Defiant Inter Milan host champions Juventus for their first major home game of the season while Serie A leaders Napoli look to tighten their grip against visitors Atalanta.
AC Milan, the only major team in Italy’s top flight to drop points so far, visit Torino in Saturday’s other fixture hoping the recent signing of Brazilian Kaka pays dividends.
Three years after an historic treble of league, Cup and Champions League trophies, Inter finished a lowly ninth last season and are desperate to make amends under new coach Walter Mazzarri. So far, they have recorded comparatively easy wins over Genoa and Catania.
“We have great respect for Inter,” said Juventus ’keeper Gianluigi Buffon. “They’re a strong team who want to show what they can do, they have one of the best coaches in the business and players who, when they’re on their game, should be highly respected.
“And the fact they are not involved in any Cup competitions will only add to their status as potential title challengers this season.”
Meanwhile, Napoli coach Rafael Benitez believes he has one of the world’s best scoring midfielders in Slovakian Marek Hamsik, who has scored four goals in two games to put Napoli top ahead of Inter on goal difference.
“Is Bale worth the 100 million euros Real Madrid paid for him? If so, then I’d say you can’t put a price on Hamsik -- and he is not for sale,” the Spaniard said in an interview with Mediaset.