Match between Inter Milan and AC Milan takes centre stage this weekend

Madrid, SPAIN | THE INDEPENDENT | Aside from the usual bragging rights which will be on the line between these two heavyweights of Italian and European football, the Milan derby will also be key in the fate of ‘Rossoneri’ manager Paulo Fonseca, who finds himself under pressure after his team’s shoddy start to the season.

A loss to the ‘Nerazzurri’ could see the Portuguese tactician shown the door just five league matches into his tenure – though Fonseca himself is focusing on turning things around for the team in red and black.

“We are aware that we have not started well, but there is one very positive thing: we are all in agreement, we are united. We want to look for solutions and that is what we have done this week. It is easier to work when we are all together,” said Fonseca.

Elsewhere, a potential thriller between Juventus and Napoli at the Allianz Stadium in Turin promises fireworks… not least because it will see former ‘Bianconeri’ manager Antonio Conte return to the club where he won three successive titles between 2011-12 and 2013-14.

“As I said, we’ve started rebuilding,” said Conte, whose initial time with the ‘Partenopei’ was rocky and uncertain. “Good players arrived. They were on the table. It took us time to understand and think about it, but we signed them, and I am happy. We didn’t do everything, and it’s okay, but I think the club did well.”

One of the surprise packages early in the season is Torino, who have put in impressive performances under manager Paolo Vanoli and will be chasing an away win at the Marc’Antonio Bentegodi Stadium against Hellas Verona.

“He [Vanoli] is a good coach and now we will have to see what continuity he can have with this team,” said former Torino player Claudio Sala.

Elsewhere in this weekend’s Serie A action, Atalanta will back themselves to win at home Como; Lazio face a tricky trip to Florence for a clash with Fiorentina; and Roma will welcome another team punching above their weight, Udinese, to the Olimpico Stadium in ‘The Eternal City’.