Sassuolo host Lazio at the Mapei Stadium in Sunday’s early kick-off in what will be a meeting of two of Serie A’s stranger sides. Lazio appeared to have ironed out their inconsistencies for a period but are now winless in three, whereas Sassuolo are without a victory since October and might need to start looking over their shoulder at the relegation places.

Alessio Dionisi’s Neroverdi have always been a team capable of pretty high highs, but also of lows that are equally extreme. This season they’ve had more of the latter than the former, and have just four wins from their 17 games played so far. Sitting 16th in the table as we approach the midway point, they’ll know that results will have to come sooner rather than later. With as many as 43 goals having come from their 17 matches though, they tend to deliver entertainment even when they’re not at their best.

Similar things could be said of Lazio, and their 17 games this season have produced 44 goals, which should produce an occasion worth tuning in for to start your Sunday of football. Having thrown away a two-goal lead last time out against Empoli, Lazio will be desperate to send a real statement, especially as that extended their winless run to three matches.

Toulouse look outstanding value for their home match on Saturday against struggling Brest, with an even money price looking long for a side that has been decent at home and is coming off their best display of the campaign.

TFC went to Auxerre in midweek and dismantled their opponents 5-0. The outcome of the game might have flattered them somewhat, but they thoroughly deserved the points and now return home, where they have picked up four wins from nine matches. Indeed, the teams they have struggled against at home have been those further up the standings, with a 2-0 win over Ajaccio on New Year’s Day typical of their steady displays against strugglers.

By contrast, Brest has not travelled well this season. They have lost six of their nine road trips, with the exceptions victories over rock-bottom Angers and Clermont, and a draw against an Auxerre side that is below them.

The presence of new visiting coach Eric Roy is not one to inspire optimism either. Although his side ground a 0-0 draw against Lille in midweek, Toulouse’s excellence from set-pieces, provided by Branco van den Boomen, means that they are a dangerous team to defend against for long spells, even if they can lack offensive quality at times.

Having scored 14 goals for the loss of just one in their last three games, and available at even money, the hosts look excellent value to continue their fine form here.

Another of Italy’s more bizarre sides are Atalanta, and they’ll be hoping to continue their unbeaten start to 2023 as they host Salernitana on Sunday afternoon. Despite going without a loss in their two games so far, La Dea haven’t entirely convinced.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have conceded first in each of their games and had to come from two goals behind to draw away at Spezia before completing a turnaround against Bologna last time out in a 2-1 win. At home, they’ve lost their last three and have kept just one clean sheet all season – back on 2nd October  against Fiorentina. Torino, Cremonese, and Sassuolo have all gone to Bergamo and scored this season, so the Granata will fancy their chances.

At the other end, though, Rasmus Hojlund has been finding a bit of form and has netted in each of his two appearances this calendar year – the first at Spezia and the winner at Bologna – and will be one to watch for any individual goalscorer markets.

Both teams have netted in each of Atalanta’s last five games, going back as far as their last clean sheet on October 30th. In that same period, the only time both teams haven’t scored in a Salernitana game was their 3-0 loss at Monza.

Although they’re far from the ludicrous expectations that some placed on them before the season, Jose Mourinho’s Roma have been managing to stay in touch with the top four in Serie A while always leaving a feeling that there’s still a lot more to come from them. Against Fiorentina, we might see that extra gear moved into.

The Giallorossi’s last Serie A loss came back at the beginning of November against Lazio, and all of their four defeats this season have come against opponents that it would have been reasonable to predict them falling to – Udinese aside, although they were in serious form at the time.

Now unbeaten in five and with Nicolo Zaniolo, Paulo Dybala and Tammy Abraham all available for selection, there’s a feeling that things might be falling into place in the capital. Abraham has been on target this year after his tough first half of the season, as has Dybala, so Mourinho will be hoping for them to continue that form as they host La Viola.

Vincenzo Italiano’s side, for their part, have found something resembling form themselves and are two three unbeaten this year – one of those being in the Coppa Italia – but they’ve lost against AC Milan, inter, Lazio, Atalanta and a then-decent Udinese this season, showing there are weaknesses that the better sides in Serie A can take advantage of.