Italy Serie A betting Week 37, May 18-20
- Thread starter spkutano
- Start date
Sassuolo vs Roma Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Sassuolo:
Consigli; Lirola, Demiral, Ferrari, Peluso; Duncan, Magnanelli, Locatelli; Djuricic, Sensi, Boga
Roma:
Mirante; Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov; Pellegrini, Nzonzi, Zaniolo; Kluivert, Dzeko, El Shaarawy
Sassuolo will host Roma at Mapei Stadium on Saturday. The Neroverdi are safe in the middle of the table and play only for pride, while sixth-placed Roma are still fighting for a Champions League spot. The pundits expect an easy victory for the guests, however I think this will be a quite interesting match. Coach Roberto De Zerbi said 10th place is like the Champions League for him, so he will ask the maximum from his players. The actual form is mixed, Sassuolo have one win, one draw and one defeat on the last three matches in Serie A. They managed to beat Fiorentina with 1:0, played a 2:2 draw with already relegated Frosinone, while last weekend they lost 3:2 to Torino. According to De Zerbi, the key reason for the defeat was Medhi Bourabia’s controversial dismissal after just 28 minutes. The Moroccan midfielder picked up his second yellow card when he lifted his shirt over his head in celebration of scoring the opening goal. Manuel Locatelli will likely replace him in midfield. In addition, Giangiacomo Magnani is sidelined through injury. At the end I will mention that Domenico Berardi announced his departure. The forward has spent his entire career with Sassuolo, although Juventus did have an option on him and they mutually agreed not to activate it. Berardi is known to be an Inter supporter, so maybe Meazza is his new destination.
Roma are on the sixth position with 62 points and they are three points away from the Champions League spots. A potential failure will be like a catastrophe. Claudio Ranieri, who replaced Eusebio Di Francesco earlier, will try to secure the top four finish, but it won't be easy. Regardless of the situation, Gian Piero Gasperini will lead Roma the next season. According to some reliable sources, he already sign a three-year contract with Roma, worth €2.5m net plus bonuses. Nevertheless, Ranieri will try to finish the season as good as possible. The last results are solid, Roma are unbeaten on the last seven matches in Serie A, but failed to win on three of them. They shared the points with Fiorentina, Inter and Genoa, while beat Sampdoria, Udinese, Cagliari and Juventus last weekend. Goalkeeper Antonio Mirante was the hero on that match with lot of great saves, particularly in the first half. The goals for the Giallorossi came in the second half by Alessandro Florenzi and Edin Dzeko. Roma remain the fourth highest scoring team in the league with 64 goals, behind Juventus, Napoli and Atalanta. However, they have conceded 47 goals and dropped many points so far this season. Ranieri has no important missing players for this match, though the atmosphere in the squad is far from ideal and it's connect with Daniele De Rossi. News of the veteran’s exit has infuriated Lupi ultras. The supporters were angered by De Rossi’s admission he wanted to extend his stay at the Stadio Olimpico, where he spent his entire career from childhood, but the club did not offer a new contract.
Sassuolo vs Roma Prediction:
I expect both teams to score in this match. Roma are fighting for the Champions League spot, so they must go for victory. Sassuolo, meanwhile, have nothing to play for. The players are free from the pressure and that's the reason why the last two matches have produced nine goals.
Sassuolo vs Roma Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 1.61 with Bet365
Possible starting lineups:
Sassuolo:
Consigli; Lirola, Demiral, Ferrari, Peluso; Duncan, Magnanelli, Locatelli; Djuricic, Sensi, Boga
Roma:
Mirante; Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov; Pellegrini, Nzonzi, Zaniolo; Kluivert, Dzeko, El Shaarawy
Sassuolo will host Roma at Mapei Stadium on Saturday. The Neroverdi are safe in the middle of the table and play only for pride, while sixth-placed Roma are still fighting for a Champions League spot. The pundits expect an easy victory for the guests, however I think this will be a quite interesting match. Coach Roberto De Zerbi said 10th place is like the Champions League for him, so he will ask the maximum from his players. The actual form is mixed, Sassuolo have one win, one draw and one defeat on the last three matches in Serie A. They managed to beat Fiorentina with 1:0, played a 2:2 draw with already relegated Frosinone, while last weekend they lost 3:2 to Torino. According to De Zerbi, the key reason for the defeat was Medhi Bourabia’s controversial dismissal after just 28 minutes. The Moroccan midfielder picked up his second yellow card when he lifted his shirt over his head in celebration of scoring the opening goal. Manuel Locatelli will likely replace him in midfield. In addition, Giangiacomo Magnani is sidelined through injury. At the end I will mention that Domenico Berardi announced his departure. The forward has spent his entire career with Sassuolo, although Juventus did have an option on him and they mutually agreed not to activate it. Berardi is known to be an Inter supporter, so maybe Meazza is his new destination.
