Francesco Totti was back with a bang – and a hat-trick – last week, so he’ll try to lead Roma to another victory in Bergamo.

“Francesco immediately proved how much we had missed him. I said it would be difficult this season without him and you could clearly see what a difference he made,” said Claudio Ranieri after the 3-1 win over Bari. The captain had been out of action for over a month following knee surgery and answered his critics in style. “Tell me I’m finished as a player now!” he roared.

Once again the Giallorossi will look to their talisman to see them through, especially as Daniele De Rossi is still unlikely to feature after fracturing his cheekbone and suffering from kidney stones. Unusually for Roma, he represents the only absentee, as everyone else is available for selection.

Mirko Vucinic impressed in his new role as part of a 4-2-3-1 system and should again start with Jeremy Menez and perhaps Simone Perrotta. Juan returns to boost the defence with Nicolas Andrea Burdisso, but Julio Sergio is again picked ahead of goalkeeper Alexander Doni.

Atalanta’s confidence has taken a battering lately with a series of poor results. They were picked up thanks to a crucial 2-0 win away to Siena last week, which proved the final nail in Coach Marco Baroni’s coffin and put some more distance between the Orobici and the relegation zone. However, on Thursday they were stunned 1-0 at home by Lega Pro outfit Lumezzane in the Coppa Italia, sparking furious fan protests.

Antonio Conte has had ups and downs since taking over at the helm and is struggling to keep a steady ship. Defender Federico Peluso sits out a ban, joining the injured Jaime Valdes, Thomas Manfredini and Edgar Barreto in the stands, but Cristiano Doni returns from suspension. Robert Acquafresca finally broke his duck for Atalanta last week from the penalty spot, but also missed a sitter, so Simone Tiribocchi could step in.

There is no love lost between these clubs and it is considered a high-risk game for crowd trouble at the Stadio Azzurri d’Italia. That is particularly true as last season this fixture ended 3-0 for Atalanta with Cristiano Doni bagging a brace and Simone Perrotta sent off. It has not ended in a stalemate since November 2001.

Keep an eye on: Francesco Totti (Roma) – Who else could it be? Il Capitano scored a hat-trick on his comeback from a month out with knee surgery, earned a standing ovation from the fans and leapt to the top of the Capocannoniere charts alongside Antonio Di Natale. With Totti in the side, Roma are quite simply on another level.

Last five in Serie A: Atalanta (W L L L W) Roma (L L W D W)

Last season: Atalanta 3-0 Roma

Alberto Malesani makes his debut as the third Coach of the season to sit on the Siena bench, but faces a tricky trip to Bari.

Robur have already fired two tacticians in the first 13 rounds of Serie A, as Marco Giampaolo’s replacement – Primavera boss Marco Baroni – lasted just a couple of weeks. With Siena rooted to the foot of the table on a pitiful six points, time is running out to turn this situation around. Already the third-from bottom clubs have double their points tally and confidence is at an all-time low.

“The table is difficult, but nothing has been compromised. For this reason I believe a truce is necessary in this moment so we can all start again together,” Malesani said of the recent vociferous fan protests. “I ask the supporters to bear that in mind and I will ask the players to do the same. We need to reset to zero what has happened up until now.”

That didn’t go according to plan, as Malesani’s official debut saw them knocked out of the Coppa Italia. With practically a full-strength side, they were beaten 2-0 at home by Lega Pro outfit Novara.

Bari were expected to be in that position, having just been promoted from Serie B and struggling financially, but they have proven themselves to be one of the revelations. Level with giants Roma and Napoli in joint ninth place, Giampiero Ventura’s men are a solid force, albeit a very low-scoring one. Naturally they hope to take advantage of the second-worst defence in Serie A to add to that meagre 12-goal tally.

Bari are still struggling with an injury crisis, as Mariano Donda, Matteo Paro, Ferdinando Sforzini, Emmanuel Rivas, Alessandro Gazzi, Salvatore Masiello, Edgar Alvarez and Vitalii Kutuzov are all unlikely to feature. Alessandro Parisi is back in business and Sergio Almiron grows more effective in midfield with each game.

Siena remain with the only long-term absentees, Luca Rossettini and Francesco Parravicini, but there is curiosity over which tactic Malesani will choose. Initial reports suggest a 4-4-2 with Michele Paolucci and Massimo Maccarone upfront. It would give Reginaldo and Michele Fini the wide roles.

It will be interesting to see the nerves if a penalty is awarded, as this season both Siena and Bari have already missed two spot-kicks. The most recent was in last week’s 2-0 home defeat to Atalanta that proved the final straw for Baroni.

Keep an eye on: Sergio Almiron (Bari) – The Argentine midfielder, on loan from Juventus, has settled in well at the San Nicola and came close to a goal against Roma at the weekend, thumping the crossbar with a fierce drive from distance.

Last five in Serie A: Bari (W L D W L) Siena (L L D L L)

Last season: Not played

Title chasing Juventus visit a Cagliari side in scintillating form. Inter’s 1-1 draw with Roma in Week 12 allowed Juve to move within five points of the Nerazzurri just when it appeared Jose Mourinho’s men had begun their annual Scudetto procession even earlier than usual.

