Serie A midweek preview: Lazio go to Sassuolo, Napoli go to Monza without Allegri

The big games

Sassuolo v Lazio: the leaders open the round

Lazio start the midweek round level with Inter at the top on 22 points, unbeaten after eight games and on a run of four league wins in a row. The last two of those were a 3-0 win at Juventus and Saturday's 2-1 against Parma, which leaves them barely three days to recover before an early kick-off at the Mapei Stadium.

Neither manager held the usual press conference on Monday, and Lazio said Gennaro Gattuso would speak only after the game. Gattuso is without Albert Gudmundsson and Danilo Rovella, while Pinamonti and Marusic are doubts.

Sassuolo come in on two straight defeats, 4-2 at Frosinone and 2-0 at Como, and sit 14th on 8 points. Alberto Aquilani is missing Leysen and Koné. The AI goes 3-1 to Lazio.

Torino v Como: the form side against the fifth-placed one

Torino have won three in a row, 2-1 against Udinese, 3-0 at Parma and 3-2 against Monza on Friday, and that run has lifted them to eighth. Marco Abate's main problem is midfield, where Mandragora is out with a hamstring problem.

Cesc Fàbregas noticed the run. Speaking to the club's own media rather than at a press conference, he said Torino were full of enthusiasm and that Como would need to concentrate for all ninety minutes. This is Como's fourth game in ten days. Moise Kean and Liberali were left out of the squad, and Chalobah is injured, so Douvikas is expected to lead the line with Nico Paz behind him.

Como are fifth on 17 points, a point behind Roma and Milan. They have lost once all season, 2-0 at Frosinone in September. The AI has it 2-2.

Roma v Cagliari: Gasperini's side need a reaction at home

Roma drew 3-3 in Naples on Saturday and are still unbeaten, third on 18 points. The goalkeeper Mile Svilar is out, along with Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Gian Piero Gasperini spent much of Monday's press conference on Paulo Dybala. He said Dybala was the only player who might come back, that he would be tested in the afternoon and that he was "fiducioso", hopeful, of having him at least on the bench. Gasperini also said rotation was likely after Saturday.

Cagliari arrive on two defeats without scoring, 4-0 at Monza and 2-0 at home to Bologna, and Fabio Pisacane is without Felici and Idrissi. The AI goes 3-0 to Roma.

Venezia v Inter: the joint leaders without Lautaro

Inter play the bottom side, who have one win and 3 points from eight games. They do it without their captain Lautaro Martínez, and with Pavard, Stones, Luis Henrique and Jones all out too. Cristian Chivu is expected to start Bonny up front.

Inter have won seven of eight and scored 23 goals. Venezia did beat Napoli 1-0 ten days ago, which shows they can frustrate a big side. They lost 1-0 at Genoa on Sunday, though, and Correia is out for this one. The AI goes 3-0 to Inter.

Genoa v Juventus: Spalletti's injury list against De Rossi's home form

Juventus travel to Genoa with eight players missing. Kenan Yildiz, Manuel Locatelli, Khéphren Thuram, Nico González, Francisco Conceição, Çelik, Ekhator and the goalkeeper Grabara are all out, and Luciano Spalletti has been rebuilding his side around whoever is fit. They responded to the 3-0 home defeat by Lazio with a 2-0 win at Lecce on Sunday, and sit seventh on 14 points.

Genoa have won their last two at the Luigi Ferraris, 2-1 against Fiorentina and 1-0 against Venezia, and Daniele De Rossi's side have climbed to 16th. Wiafe, Sow, Venturino and Havel are out, but Ehizibue could return. The AI backs Genoa to win 2-1, its boldest call of the round.

Monza v Napoli: Napoli without their manager

Napoli will be without Massimiliano Allegri on the bench in Monza. The sporting judge gave him a two-match ban and a 10,000 euro fine after his sending off at the end of Saturday's 3-3 with Roma. The ban also covers Sunday's trip to Juventus, and Napoli have appealed under the urgent procedure. ANSA reported the appeal could be heard between Thursday and Friday.

The squad is short as well. Badiashile was hurt against Roma and is expected to miss a month, and Buongiorno, Spinazzola, Neres, Alisson Santos and Favasuli are also out. Di Lorenzo and Rrahmani are doubts who could recover. Napoli are tenth on 11 points, eleven behind the leaders.

Monza have scored six in their last two games, beating Cagliari 4-0 and losing 3-2 at Torino. Ivan Juric is without Ziolkowski and Pessina, and Maye is a doubt. The AI has it 2-2.

Elsewhere

• Milan v Bologna (Wednesday): Rúben Amorim's Milan are fourth and unbeaten, but have six players out, among them Gila, Loftus-Cheek, Saelemaekers and Gabbia. Rabiot and Moreira are doubts, and Milan hope to have them back for Saturday's derby with Inter. Bologna, without Orsolini, Piccoli and Holm, won 2-0 at Cagliari on Saturday.
• Parma v Udinese (Wednesday): 19th against 17th, both on 4 points, with Fiorentina level with them. Udinese are without Solet and Alaba at the back.
• Frosinone v Lecce (Thursday): the promoted side are sixth after drawing 4-4 at Atalanta. Lecce have Gaspar suspended and Coulibaly, Berisha, Pierotti and Ilic injured.
• Fiorentina v Atalanta (Thursday): Paolo Vanoli's Fiorentina are 18th with one win and are without Pongracic and Atta. Maurizio Sarri's Atalanta are 11th and have a long list of absentees, including Bellanova, Hien, Kossounou and Raspadori.

The fixtures

Tuesday 27 October

• Sassuolo v Lazio, 5.30pm
• Torino v Como, 7.45pm
• Roma v Cagliari, 7.45pm

Wednesday 28 October

• Parma v Udinese, 5.30pm
• Venezia v Inter, 5.30pm
• Milan v Bologna, 5.30pm
• Genoa v Juventus, 7.45pm
• Monza v Napoli, 7.45pm

Thursday 29 October

• Frosinone v Lecce, 5.30pm
• Fiorentina v Atalanta, 7.45pm

All times UK.

The AI's corner

The AI's boldest call is Genoa to beat Juventus 2-1. It rests on Juventus's eight absentees and on Genoa winning their last two at home. It also sees Lazio and Inter winning by two or more goals, and two draws with four goals each, in Turin and in Monza, where Napoli are without Allegri. Every prediction is at predisportshq.com/predictions.