Roma are on the sixth position with 62 points and they are three points away from the Champions League spots. A potential failure will be like a catastrophe. Claudio Ranieri, who replaced Eusebio Di Francesco earlier, will try to secure the top four finish, but it won't be easy. Regardless of the situation, Gian Piero Gasperini will lead Roma the next season. According to some reliable sources, he already sign a three-year contract with Roma, worth €2.5m net plus bonuses. Nevertheless, Ranieri will try to finish the season as good as possible. The last results are solid, Roma are unbeaten on the last seven matches in Serie A, but failed to win on three of them. They shared the points with Fiorentina, Inter and Genoa, while beat Sampdoria, Udinese, Cagliari and Juventus last weekend. Goalkeeper Antonio Mirante was the hero on that match with lot of great saves, particularly in the first half. The goals for the Giallorossi came in the second half by Alessandro Florenzi and Edin Dzeko. Roma remain the fourth highest scoring team in the league with 64 goals, behind Juventus, Napoli and Atalanta. However, they have conceded 47 goals and dropped many points so far this season. Ranieri has no important missing players for this match, though the atmosphere in the squad is far from ideal and it's connect with Daniele De Rossi. News of the veteran’s exit has infuriated Lupi ultras. The supporters were angered by De Rossi’s admission he wanted to extend his stay at the Stadio Olimpico, where he spent his entire career from childhood, but the club did not offer a new contract.
Sassuolo vs Roma Prediction:
I expect both teams to score in this match. Roma are fighting for the Champions League spot, so they must go for victory. Sassuolo, meanwhile, have nothing to play for. The players are free from the pressure and that's the reason why the last two matches have produced nine goals.
Sassuolo vs Roma Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 1.61 with Bet365
Juventus vs Atalanta Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Juventus:
Szczesny; De Sciglio, Barzagli, Bonucci, Spinazzola; Emre Can, Pjanic, Matuidi; Dybala, Kean, Ronaldo
Atalanta:
Gollini; Hateboer, Mancini, Masiello; Castagne, Freuler, Gosens, De Roon; Gomez; Ilicic, Zapata
Juventus host Atalanta in the most interesting match of the penultimate round in Serie A. The Old Lady have secured another Scudetto, the 8th in a row. However, the atmosphere in the squad isn't at highest level. There are the reasons for this strange situation. The fans are disappointed with the failure in the Champions League. Coach Massimiliano Alegri paid the prize - on Friday Juventus released a statement confirming Allegri will not be their coach for the next season. That means he will terminate his contract a year early by mutual consent, as he was tied to the club until June 2020. Allegri was with the Bianconeri for five seasons, winning five consecutive Serie A titles, 11 trophies in all competitions. But the club officials want more, they want a European trophy. Alegri reached the Champions League final twice, but obviously that's not enough. Now Alegri has a hard job to motivate his players for the remaining two matches in Serie A. The actual league form isn't good, Juve have no win in the last three matches in Serie A. Last weekend the Old Lady lost 2:0 to Roma at Stadio Olimpico. Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates were unable to score on that match and deserved the defeat. Alegri has some injury worries ahead of this match. Key defender Giorgio Chiellini will miss the match with a calf injury. In addition, Douglas Costa, Mattia Perin and Sami Khedira are also struggling with injuries.
