Friday, October 1, 2010

02.-03.10. 2010. Italy - Serie A preview

Bologna v Sampdoria
Bologna have won only one of their last 10 league meetings with Sampdoria, the Blucerchiati have won four times and five draws (including the 1-1 in March) complete the record.
Four of the last six meetings between these two sides at the Dall'Ara have ended in a draw, each side have won one in the process.
Bologna have suffered just one defeat in the last 10 fixtures of Serie A between this season and last, winning twice and sharing the points on seven occasions.
Samp have drawn 0-0 on the last two match-days of this campaign against Cagliari and Udinese.
Away from home, the Blucerchiati are on a run of three consecutive draws against Palermo, Juventus and Cagliari.
Marco Di Vaio has netted four goals in the last three match-days of Serie A; Di Vaio also scored a hat-trick against Sampdoria in the league in March 2009.


Chievo v Cagliari
This will be the 11th meeting between these two sides in the top-flight: Chievo lead by four wins to two, with four draws.
The hosts are unbeaten at the Bentegodi against the Sardinians in Serie A (two wins and three draws).
Chievo have not shared the points in the last 12 match-days of Serie A (five wins and seven defeats, including that suffered against Lazio last Sunday).
Stefano Pioli's side have conceded a goal in each of their five fixtures of this campaign.
At home, Chievo have lost four of their last five fixtures between this seaon and last in the league.
Cagliari have managed to win only one of their last 19 Serie A games - 5-1 at home against Roma last month.
The Sardinians have won only once away from home since start of 2010, back in January against Bologna.


Fiorentina v Palermo
Fiorentina and Palermo have shared three wins each in their last six Serie A meetings.
The Viola and the Rosanero have also shared three wins each over their last six at the Franchi.
Fiorentina and Palermo have not drawn in their last 17 meetings at the Franchi, since December 1949 (0-0).
That is also the only draw between these two sides in 23 previous meetings at Fiorentina's ground in the top-flight.
Last Sunday's win over Parma (2-0) ended Fiorentina's 11-game winless run in the league.
Palermo have won three of their last four games on the road in Serie A between this season and last.


Genoa v Bari
Genoa have picked up only two points from their last five Serie A meetings with Bari in the top-flight, without scoring more than a single goal per game in the process.
Genoa have managed to beat Bari only once in their last six meetings at the Marassi, and were held to a 1-1 draw in the last two.
Giampiero Gasperini's side have not scored more than a single goal in any of the last nine match-days of Serie A.
At home, the Grifoni have netted exactly one in each of their last five league fixtures.
Bari have managed only one win in their last 17 league games on the road (last March at the Olimpico against Lazio).
Giampiero Ventura's side have conceded an average of three goals per game over their last five trips in Serie A.


Inter v Juventus
Juve and Inter have shared two wins each and a draw over their last five meetings in the league.
At the San Siro, the hosts have beaten Juventus in the last two meetings without conceding a single goal; however, prior to this, the Bianconeri had won twice in a row.
Inter are unbeaten at home in their last 43 fixtures in the league - their last defeat came against Juventus in March 2008 (2-1).
At home, Inter are on a run of seven consecutive wins in Serie A.
Juventus won against Cagliari last Sunday - the last time the Old Lady managed two consecutive wins in the league was in February.
Prior to their win against Udinese (4-0), Juventus had picked up only one point from their previous seven games on the road in Serie A.
Juventus boast the best attack of this campaign (12 goals scored), but also the worst defence (nine conceded).
Inter have the best defence so far (only three goals shipped).


Lazio v Brescia
Brescia have beaten Lazio 13 times so far, more than any other side in the top-flight.
Lazio have failed to score on the last two occasions they have hosted Brescia in the league (a 1-0 defeat and a goalless draw between 2004 and 2005).
Prior to this, Lazio had beaten Brescia seven consecutive times at the Olimpico, conceding only two goals in the process.
After losing on their seasonal debut with Sampdoria, Lazio have notched up three wins and a draw, enough to go top of the Serie A table, alongside Inter.
Both sides have scored seven goals in this campaign: Lazio have netted six after the break, Brescia six before half time.
Lazio's goals have been scored by seven different players so far, a record amongst Serie A sides this season.


Lecce v Catania
These two sides have met only twice in the top-flight so far, in 2008/09: Lecce won at home 2-1 while they drew 1-1 at the Massimino.
Lecce have drawn their last two fixtures, with Parma and Palermo - on both occasions they were held to a draw after taking the lead in the game.
Lecce are unbeaten in their last five Serie A games, however they have shared the points in three of their last four at the Via del Mare with the same scoreline (1-1).
Catania are unbeaten in the last four match-days of Serie A (two wins and as many draws).
Away from home though, the Sicilians have failed to win in their last nine fixtures, since beating Lazio at the Olimpico last February (1-0); since then, five draws and four defeats on the road for the Biancocelesti.
Catania are alongside Napoli as the only sides to have scored in each of the five match-days of this campaign.


Napoli v Roma
Roma are unbeaten against Napoli in their last 10 meetings in Serie A (six wins for the Giallorossi and four draws, including 2-2 last February).
Roma have had the better on three of their last five visits to the San Paolo, with two 2-2 draws completing this record.
Seven of the eight points collected by Napoli this season have come away from home; in facts, the Partenopei are still waiting for their first win at home in this campaign.
Roma lost their first two away games of this campaign, conceding seven goals in total.
Napoli have already gained seven points from trailing situations, but have also lost as many after having taken the lead this term.
Napoli have scored the most goals in the second half so far this season (seven).
Roma share with Juventus the worst defence of this competition (nine goals conceded so far).


Parma v AC Milan
Parma's win last March at the Tardini was their first against AC Milan after 11 league meetings in which the Rossoneri remained unbeaten.
The Ducali have scored only two goalsin their last six league meetings with the Rossoneri.
Five of the six goals conceded by Parma in this campaign have come from the penalty spot.
After scoring four goals in their debut against Lecce, AC Milan have netted only three in the ensuing four fixtures of Serie A.
The Rossoneri have picked up only one point from their last five away games between this season and last.
AC Milan are the only side yet to concede a goal from a set piece this season in Serie A.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has already scored eight goals in his career against Parma in the league, more than against any other Italian side so far.


Udinese v Cesena
These two sides have met six times in Serie A, the last time was in February 1990: Cesena lead by three wins to two, with a draw rounding off the record.
Udinese have had the better on the last two occasions they hosted Cesena (3-1 and 1-0).
Last Sunday's goalless draw with Sampdoria gave Udinese their first point of this campaign - however this is still their worst ever start to a Serie A season after the first five match-days.
Udinese have scored only two goals in the first five fixtures - currently the worst attack of the Serie A.
Francesco Guidolin's side have lost their last two games at home, without scoring a single goal (0-1 against Genoa and 0-4 with Juventus).
After collecting seven points from the first three fixtures, Cesena have lost the following two league games, conceding six goals.
Cesena's last away win in Serie A was in October 1990; since then, they have managed only two draws and 14 defeats.
Cesena have failed to score in their last five away games in Serie A.