The Bianconeri have won their two League games since and that form must be maintained as they can’t rely on Inter slipping up. Coach Ciro Ferrara has to find a way to replicate the Beneamata’s consistency if they are to stay in the hunt. The resurgence of Milan, who lie just two points behind in third, complicates matters further. As does the midweek defeat at Bordeaux.

The tale of Cagliari’s campaign is strikingly similar to last season – a poor start followed by a spectacular revival. The Isolani’s first win didn’t come until Week 5 and yet last weekend’s loss away to Milan stopped a four match winning streak.

A 4-3 defeat at San Siro is clearly no disgrace, especially given the Sardinians daring approach and swashbuckling display. Massimiliano Allegri’s outfit appear particularly strong in attacking midfield and up front – Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini et al beware.

The history books suggest this will be a very tight encounter. The Old Lady has prevailed on both visits to the Stadio Sant’Elia since returning from Serie B, but by narrow margins, 3-2 in 2007 and 1-0 last year.

Cagliari defenders Francesco Pisano and Lino Marzoratti remain injured, whilst Juve’s long list contains Vincenzo Iaquinta, Jonathan Zebina, Tiago, Claudio Marchisio and David Trezeguet.

Ferrara’s biggest dilemma is whether to select the returning Alessandro Del Piero and Momo Sissoko from the start at the expense of Christian Poulsen and Sebastian Giovinco.

Keep an eye on: Alessandro Matri (Cagliari) – The young forward could have been marginalised by Nene’s arrival – instead he has made himself irreplaceable by netting four goals in four games, including one against his former employers Milan last week.

Last five in Serie A: Cagliari (W W W W L) Juventus (W W L W W)

Last season: Cagliari 0-1 Juventus

As one reign ends another begins with Delio Rossi taking over the Palermo helm ahead of this weekend’s trip to Verona. The 48-year-old, who was forced out of Lazio in the summer despite winning the Coppa Italia, replaces Walter Zenga.

At his official unveiling Rossi dodged claims that Palermo has a squad capable of qualifying for the Champions League. Instead he called for patience, saying he still had to get to know his squad and that points are Palermo’s immediate priority.

With just five points separating the Rosanero from the relegation it’s fair to say Delio Rossi has the right idea. Palermo haven’t won any of their last four games and currently lie 12th in the table just two points ahead of Chievo.

The Flying Donkeys are also going through something of a rough patch, having also won only one of their last five games. In contrast to Zenga, Mimmo Di Carlo has kept his job perhaps in part because of a good start to the season and the fact he kept them up last season.

So Sunday’s game could be the turning point for each of the two teams, but one feels Di Carlo needs a win the most. Two defeats in a row away to Sampdoria and Parma aren’t too unexpected, but the Gialloblu won’t want to slip any further down the table with Christmas approaching.

Keep an eye on: Simon Kjaer (Palermo) – The talented young Denmark international has already become something of a leader along the Palermo backline, so much so that Manchester United are watching him closely.

Last five in Serie A: Chievo (L W D L L) Palermo (W L D L D)

Last season: Chievo 1-0 Palermo

This is the fixture Fiorentina fans would really have preferred to play later in the season – perhaps when they hadn’t just lost at home to a promoted side. Nonetheless, Inter away it is for the Viola and Cesare Prandelli will have to pick his side up from their 3-2 defeat to Parma if they stand any chance at San Siro.

The midweek Champions League win against Lyon, knocking Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool out of the competition, will surely have helped. The confidence gained from progressing to the knock-out stages is hard to measure, but the achievement certainly demonstrates how far this side has come under Prandelli’s stewardship.

Saying that, it’s a tall order this weekend. Fiorentina have been inconsistent this season while Jose Mourinho’s side have been winning games for fun. It’s hard not to see Inter winning Serie A at a canter for another successive year.

The absence of the mercurial Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been eased by the signings of prolific forwards Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito, along with the emergence of Mario Balotelli. Ibrahimovic’s exquisite touch and vision may have gone but it has been replaced with a deadly eye for goal which probably suits the efficient Mourinho approach to the game anyway.

Dejan Stankovic is thriving in the role behind the strikers, playing almost as a trequartista at times. The players behind him form a fearsome side, tough in the tackle but with enough creativity and ambition to provide the three attackers with chances. Genoa and Palermo can attest to this as they both shipped five against Inter this campaign.

Marauding full-back Douglas Maicon misses out due to suspension, but it is Javier Zanetti rather than Davide Santon who replaces him, as the young Italian is sidelined with an injury. Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder also misses out through injury, which would be a big loss to any side.

Fiorentina are aided by the return of the exciting young Serb, Stevan Jovetic, but Prandelli is likely to start him on the bench. The former Parma tactician is denied the services of his other flamboyant forward, Adrian Mutu, whose injury rules him out once more, along with centre-back Alessandro Gamberini and the suspended Marco Donadel.

Keep an eye on: Samuel Eto’o (Inter) – The Cameroonian forward, possibly the biggest bargain signing the game has ever seen, is pure class. His attitude off the pitch may not endear himself to everyone, but on it he has the quality to rip apart any defence. Expect goals in this one for the two-time Champions League winner.

Last five in Serie A: Inter (W W W D W) Fiorentina (L L W W L)

Last season: Inter 2-0 Fiorentina