Atalanta were beaten 2:0 from Lazio in Coppa Italia final on Wednesday evening, but the club officials are disappointed with the referees' decisions. President Antonio Percassi said there was a clear penalty for Atalanta in the first half as Bastos appeared to close down a Marten de Roon shot with his arm. "It was a scandal, which caused us serious harm. it was a penalty and a red card, and it would’ve changed the game. There’s no doubt for us. We’ve seen and reviewed the images," Percassi told Sky Sport Italia. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini deemed the rejected penalty appeal completely unacceptable. "It shows no respect at all for Atalanta fans," he said. However, they must focus on Serie A now. The Orobici are looking for a place that guarantee the Champions League football for the next season. They are currently fourth with 65 points, three more than Roma and Milan. Gian Piero Gasperini is doing a fantastic job and the fans are pleased. Atalanta need one win and one draw in the last two rounds to mathematically secure the fourth place. Sassuolo are the opponents in the last round. The actual league form is good, Atalanta are in series of four victories. La Dea managed to beat Napoli, Udinese, Lazio and Genoa. Duvan Zapata is in excellent form. With 22 goals in Serie A, he is the key player in the team. Gasperini has some issues ahead of this match. Rafael Toloi is out injured, while Jose Luis Palomino is suspended. On the positive note, Alejandro Gomez, Gianluca Mancini and Andrea Masiello served the suspension and they are all available.
Juventus vs Atalanta Prediction:
Juventus are without a victory in the last three matches in Serie A. Last weekend the Old Lady lost 2:0 to Roma. I know they have already secured the title, but Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates can't afford any further humiliation. I am sure they will enter the match fully motivated. Atalanta are looking for a Champions League spot and they will also try to get points in Turin. Considering these facts, I expect an efficient match here.
Juventus vs Atalanta Pick: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.78 with Pinnacle
Possible starting lineups:
Juventus:
Szczesny; De Sciglio, Barzagli, Bonucci, Spinazzola; Emre Can, Pjanic, Matuidi; Dybala, Kean, Ronaldo
Atalanta:
Gollini; Hateboer, Mancini, Masiello; Castagne, Freuler, Gosens, De Roon; Gomez; Ilicic, Zapata
Juventus host Atalanta in the most interesting match of the penultimate round in Serie A. The Old Lady have secured another Scudetto, the 8th in a row. However, the atmosphere in the squad isn't at highest level. There are the reasons for this strange situation. The fans are disappointed with the failure in the Champions League. Coach Massimiliano Alegri paid the prize - on Friday Juventus released a statement confirming Allegri will not be their coach for the next season. That means he will terminate his contract a year early by mutual consent, as he was tied to the club until June 2020. Allegri was with the Bianconeri for five seasons, winning five consecutive Serie A titles, 11 trophies in all competitions. But the club officials want more, they want a European trophy. Alegri reached the Champions League final twice, but obviously that's not enough. Now Alegri has a hard job to motivate his players for the remaining two matches in Serie A. The actual league form isn't good, Juve have no win in the last three matches in Serie A. Last weekend the Old Lady lost 2:0 to Roma at Stadio Olimpico. Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates were unable to score on that match and deserved the defeat. Alegri has some injury worries ahead of this match. Key defender Giorgio Chiellini will miss the match with a calf injury. In addition, Douglas Costa, Mattia Perin and Sami Khedira are also struggling with injuries.
Atalanta were beaten 2:0 from Lazio in Coppa Italia final on Wednesday evening, but the club officials are disappointed with the referees' decisions. President Antonio Percassi said there was a clear penalty for Atalanta in the first half as Bastos appeared to close down a Marten de Roon shot with his arm. "It was a scandal, which caused us serious harm. it was a penalty and a red card, and it would’ve changed the game. There’s no doubt for us. We’ve seen and reviewed the images," Percassi told Sky Sport Italia. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini deemed the rejected penalty appeal completely unacceptable. "It shows no respect at all for Atalanta fans," he said. However, they must focus on Serie A now. The Orobici are looking for a place that guarantee the Champions League football for the next season. They are currently fourth with 65 points, three more than Roma and Milan. Gian Piero Gasperini is doing a fantastic job and the fans are pleased. Atalanta need one win and one draw in the last two rounds to mathematically secure the fourth place. Sassuolo are the opponents in the last round. The actual league form is good, Atalanta are in series of four victories. La Dea managed to beat Napoli, Udinese, Lazio and Genoa. Duvan Zapata is in excellent form. With 22 goals in Serie A, he is the key player in the team. Gasperini has some issues ahead of this match. Rafael Toloi is out injured, while Jose Luis Palomino is suspended. On the positive note, Alejandro Gomez, Gianluca Mancini and Andrea Masiello served the suspension and they are all available.
