Serie A Matchday 7: Inter, Roma, Como and Napoli chase redemption after Champions League disaster

Serie A gets back underway this weekend after a punishing European week for Italian football. All four clubs representing the country in the Champions League lost in the second round of the league phase, a collective collapse that had never happened on a single matchday before. Inter, AS Roma, Napoli and Como now head into domestic action with a clear mission: put the continental blow behind them and avoid letting it spill over into their league campaigns.

• Serie A leaders Inter conceded four goals at home to Club Brugge at San Siro.
• Roma led Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid 3-1 at the Olimpico and lost 4-3 after conceding three late goals.
• Lautaro Martinez is out for at least three weeks with a muscular injury.
• The standout fixture of the weekend pits Juventus against Lazio, both on 16 points.

Inter face a tricky Bologna trip without the injured Lautaro Martinez

The home defeat to Club Brugge forces Inter to react immediately when they travel to Bologna on Saturday. Coach Cristian Chivu also loses captain Lautaro Martinez for at least three weeks after the Argentine striker picked up a muscular injury following the Champions League match. He will not return until after the November international break, which means he also misses the Derby della Madonnina against AC Milan at San Siro on October 31.

With the team's attacking reference on the sidelines, the scoring burden shifts to Marcus Thuram, Ange-Yoan Bonny and Francesco Pio Esposito. The French international in particular needs to step up during this stretch. It will not be easy, but he is the one who has to carry the attack while the Argentine recovers.

Roma go from European heartbreak to a reunion with Daniele De Rossi

The capital club endured one of the most bitter nights in recent memory at the Stadio Olimpico. They were leading Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid 3-1 with ten minutes to go before conceding three times and falling 4-3. Now they must process that emotional blow with a very special fixture ahead: the visit of Genoa, coached by former Roma captain and manager Daniele De Rossi.

The reunion with De Rossi adds extra spice to a match in which Roma cannot afford another setback if they want to stay within reach of the top spots. The fans will welcome one of their greatest legends with affection, but once the whistle blows there will be no room for sentiment on the pitch.

Napoli and Como look to steady the ship on the road

Napoli and Como were the other two Italian clubs to fall in Europe's top competition. The Neapolitans face what looks like a kinder assignment away to Venezia, who have just hired Davide Nicola to replace Giovanni Stroppa. Even so, the need for points turns any away trip into a test of maturity.

Como, meanwhile, visit Fiorentina determined to prove their Champions League presence is no fluke. Both sides need to get back to winning ways to stop the European hangover from turning into a domestic crisis.

Juventus vs. Lazio, the headline clash at the top

The marquee match of the matchday brings together two contrasting situations. Gennaro Gattuso's Lazio have been the surprise package of the season so far, sitting level with Inter on 16 points after five wins and one draw in six games. They have done it despite their fans boycotting home matches over the ongoing dispute with owner Claudio Lotito.

Luciano Spalletti's Juventus, by contrast, have had a rocky start. They have three wins, two draws and one defeat from their opening six matches and arrive at the Allianz Stadium on the back of last weekend's draw at Cagliari. Gattuso has shown encouraging signs since Italy's World Cup playoff elimination against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the Turin stage will provide a genuine measure of Lazio's ambitions.

Full Serie A Matchday 7 schedule

The round kicks off on Friday with Frosinone against Sassuolo and runs through Monday. Here is the complete fixture list, with kickoff times in the Eastern United States.

• Friday, October 16: Frosinone vs. Sassuolo, 2:45 p.m.
• Saturday, October 17: Venezia vs. Napoli, 9 a.m.; Bologna vs. Inter, 12 p.m.; AS Roma vs. Genoa, 2:45 p.m.
• Sunday, October 18: Udinese vs. Lecce, 6:30 a.m.; Fiorentina vs. Como, 9 a.m.; AC Milan vs. Atalanta, 12 p.m.; Juventus vs. Lazio, 2:45 p.m.
• Monday, October 19: Monza vs. Cagliari, 12:30 p.m.; Parma vs. Torino, 2:45 p.m.

Frequently asked questions about Serie A Matchday 7