Saturday, September 25, 2010

25.-27. 09. 2010. Italy - Serie A preview

Bari v Brescia
This will be the 15th meeting in Serie A between these two sides: Bari lead by five wins to two, with seven draws.
However, Brescia have had the better in the last two meetings (in 2001/02) - on both occasions the Rondinelle won 3-1.
Bari have not conceded a single goal in their last four games at home (three wins and a goalless draw).
After losing their opening fixture of the season with Parma, Brescia have notched-up three consecutive wins in the league.
This is Brescia's longest run of wins in Serie A since October 1997.
Brescia have not shared the points in their last eight Serie A fixtures (five wins and three defeats).
Brescia have already scored five goals in the first half this term - a Serie A-high



Catania v Bologna
Bologna have won 10 of their 20 previous meetings with Catania in the top-flight - four wins for the Sicilians and six draws in the process.
Catania have never scored more than a single goal in any of their last eight meetings with Bologna in Serie A.
Their win against Cesena extended Catania's unbeaten run at home to 13 games in the league.
In facts, the Sicilians are still unbeaten at the Massimino in 2010.
After beating Udinese on Wednesday, Bologna managed their first win in seven league games, after five draws and a defeat.
Bologna are winless away from home in eight league games (four draws and as many defeats).




Cesena v Napoli
Napoli are unbeaten in their previous 20 meetings with Cesena in the top-flight (14 wins for the Partenopei and six draws).
The last five meetings at the Manuzzi between these two sides have produced only two goals: three goalless draws and two 1-0 wins for the guests.
Cesena have won their two home games of this capaign against AC Milan and Lecce, without conceding a single goal.
Napoli have lost only one of their last seven away games in the league, three wins and as many draws complete the record.
Napoli are the only Serie A side to have taken the lead in each of the four match-days of this campaign; though, they have won only once, losing seven points from leading positions (a Serie A high).
Walter Mazzarri's side have conceded five goals after the break - a league-joint high.






Chievo v Lazio
Chievo have managed only one win from their last nine meetings against Lazio in Serie A - four wins for the Biancocelesti and as many draws.
Chievo have not shared the points in their last 11 league games (five wins and six defeats).
Lazio have won four of their last five away games in Serie A, losing at Sampdoria in the opening game of the campaign.
Lazio have not kept a single clean sheet in their last 12 Serie A fixtures.
Chievo have been trailing three times so far in this campaign, and managed to come back and win twice, gaining six points from losing situations - a league-high.
Sergio Pellissier has already netted six goals against Lazio, five of which have come in his last four meetings against the Biancocelesti in the league.



Fiorentina v Parma
The record of previous meetings between these two sides is perfectly even: both sides have won 11 times, with 10 draws; Fiorentina have scored 40 goals, Parma 41.
However, Fiorentina have had the better in six of their last nine meetings with Parma.
At home, the Viola have beaten Parma in four of their last five Serie A meetings, but the Ducali had the better in their last trip to the Franchi (3-2 in November 2009).
Fiorentina are winless in their last 11 league fixtures between this and last season (five draws and six defeats).
Parma have conceded four goals so far in this campaign - all coming from the penalty spot.




Juventus v Cagliari
This will be the 61st meeting between these two sides in Serie A: Juve lead by 26 wins to 11, with 23 draws.
Cagliari have managed to beat Juventus away from home only twice in 30 meetings, losing 17 times in Turin.
Cagliari are alongside Inter as the only side still unbeaten in this campaign, however they have been held to three goalless draws so far; a 5-1 win against Roma completes the record.
That win against Roma was also Cagliari's only victory in their last 18 Serie A fixtures (nine draws and eight defeats in the process).
Away from home, the Sardinians are winless in 12 league games (seven defeats and five draws).
Cagliari boast the best defence of this competition, with only one goal conceded after the first four match-days.
Juventus share with Chievo and Inter the best attack of Serie A this term (eight goals scored).
Juventus have shipped three goals in each of their last three home games played in Serie A.




AC Milan v Genoa
AC Milan and Genoa have met 84 times in Serie A: the Rossoneri lead by 39 wins to 15, with 30 draws.
Genoa's last win against AC Milan at the San Siro was in May 1958 (1-5); since then, the hosts have had the better 14 times, sharing the points on five occasions.
The Rossoneri are unbeaten at home in their last 13 Serie A fixtures (eight wins and five draws), and have kept a clean sheet in each of the last four.
Genoa have managed only one win from their last five league games between this and last season, with two defeats and as many draws in the process.
Giampiero Gasperini's side have not scored more than a single goal in each of their last eight league games.
Giuseppe Sculli has already scored five goals against AC Milan in Serie A (including two last season), more than against any other opposition.




Palermo v Lecce
Palermo and Lecce have met six times in the top-flight so far: the Sicilians lead by three wins to two, with a draw completing the form.
At the Barbera, Palermo have a 100% record in three games against Lecce, and have scored 11 goals in the process.
Prior to their defeat against Inter last Sunday, Palermo were unbeaten at home in 26 league games, since March 2009.
Lecce have managed only one win in their last nine Serie A fixtures, with four draws and as many defeats.
The Giallorossi have picked-up only one point from their last 10 games on the road.




Roma v Internazionale
This will be the 155th meeting between these two sides in the league: Inter lead by 68 wins to 42, with 44 draws.
Roma have managed to beat Inter only once in their last six league meetings, in the last game at the Olimpico (2-1).
Prior to that defeat, the Nerazzurri had won three times in a row at Roma in the league.
Roma have drawn their first two games at home this season against Cesena (0-0) and Bologna (2-2).
Inter are unbeaten in their last five games on the road (three wins and two draws), and have conceded only one goal in the last four away from the San Siro.
Roma have picked-up only two points after the first four match-days, their worst start to a Serie A campaign since 1974/75.
Samuel Eto'o has netted four goals in the last two match-days of Serie A, and is currently the competition's top-scorer with five goals.


Sampdoria v Udinese
Sampdoria are unbeaten in their last five Serie A meetings with Udinese, in light of three wins (including two last season) and two draws.
At the Marassi, the hosts are unbeaten in six meetings with Udinese (three wins and as many draws).
Prior to their defeat last Sunday against Napoli, Sampdoria were unbeaten in the league at the Marassi in 29 games (18 wins and 11 draws).
Udinese are bottom of the table with zero points from the first four match-days of this campaign - this is their worst ever start to a Serie A season.
Sampdoria have failed to win in their last four competitive games in all competitions (three draws and a defeat).
Udinese have already conceded nine goals this term in Serie A - a league-high alongside Roma.