Juventus vs Atalanta Prediction:
Juventus are without a victory in the last three matches in Serie A. Last weekend the Old Lady lost 2:0 to Roma. I know they have already secured the title, but Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates can't afford any further humiliation. I am sure they will enter the match fully motivated. Atalanta are looking for a Champions League spot and they will also try to get points in Turin. Considering these facts, I expect an efficient match here.
Juventus vs Atalanta Pick: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.78 with Pinnacle
Napoli vs Inter Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Napoli:
Meret; Hysaj, Koulibaly, Albiol, Ghoulam; Callejon, Allan, Fabian Ruiz, Zielinski; Insigne, Milik
Inter:
Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Skriniar, Asamoah; Brozovic, Gagliardini; Politano, Nainggolan, Perisic; Icardi
Napoli host Inter in a very important match of the penultimate round in Serie A. The Vesuvians have secured the second place, while Inter are fighting for Champions League spot. The actual league form is good, Napoli are enjoying three victories in Serie A. The series started at Frosinone. Goals from Dries Mertens and Amin Younes were enough to secure a 2:0 away win. The series continued at home, against Cagliari. Once again Dries Mertens found the back of the net, while the second scorer was Lorenzo Insigne from penalty during the stoppage time. Speaking of Insigne, it is claimed he will hold a second round of talks about his future as Napoli are unwilling to improve his contract. According to La Repubblica, the Partenopei will have their end-of-season dinner on Thursday evening, which should be used to reach a final decision over where the captain will play his football next season. The newspaper explains the club are only prepared to extend the 27-year-old’s contract - which expires in 2022 - as opposed to giving him a pay rise. Atletico Madrid showed a preliminary interest as they are looking potential Antoine Griezmann replacements. Now let's go back to Napoli victories. Last weekend they won 2:1 at SPAL thanks to the goals scored by Allan and Mario Rui. Summarizing the year, President Aurelio De Laurentiis said Napoli deserve credit for their season as 'Juventus are in much more debt than us.' However, the fans aren't fully satisfied as Napoli were knocked out of the Champions League group stage and lost to Arsenal in the Europa League quarter-finals. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has four injury worries ahead of this match - Amadou Diawara, Vlad Chiriches, Nikola Maksimovic and Adam Ounas are sidelined. Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens are both available after they missed the match with SPAL last week.
Inter must stayed focused in the finish of the season. Like Napoli, they were eliminated from Champions League group stage, while later lost to Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League knock-out phase. The Nerazzurri are looking for a place that guarantee the Champions League football for the next season. They are currently third with 66 points, four more than Roma and Milan. Inter need one win in the last two rounds to mathematically secure Top Four finish. The actual form is solid, they are unbeaten on the last seven matches in Serie A. Most of the games finished with draw (4). Inter shared the points with Atalanta, Roma, Juventus and Udinese, while managed to beat Genoa, Frosinone and Chievo last weekend. Ivan Perisic and Matteo Politano scored the goals against the Flying Donkeys. Politano has been arguably Inter's best player this season. The 25-year old forward has seven goals and six assists to his name. He was very consistent so far and the fans are satisfied with his performances. On contrary, the situation with former captain Mauro Icardi is unclear. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus have agreed personal terms with the striker. Icardi’s "first and only choice" in the event he leaves Inter is Juventus. Luciano Spaletti has some unexpected issues ahead of this match. The atmosphere in the squad is spoiled this week - midfielder Joao Mario was sent home from training after showing an alleged lack of effort. According to Sky Sport Italia, Spalletti did not like Joao Mario’s attitude during Thursday’s session.
Napoli vs Inter Prediction:
Napoli are without targets in the last two rounds of Serie A. They have already secured the second place, but the Partenopei will enter the match focused. Inter are looking for a Champions League spot and they will also try to get points at Stadio San Paolo. Considering these facts, I expect an open and efficient match with goals on both sides.
