There is no time to even digest the panettone, as they return to the field for the end-of-year sprint. This return could have a significant specific weight in the Serie A standings. The calendar contains three direct confrontations, from which two teams, above all, can benefit.
Let's start with Atalanta, the current leaders of the Italian championship. Gasperini's team, which has lost Retegui due to injury, is called upon to close this extraordinary and historic year in a brilliant way on the difficult field of Lazio.
A test of maturity that will say a lot about the title chances of the Bergamo team, who, it must be said, have never before demonstrated this level of solidity, team depth and ability to overcome difficulties.
The victory against Empoli represents in this sense a decisive turn compared to the past, when Atalanta, a dangerous team for everyone, dropped points from time to time and failed to compete with the best in the championship. On the other hand, Lazio is a complicated opponent who, apart from the home defeat against Inter, has always done very well.
It is Inter, along with Napoli, that can take advantage of the favorable calendar in this last week of 2024. Simone Inzaghi, three points behind Atalanta but with one game in hand, will challenge Cagliari and must show that he can maintain his lead before the trip to Saudi Arabia for the Italian Super Cup.
The same goes for Antonio Conte, who will host Venezia at home and will try to keep up with the top teams. Atalanta, Inter and Napoli could in any case provide decisive boosts in the standings, because the matches Juventus-Fiorentina and Milan-Roma will necessarily cause "victims".
The Purples, after two consecutive defeats, are slowly slipping away, losing ground. The Bianconeri, after the victory against Monza, must show that they have finally "healed" from the consecutive draws that have marked their journey.
Milan and Roma, the big disappointments of this part of the championship, are called upon to change the pace to try to return to European competitions. The Rossoneri arrive in the direct confrontation slightly injured and without Leaon.
The Reds are coming off a thrashing against Parma, but also after a defeat, just a week ago, against Como. For both, the imperative is to win, because a draw, with the others running, serves no one.