviable record away from home - certainly points to free-scoring Inter claiming another victory to start 2022 in familiar style.
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Sampdoria vs. Cagliari (Thursday, 11.30am)
Sampdoria and Cagliari return from the Christmas break with 10 points separating the clubs in the Serie A standings.
While the home side sit in 15th position ahead of Thursday's fixture, Cagliari are down in 19th spot, six points adrift of safety.
We say: Sampdoria 2-1 Cagliari
The Christmas break undoubtedly came at the right time for Cagliari and wrong time for Sampdoria. Nevertheless, we do not feel that it will have any baring on the end result on Thursday, with Sampdoria likely to claim another hard-earned victory.
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Lazio vs. Empoli (Thursday, 1.30pm)
Lazio and Empoli head into Thursday's Serie A fixture at Stadio Olimpico sitting in eighth and ninth place respectively in the standings.
Nevertheless, there is a four-point gap separating the two clubs, giving the home side an opportunity to push ninth position and beyond further out of the European mix.
We say: Lazio 3-1 Empoli
Having ended 2021 on a low note, Empoli would have welcomed the opportunity to regroup ahead of this important fixture. However, Lazio had gotten back on track ahead of the Christmas break, and we are backing the home side to run out convincing winners on Thursday.
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Spezia vs. Hellas Verona (Thursday, 1.30pm)
Spezia play host to Hellas Verona on Thursday afternoon having established a five-point cushion above the Serie A relegation zone.
While Hellas Verona are comfortable in mid-table, the visitors went into the Christmas break having failed to win in three matches.
We say: Spezia 1-3 Hellas Verona
Despite the result before the scheduled break, the pressure remains firmly on Spezia's shoulders ahead of this game. With Verona able to play with a greater freedom, we are backing the visitors to claim all three points.
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Atalanta vs. Torino (Thursday, 3.30pm)
Having ended an otherwise excellent year on a down note, Atalanta BC will be keen to get 2022 off to a winning start when they host mid-table Torino on Thursday.
Two losses from their last four games - plus ending 2021 with a goalless draw against lowly Genoa - saw La Dea exit the Champions League and slip to fourth in Serie A, so they seek better fortunes as the action resumes after the winter break.
We say: Atalanta BC 2-1 Torino
Both sides will hope that they can turn over a new leaf for the new year, as Atalanta's all-out attacking has not translated to sufficient points at the Gewiss Stadium, and Torino are too often abysmal outside of Turin.
The hosts have the best chance of doing so, however, as their greater individual quality in the final third should prove decisive.
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Sassuolo vs. Genoa (Thursday, 3.30pm)
Two bottom-half sides aspiring for a change in fortunes in 2022 mark their return to Serie A at the Mapei Stadium – Citta del Tricolore on Thursday, as Sassuolo play host to Genoa.
Alessio Dionisi's men ended 2021 with a lowly 3-0 defeat to Bologna, while their visitors managed to hold Atalanta BC to a goalless stalemate.
We say: Sassuolo 2-0 Genoa
After drawing a rare blank to round off a topsy-turvy 2020, Sassuolo ought to return to winning ways against a team whose dictionary does not seem to include the word win.
The visitors deserve credit for stunting the normally irrepressible Atalanta frontline but have not been fortunate on the absentee front, so a fired-up Sassuolo will expect to break the Grifone resistance on home soil.
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AC Milan vs. Roma (Thursday, 5.30pm)
Seeking to keep pace with the league leaders in Serie A, second-placed AC Milan resume their campaign after the halfway break with a challenging clash against Roma.
Though inconsistency crept into a creaking squad just before the interval, the Rossoneri are still within four points of city rivals Inter, while their capital counterparts won two of their last three games in 2021 to hang onto sixth in the standings.
We say: AC Milan 2-1 Roma
Milan average over two goals per game in the league this term, and have a number of their attacking stars back in action for Serie A's resumption.
They can, therefore, take advantage of the defensive flaws which have undermined Roma outside of the capital, and start 2022 with a morale-boosting win.
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Salernitana vs. Venezia (Thursday, 5.30pm)
Seeking to end a run of five consecutive defeats in all competitions, Salernitana return to Serie A action against Venezia on Thursday night.
The hosts find themselves dead last in the table ahead of the resumption of league football, while Paolo Zanetti's side occupy 16th spot in the rankings.
We say: Salernitana 1-1 Venezia
Salernitana's record against Venezia in recent years makes for positive reading, but goals have been at a premium for the league's basement side and will likely be in short supply again once more.
While we do expect the hosts to finally end their long wait for a goal, Venezia have been a tough nut to crack away from home and will expect to earn at least a point on Thursday, if not all three.
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Fiorentina vs. Udinese (Thursday, 7.45pm)
Seeking to pick up where they left off at the end of 2021, Fiorentina resume Serie A action with the visit of Udinese on Thursday evening.
Vincenzo Italiano's men played out a 1-1 draw with Hellas Verona before the winter hiatus, while the visitors' proposed clash with Salernitana was postponed.
We say: Fiorentina 3-1 Udinese
An entertaining spectacle should be in store between two sides who have no problems making the net ripple, but Udinese's astounding losing streak in this fixture will likely be extended here.
With Vlahovic in red-hot form and French title-winner Ikone looking to hit the ground running, we expect Fiorentina's European charge to gather pace with plenty of goals on the way.
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Juventus vs. Napoli (Thursday, 7.45pm)
Despite very different starts to their seasons, Juventus and Napoli return from the winter break on Thursday separated by just two places and five points in the Serie A standings.
While fifth-placed Juve prepare to renew the clubs' rivalry having won five of their last six games in all competitions, their southern counterparts were beaten in three of their last five - continuing their descent of the table to third.
We say: Juventus 1-0 Napoli
Two of the top three defensive sides in Serie A go head-to-head on Thursday, so even with a number of men missing at the back for both teams, there is likely to be little to choose between them.
Home advantage bestows a psychological edge to Juve, as they routinely take points off Napoli at their headquarters, and the hosts' squad is more able to withstand the absences afflicting this fiercely-fought contest.