Napoli vs Inter Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 1.57 with Bet365
Possible starting lineups:
Napoli:
Meret; Hysaj, Koulibaly, Albiol, Ghoulam; Callejon, Allan, Fabian Ruiz, Zielinski; Insigne, Milik
Inter:
Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Skriniar, Asamoah; Brozovic, Gagliardini; Politano, Nainggolan, Perisic; Icardi
Napoli host Inter in a very important match of the penultimate round in Serie A. The Vesuvians have secured the second place, while Inter are fighting for Champions League spot. The actual league form is good, Napoli are enjoying three victories in Serie A. The series started at Frosinone. Goals from Dries Mertens and Amin Younes were enough to secure a 2:0 away win. The series continued at home, against Cagliari. Once again Dries Mertens found the back of the net, while the second scorer was Lorenzo Insigne from penalty during the stoppage time. Speaking of Insigne, it is claimed he will hold a second round of talks about his future as Napoli are unwilling to improve his contract. According to La Repubblica, the Partenopei will have their end-of-season dinner on Thursday evening, which should be used to reach a final decision over where the captain will play his football next season. The newspaper explains the club are only prepared to extend the 27-year-old’s contract - which expires in 2022 - as opposed to giving him a pay rise. Atletico Madrid showed a preliminary interest as they are looking potential Antoine Griezmann replacements. Now let's go back to Napoli victories. Last weekend they won 2:1 at SPAL thanks to the goals scored by Allan and Mario Rui. Summarizing the year, President Aurelio De Laurentiis said Napoli deserve credit for their season as 'Juventus are in much more debt than us.' However, the fans aren't fully satisfied as Napoli were knocked out of the Champions League group stage and lost to Arsenal in the Europa League quarter-finals. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has four injury worries ahead of this match - Amadou Diawara, Vlad Chiriches, Nikola Maksimovic and Adam Ounas are sidelined. Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens are both available after they missed the match with SPAL last week.
Inter must stayed focused in the finish of the season. Like Napoli, they were eliminated from Champions League group stage, while later lost to Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League knock-out phase. The Nerazzurri are looking for a place that guarantee the Champions League football for the next season. They are currently third with 66 points, four more than Roma and Milan. Inter need one win in the last two rounds to mathematically secure Top Four finish. The actual form is solid, they are unbeaten on the last seven matches in Serie A. Most of the games finished with draw (4). Inter shared the points with Atalanta, Roma, Juventus and Udinese, while managed to beat Genoa, Frosinone and Chievo last weekend. Ivan Perisic and Matteo Politano scored the goals against the Flying Donkeys. Politano has been arguably Inter's best player this season. The 25-year old forward has seven goals and six assists to his name. He was very consistent so far and the fans are satisfied with his performances. On contrary, the situation with former captain Mauro Icardi is unclear. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus have agreed personal terms with the striker. Icardi’s "first and only choice" in the event he leaves Inter is Juventus. Luciano Spaletti has some unexpected issues ahead of this match. The atmosphere in the squad is spoiled this week - midfielder Joao Mario was sent home from training after showing an alleged lack of effort. According to Sky Sport Italia, Spalletti did not like Joao Mario’s attitude during Thursday’s session.
Napoli vs Inter Prediction:
Napoli are without targets in the last two rounds of Serie A. They have already secured the second place, but the Partenopei will enter the match focused. Inter are looking for a Champions League spot and they will also try to get points at Stadio San Paolo. Considering these facts, I expect an open and efficient match with goals on both sides.
