Separated by three places in the Serie A table, Cagliari and relegation-threatened Venezia face off in the penultimate gameweek at Unipol Domus on Sunday.
Despite sitting 14th, the Sardinians are not mathematically safe from the drop, but their position is not as precarious as the 17th-placed Lagunari, who are just one point above the bottom three.
We say: Cagliari 1-1 Venezia
Despite Venezia’s lack of away victories, five consecutive draws on their travels suggest that Di Francesco’s men have been hard to beat on the road lately, and the Lagunari are favoured to maintain that trend by securing another point against Cagliari in Sardinia.
> Serie A preview: Cagliari vs Venezia
Newly-crowned Coppa Italia winners Bologna turn their attention back to the top-four race in Serie A with a trip to the Artemio Franchi to face Fiorentina on Sunday night.
This season will already go down in history for Bologna, who ended a half-century wait for silverware on Wednesday, and it could get even better if they manage to seal Champions League football for a second season running.
We say: Fiorentina 0-1 Bologna
Bologna will be riding the crest of a wave after their joyous moment in midweek, and if they can gather their focus for this league encounter, they should feel confident of bettering an out-of-form Fiorentina.
A win could keep Fiorentina in contention for Europe going into the final day, but a lot of damage has been done thanks to the defeat to Venezia last time out, and this will be a difficult assignment for the hosts, who may struggle with their entire front line set to miss out.
> Serie A preview: Fiorentina vs Bologna
Off-form Hellas Verona enter the penultimate gameweek in Serie A, aiming to end a seven-match winless run against the league’s form side, Como, at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.
Cesc Fabregas’s men winning four in a row last month saw the Spaniard rewarded with the Serie A Coach of the Month award for April, as the Lariani bid for a seventh consecutive win on Sunday.
We say: Hellas Verona 0-2 Como
Despite Diao’s absence for Como, it is challenging to look beyond an away victory against a Verona side that have failed to score in four of their previous five top-flight games, and their seven-match winless run could become eight against the league’s form team.
> Serie A preview: Hellas Verona vs Como
Inter Milan welcome Lazio to San Siro on Sunday night in one of the most important games of the season in Serie A.
Simone Inzaghi’s side were handed a boost in their pursuit of a second straight title last weekend, while Lazio aided their hopes in the hunt for Champions League qualification.
We say: Inter Milan 2-1 Lazio
Should Inter avoid defeat, the title will go to the final day, and given their excellent home record and recent joy against Lazio, the hosts will be confident of keeping the pressure on Napoli.
Lazio will be determined to deny the Nerazzurri though, as they have big top-four ambitions of their own, but very few teams come away with anything against Inter at San Siro, and it could be a narrow defeat for the Biancocelesti.
> Serie A preview: Inter Milan vs Lazio
Still clinging on to a precious top-four place, Juventus play their final home game of the Serie A season when they welcome Udinese to Turin on Sunday.
In a battle of the Bianconeri, Juve need points to aid their Champions League quest, while the visitors are already bound for a mid-table finish.
We say: Juventus 2-1 Udinese
Both hit by numerous absences, neither side is particularly adept at retaining leads, so there could be a twist in the tale late on.
Udinese have lost four Serie A games after leading at half time – a league high – while, only Venezia and Como have dropped more points from winning positions than Juventus (23).
Yet, Juve’s need for points to finish fourth should see them scrap out a win against aimless mid-table opponents.
> Serie A preview: Juventus vs Udinese
Lecce will walk out at the Stadio Via del Mare for the last time this season in a must-win encounter against Torino on Sunday night in Serie A.
Marco Giampaolo’s side are in deep relegation trouble, dropping into the bottom three last weekend ahead of the penultimate matchday of the season.
We say: Lecce 0-0 Torino
Lecce desperately need a win, but a lack of quality could be costly, as the league’s lowest scorers could well struggle against a club who rarely give many goals up.
Torino’s last eight fixtures have all seen two goals or less, and Vanoli’s men very rarely lose to clubs near the bottom, so this could be the beginning of the end for Lecce.
> Serie A preview: Lecce vs Torino
Second-bottom Empoli travel to relegated Monza, knowing they could finish gameweek 37 outside the bottom three or nearer to losing their Serie A status.
Azzurri Empolesi enter the round 37 clash at U-Power Stadium aware that maximum points could see them finish the penultimate matchday in 17th if they secure a sixth league triumph and results elsewhere are favourable.
We say: Monza 0-1 Empoli
Sunday’s contest is hard to predict, considering Monza’s poor home record and Empoli’s dismal away results.
However, the absence of Nesta’s key forwards and the away side’s desperation to win could enable D’Aversa’s men to secure a narrow victory.
> Serie A preview: Monza vs Empoli
Potentially going down to the wire, this season’s Serie A title race now reaches its penultimate matchday, with leaders Napoli visiting relegation-threatened Parma on Sunday evening.
The Partenopei are seeking a second Scudetto in three seasons, but last week’s slip-up left them just one point ahead of reigning champions Inter Milan; meanwhile, a win would make sure of safety for the hosts at Stadio Tardini.
We say: Parma 0-1 Napoli
Both Napoli and Parma have drawn seven games in the second half of this season – only three clubs have drawn more – yet there has only been one Serie A stalemate between them in their last 18 meetings.
It may not be pretty, but the title-chasing Partenopei should be able to frustrate their hosts, scoring a vital goal and then hanging on for three precious points.
> Serie A preview: Parma vs Napoli
Both dealing with disappointment, Serie A rivals Roma and AC Milan meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, when the hosts continue their quest for Champions League qualification.
While the Giallorossi saw their long unbeaten streak ended last week, denting hopes of a top-four finish, Milan were defeated in Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final and could miss out on Europe altogether.
We say: Roma 1-1 AC Milan
Milan have scored the joint-most Serie A goals in the second half of this season (29), while Roma have conceded the fewest (10), setting up an intriguing contest at the Olimpico.
The hosts have lost some fluency in attack, so they may have to settle for a point, which could prove costly in a close top-four race. Their visitors, meanwhile, face more frustration.
> Serie A preview: Roma vs AC Milan
