Serie A matchday 4 preview: Fixtures, key players, and the game of the weekend

Serie A returns this weekend for Matchday 4, and the early table is already taking shape. Napoli and Juventus have made strong starts, while a few others have surprised.

After an exciting weekend of goals, drama, and comebacks, clubs will be looking to consolidate their form, avoid early losses, and keep pressure on the title contenders. Injuries, squad depth and momentum may play a big part.

Summary of Last Weekend (Matchday 3)

Here are the key takeaways from Matchday 3:

• Napoli continued their perfect start with a 3-1 win away at Fiorentina. Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring from the penalty spot, Rasmus Hojlund (on loan from Manchester United) scored on his debut, and Sam Beukema also got on the scoresheet. Fiorentina pulled one back late but never really threatened a comeback. 
• Juventus edged out Inter Milan 4-3 in a wildly entertaining Derby d’Italia. Juventus twice let Inter back into the game; Marcus and Kephren Thuram were both involved (on opposing teams), and Vasilije Adzic scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner for Juve. 
• Roma’s perfect run ended: they lost 0-1 at home to Torino, with Giovanni Simeone scoring the decisive goal. Despite Roma’s good build-up play, Torino were disciplined and clinical. 

These results mean Napoli and Juventus are currently top of the table with full points, while some big teams are already under pressure to avoid slipping behind early.

This Weekend’s Fixtures & Kick-off Times (Local: Italy)

Here are the Matchday 4 fixtures in Serie A with BST kick-off times: 

Players to Watch

Here are some individuals who look likely to make an impact this weekend:

• Rasmus Højlund (Napoli) – Has started impressively, scoring on his debut. With Lukaku injured, he may carry much of Napoli’s attacking burden. 
• Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli) – Already in form, taking penalties, creating chances. A key figure in keeping Napoli’s perfect run. 
• Vasilije Adzic (Juventus) – His late winner vs Inter showed composure and big-game temperament. Juventus will hope he can continue delivering in pressure games.
• Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter Milan) – Double in the Juve game, good pulling-the-strings in midfield. Even in defeat, his performance stood out. 
• Giovanni Simeone (Torino) – He scored the winner vs Roma. Torino will want to build on that and he’ll be dangerous on break-aways. 

What to look out for

• Can Juventus maintain momentum after their thrilling win, now with a run of tricky fixtures?
• Napoli is under pressure to keep their perfect start, especially with squad injuries; how well do their new players (e.g. Højlund) adapt in tougher matches.
• The Derby della Capitale: Lazio vs Roma is always intense; Roma will want to recover from their loss, Lazio to consolidate.
• The mid-table clubs can spring surprises, especially against shaky big teams.

Game of the weekend

If I had to pick one match as Game of the Weekend, it would be Lazio vs Roma (Sunday 21 Sept, 11:30 BST). 

The first Derby della Capitale of the season always brings tension, heated rivalries, and can have big implications for both morale and position in the table. 

Roma will be desperate to bounce back, Lazio to assert themselves.

Conclusion

Matchday 4 promises to be pivotal. Early leaders like Napoli and Juventus will try to stay unbeaten; others will be looking to prevent slips. 

Individual form may shift momentum—players like Højlund and De Bruyne could push Napoli even further. Derbies and big regional clashes will likely steal the headlines.

Expect drama, maybe an upset or two, and lots of talking points. Serie A tends to reward consistency, but the early season is always unpredictable. 

By the end of the weekend, we’ll have a clearer picture of who might challenge for the title and who will be scrambling.