Napoli vs Inter Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 1.57 with Bet365
Chievo vs Sampdoria Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Chievo:
Semper; Depaoli, Bani, Cesar, Barba; Leris, Diousse, Hetemaj; Vignato; Meggiorini, Pellissier
Sampdoria:
Audero; Sala, Colley, Tonelli, Murru; Praet, Ekdal, Jankto; Defrel; Quagliarella, Caprari
Chievo will host Sampdoria at Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi in Verona. Both teams have nothing to play for, but pride. That is why I am expecting an efficient match. Chievo are the worst side in Serie A. The Flying Donkeys, who started the campaign with a three-point penalty for financial irregularities, have only 15 points. It is clear they are preparing for life in Serie B the next season. The actual form is poor, they have two defeats in the last two rounds. Chievo suffered a 4:0 home defeat to SPAL and 2:0 away loss at Inter. However, Coach Domenico Di Carlo wasn't disappointed with the performance of his players. Once again he said that Chievo will play with dignity. Nicola Rigoni is sidelined due to suspension, while Ezequiel Schelotto is out injured.
Sampdoria are in the middle of the table, on the 9th place with 49 points. They are safe on that position with seven-point advantage to Sassuolo and SPAL, but also can't go higher as 8th Lazio have 58 points. Just as their actual opponents, Sampdoria have nothing to play for, but pride. Maybe that's the reason for the poor results in the last period. Doria have five defeats in the last seven games, with just one victory within the same period. It is clear the players confidence isn't very high at the moment. Coach Marco Giampaolo has three injury worries ahead of this match with Edgar Barreto, Gregoire Defrel and Joachim Andersen all sidelined. Omar Colley has served his suspension and will be back in the defensive line.
This match will be full with emotions as Chievo legend Sergio Pellissier announced his retirement at the end of the season at the age of 40. The forward has scored 139 times in 512 appearances for the club. Even the city of Verona wants to pay tribute to Pellissier. Chievo announced there will be a special choreography in the stands before the start of the match, with all Pellissier’s 112 Serie A goals shown on the big screens at Bentegodi. At the final whistle, the Curva Nord gates will be opened, allowing for a peaceful pitch invasion from the fans. Furthermore, Pellissier and his family will be presented with a special trophy. Like in the NBA, his Number 31 shirt will be permanently retired. Former Chievo coaches and players will be present, including Luigi Del Neri, club coaching legend. Pellissier began his Chievo career in 2000 and was part of the side that took them to their first ever Serie A promotion in 2002/03 season.
Chievo vs Sampdoria Prediction:
As I wrote above, both teams have nothing to play for, but pride. Usually, this kind of games are efficient. In addition, two players are particularly motivated to score. Chievo legend Sergio Pellissier will play his last match at Bentegodi. It will be nice to score in front of his fans. Fabio Quagliarella, meanwhile, is the league top scorer with 26 goals. Zapata (22), Piatek and Ronaldo (both 21) are behind, so the veteran striker will also look to score in the battle for the Capocannoniere.
Chievo vs Sampdoria Pick: Over 3.5 goals @ 2.20 with Pinnacle
Possible starting lineups:
Chievo:
Semper; Depaoli, Bani, Cesar, Barba; Leris, Diousse, Hetemaj; Vignato; Meggiorini, Pellissier
Sampdoria:
Audero; Sala, Colley, Tonelli, Murru; Praet, Ekdal, Jankto; Defrel; Quagliarella, Caprari
Chievo will host Sampdoria at Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi in Verona. Both teams have nothing to play for, but pride. That is why I am expecting an efficient match. Chievo are the worst side in Serie A. The Flying Donkeys, who started the campaign with a three-point penalty for financial irregularities, have only 15 points. It is clear they are preparing for life in Serie B the next season. The actual form is poor, they have two defeats in the last two rounds. Chievo suffered a 4:0 home defeat to SPAL and 2:0 away loss at Inter. However, Coach Domenico Di Carlo wasn't disappointed with the performance of his players. Once again he said that Chievo will play with dignity. Nicola Rigoni is sidelined due to suspension, while Ezequiel Schelotto is out injured.
Sampdoria are in the middle of the table, on the 9th place with 49 points. They are safe on that position with seven-point advantage to Sassuolo and SPAL, but also can't go higher as 8th Lazio have 58 points. Just as their actual opponents, Sampdoria have nothing to play for, but pride. Maybe that's the reason for the poor results in the last period. Doria have five defeats in the last seven games, with just one victory within the same period. It is clear the players confidence isn't very high at the moment. Coach Marco Giampaolo has three injury worries ahead of this match with Edgar Barreto, Gregoire Defrel and Joachim Andersen all sidelined. Omar Colley has served his suspension and will be back in the defensive line.
