Relegation battle and end of first round: who has the toughest schedule

As the Italian Serie A reaches its mid-season point, several teams at the lower end of the table face key fixtures that could shape their battle for survival. This comes as Inter Milan need only one victory from their final two matches to be crowned ‘winter champions’.

Sassuolo, currently on 16 points, face a tough schedule with an away game against Milan and a home match against Fiorentina. The club isn’t accustomed to battling in the relegation zone, making their task even more daunting.

Verona, standing at 14 points, have a critical duel against fellow strugglers Salernitana, before heading to San Siro to take on Inter Milan. Taking maximum points from the first of these fixtures seems vital for their aspirations.

With the same tally of points, Udinese have fixtures against Bologna and Lazio, both at home in Friuli. It appears crucial that they add to their points total.

Cagliari, sitting on 13 points, encounter Empoli at home before travelling to Lecce. This presents a clear opportunity to move out of the third-bottom slot.

Empoli, with 12 points, have an away game against Cagliari and a home match with Milan on their schedule. It’s evident how vital it is that they don’t leave these fixtures empty-handed.

Finally, Salernitana, languishing at the bottom with 9 points, take on Verona away before hosting Juventus. Following their close escape against Milan, it would be key for them to replicate such performances and indicate a revival.

The coming fixtures for these teams could make or break their seasons, and sets the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the first half of the Serie A season.