This match will be full with emotions as Chievo legend Sergio Pellissier announced his retirement at the end of the season at the age of 40. The forward has scored 139 times in 512 appearances for the club. Even the city of Verona wants to pay tribute to Pellissier. Chievo announced there will be a special choreography in the stands before the start of the match, with all Pellissier’s 112 Serie A goals shown on the big screens at Bentegodi. At the final whistle, the Curva Nord gates will be opened, allowing for a peaceful pitch invasion from the fans. Furthermore, Pellissier and his family will be presented with a special trophy. Like in the NBA, his Number 31 shirt will be permanently retired. Former Chievo coaches and players will be present, including Luigi Del Neri, club coaching legend. Pellissier began his Chievo career in 2000 and was part of the side that took them to their first ever Serie A promotion in 2002/03 season.
Chievo vs Sampdoria Prediction:
As I wrote above, both teams have nothing to play for, but pride. Usually, this kind of games are efficient. In addition, two players are particularly motivated to score. Chievo legend Sergio Pellissier will play his last match at Bentegodi. It will be nice to score in front of his fans. Fabio Quagliarella, meanwhile, is the league top scorer with 26 goals. Zapata (22), Piatek and Ronaldo (both 21) are behind, so the veteran striker will also look to score in the battle for the Capocannoniere.
Chievo vs Sampdoria Pick: Over 3.5 goals @ 2.20 with Pinnacle
Lazio vs Bologna Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Lazio:
Strakosha; Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Bastos; Romulo, Parolo, Badelj, Luis Alberto, Lulic; Caicedo, Correa
Bologna:
Skorupski; Mbaye, Danilo, Lyanco, Krejci; Pulgar, Dzemaili; Orsolini, Soriano, Sansone; Palacio
Lazio are in the middle of table. They have collected 58 points and I believe the fans are not fully satisfied with the season. However, the Biancocelesti won the Coppa Italia trophy on Wednesday and the atmosphere in the squad is excellent. Lazio managed to beat Atalanta with 2:0. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic came off the bench to score the opener, while Joaquin Correa completed an extraordinary counter-attack to set the final result. It was Lazio’s 10th final in this competition, lifting the trophy six times before, most recently in 2013. What is more important, the Capital outfit secured a place in UEFA Europa League group stage next season. As I wrote above, the atmosphere in the squad is excellent, but something else could spoil it. Juventus coach Massimiliano Alegri left the champions, so there are some rumors that actual Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi will replace him. President Claudio Lotito has admitted that he would be 'hurt' if Inzaghi left the club for Juventus. The 43-year-old tactician has been Lazio coach since 2016, lifting both the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa during his reign. So maybe, just maybe, this will be the penultimate game for Inzaghi and his last one at Stadio Olimpico. He has some injury and suspension worries as Stefan Radu is banned, while Valon Berisha and Jordan Lukaku remain sidelined through injuries. Most probably Ciro Immobile will be benched after the poor performances in recent months.
Bologna have 40 points and they are very close to secure the status. I am writing this preview on Sunday morning, so they may already be guaranteed safety by the time this match starts if other results go their way (if Empoli don’t beat Torino). However, the actual form is quite solid, Bologna have three victories on the last four matches in Serie A. First they won 3:0 against against Sampdoria. The goals from Lorenzo Tonelli, Erick Pulgar and Riccardo Orsolini secured the victory on that match. Bologna also won 3:1 against Empoli with Roberto Soriano, Riccardo Orsolini and Nicola Sansone scoring the goals. Finally, the Rossoblu won 4:1 against Parma last weekend. Sinisa Mihajlovic's men dominated the Reggio-Emilia Derby and deserved the high victory. Riccardo Orsolini and Lyanco were the Rossoblu players that scored the goals for their team as two more came as bizarre own goals from Parma players. The impact of Mihajlovic seems crucial as Bologna were in the drop zone when the Serbian tactician replaced Filippo Inzaghi. It is not a surprise that towards the end of the game, the crowd at the Stadio Dall’Ara started chanting an appeal for Mihajlovic to stay. For this match the guests have two unavailable players - Federico Mattiello is out due to injury, while Mitchell Dijks continues his suspension. On the positive note, Andrea Poli and Nicola Sansone are back after they both served their respective bans. At the end I will mention that Italian police are investigating claims made by Bologna manager that a police officer racially abused him outside the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Wednesday.
Lazio vs Bologna Prediction:
I expect Lazio to win this match. The quality is on Lazio side, no doubt about that. In addition, the atmosphere in the squad is excellent following the Coppa Italia victory against Atalanta on Wednesday. But there is one more reason for my pick. Bologna have three victories in the last four rounds, but they all came at home. The Rossoblu are less successful as guests where they suffered two defeats on the last three matches.
Lazio vs Bologna Pick: Home win @ 2.10 with Bet365
Possible starting lineups:
Lazio:
Strakosha; Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Bastos; Romulo, Parolo, Badelj, Luis Alberto, Lulic; Caicedo, Correa
Bologna:
Skorupski; Mbaye, Danilo, Lyanco, Krejci; Pulgar, Dzemaili; Orsolini, Soriano, Sansone; Palacio
Lazio are in the middle of table. They have collected 58 points and I believe the fans are not fully satisfied with the season. However, the Biancocelesti won the Coppa Italia trophy on Wednesday and the atmosphere in the squad is excellent. Lazio managed to beat Atalanta with 2:0. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic came off the bench to score the opener, while Joaquin Correa completed an extraordinary counter-attack to set the final result. It was Lazio’s 10th final in this competition, lifting the trophy six times before, most recently in 2013. What is more important, the Capital outfit secured a place in UEFA Europa League group stage next season. As I wrote above, the atmosphere in the squad is excellent, but something else could spoil it. Juventus coach Massimiliano Alegri left the champions, so there are some rumors that actual Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi will replace him. President Claudio Lotito has admitted that he would be 'hurt' if Inzaghi left the club for Juventus. The 43-year-old tactician has been Lazio coach since 2016, lifting both the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa during his reign. So maybe, just maybe, this will be the penultimate game for Inzaghi and his last one at Stadio Olimpico. He has some injury and suspension worries as Stefan Radu is banned, while Valon Berisha and Jordan Lukaku remain sidelined through injuries. Most probably Ciro Immobile will be benched after the poor performances in recent months.
Bologna have 40 points and they are very close to secure the status. I am writing this preview on Sunday morning, so they may already be guaranteed safety by the time this match starts if other results go their way (if Empoli don’t beat Torino). However, the actual form is quite solid, Bologna have three victories on the last four matches in Serie A. First they won 3:0 against against Sampdoria. The goals from Lorenzo Tonelli, Erick Pulgar and Riccardo Orsolini secured the victory on that match. Bologna also won 3:1 against Empoli with Roberto Soriano, Riccardo Orsolini and Nicola Sansone scoring the goals. Finally, the Rossoblu won 4:1 against Parma last weekend. Sinisa Mihajlovic's men dominated the Reggio-Emilia Derby and deserved the high victory. Riccardo Orsolini and Lyanco were the Rossoblu players that scored the goals for their team as two more came as bizarre own goals from Parma players. The impact of Mihajlovic seems crucial as Bologna were in the drop zone when the Serbian tactician replaced Filippo Inzaghi. It is not a surprise that towards the end of the game, the crowd at the Stadio Dall’Ara started chanting an appeal for Mihajlovic to stay. For this match the guests have two unavailable players - Federico Mattiello is out due to injury, while Mitchell Dijks continues his suspension. On the positive note, Andrea Poli and Nicola Sansone are back after they both served their respective bans. At the end I will mention that Italian police are investigating claims made by Bologna manager that a police officer racially abused him outside the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Wednesday.
Lazio vs Bologna Prediction:
I expect Lazio to win this match. The quality is on Lazio side, no doubt about that. In addition, the atmosphere in the squad is excellent following the Coppa Italia victory against Atalanta on Wednesday. But there is one more reason for my pick. Bologna have three victories in the last four rounds, but they all came at home. The Rossoblu are less successful as guests where they suffered two defeats on the last three matches.
Lazio vs Bologna Pick: Home win @ 2.10 with Bet365
