Sunday, March 20, 2011

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20.03. (Sun) 15:00 Inter - Lecce

DID YOU KNOW?

* Inter played out their first Serie A draw under Leonardo last week since he took the reigns near the end of December (W11, D1, L2).

* The Nerazzurri are currently riding a five-game unbeaten streak (W4, D1).

* The champions have scored 17 goals in their last five games at San Siro.

* Samuel Eto'o leads the team in scoring with 19 Serie A goals.

* Ivan Cordoba will miss the clash due to suspension.

* Lecce's last win came on February 6 against Juventus.

* The Serie A newboys have one win in their last five games away from home (W1, D2, L2).

* David Di Michele leads the team in scoring with five goals.

LAST MEETING

November 10, 2010: Lecce 1-1 Inter

An injury-ravaged Inter side took a 76th minute lead thanks to a goal by Diego Milito but the champions were unable to fend off a spirited rally by Lecce who equalised through Ruben Olivera's header 10 minutes from time.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Rannochia, Chivu; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic; Sneijder; Pazzini, Eto'o

Lecce: Rosati; Tomovic, Ferrario, Fabiano, Brivio; Giacomazzi, Vives, Bertolacci; Olivera, Mesbah; Corvia

Prediction
Inter might start slowly against Lecce after coming off their dramatic Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich but once they get going against the Serie A newboys they should have their way with them. Inter have scored a ton of goals at San Siro under coach Leonardo and Sunday should be no different.
Inter Milan 3-0 Lecce

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20.03. (Sun) 15:00 Bologna - Genoa

DID YOU KNOW?

* Bologna have taken seven points out of a possible nine in their last three encounters.

* Bologna have only suffered one loss in their last five home games (W3, D1, L1)

* Marco Di Vaio leads the team in scoring with 17 goals in Serie A.

* Genoa have conceded ten goals in their last five matches.

* Genoa have one win in their last five games away from the Marassi (W1, D1, L3)

* Rodrigo Palacio leads the team in scoring despite having only five goals to his name.

LAST MEETING

November 10, 2010: Genoa 1-0 Bologna

Davide Ballardini won his first game in charge of Genoa as Omar Milanetto netted the winner in the 81st minute in what was a rough and tumble affair at the Marassi.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Bologna: Viviano; Casarini, Portanova, Britos, Rubin; Perez, Mudingayi, Della Rocca; Busce; Di Vaio, Ramirez

Genoa: Eduardo; Mesto, Kaladze, Dainelli, Criscito; Konko, Veloso, Kucka, Rossi; Palacio, Floro Flores

Prediction
Expect some goals in this encounter with Bologna squeaking out a slim victory thanks to their talisman Marco Di Vaio.
Bologna 2-1 Genoa

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20.03. (Sun) 15:00 Bari - Chievo Verona

DID YOU KNOW?

* Bari held league leaders Milan to a draw in the last round.

* The Galletti haven't won in the last eleven games.

* Bari's last victory came on January 6 against Lecce.

* Chievo are winless in their last six matches.

* The Flying Donkeys have only one win in their last 10 road games.

* Marco Andreolli, Bostjan Cesar and Andrea Mantovani will miss out through suspension.

LAST MEETING

November 10, 2010: Chievo 0-0 Bari

The two goalkeepers stood out as the Flying Donkeys and Galletti played out a drab draw at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentigodi.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Bari: Gillet: A.Masiello, Glik, Belmonte, Rossi; Almiron, Gazzi, Bentevoglio; Alvarez, Ghezzal; Rudolf

Chievo: Sorrentino; Frey, Morero, Mandelli, Jokic; Fernandes, Rigoni, Marcolini; Bogliacino; Pellissier, Thereau

Prediction
Chievo have really struggled on the road this season and Bari will do just enough to send the their fans home happy on Sunday.
Bari 2-1 Chievo

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20.03. (Sun) 14:30 Sunderland - Liverpool

DID YOU KNOW?

* Sunderland have won just two of their previous 19 games against Liverpool.

* Steve Bruce’s side are currently on a five-game run without a win; they last tasted victory on January 22 away to Blackpool.

* The Black Cats have only scored once in their last four home meetings against the Reds, with Darren Bent bagging the goal with the assistance of a beach ball.

* Sunderland have gone 259 minutes without scoring in the Premier League.

* The Wearside club have dropped 13 points in the last ten minutes of games - the most in the Premier League.

* Kenny Dalglish can record the 250th win of his managerial career if Liverpool win at the Stadium of Light.

* Liverpool have lost all three of their Premier League away games directly following a Europa League matchday this season.

* Dirk Kuyt is Liverpool’s top scorer this season with seven Premier League goals, three of which came in their last league game against Manchester United.

* The Reds have taken 17 points from their last eight Premier League games.

* Liverpool have conceded six goals in the last minute of matches this season only Wolves have conceded more.

LAST MEETING

September 25, 2010: Liverpool 2-2 Sunderland

The two sides played out a controversial 2-2 draw when a Fernando Torres strike was the talking point of the fixture. Steven Gerrard also netted for the Reds, cancelling out two goals from Darren Bent.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Sunderland: Mignolet; Onuoha, Mensah, Bramble, Bardsley; Sessegnon, Henderson, Muntari, Richardson: Welbeck, Gyan.

Liverpool: Reina; Carragher, Wilson, Skrtel, Johnson; Kuyt, Meireles, Lucas, Rodriguez; Suarez, Carroll.

Prediction
Sunderland have been good at home this season, losing only three times, while Liverpool have been inconsistent over the last few weeks and have never won after playing in the Europa League this season.

The Black Cats also have a few players returning from injury so they will almost be back to full strength after a horrendous run with injuries which included influential captain Lee Cattermole missing two months of the season. The Reds will be missing Steven Gerrard which will be a huge blow and one which could cost them in a tight game.

Sunderland 2-1 Liverpool

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20.03. (Sun) 12:30 Fiorentina - Roma

DID YOU KNOW?

* Fiorentina head into Week 30 in eighth place in Serie A with 40 points, nine points off the final Europa League slot.

* The Viola have won eight games at home in the league this season, losing three and drawing three.

* Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side have won their last two league encounters without conceding a goal and are unbeaten in their last four Serie A matches.

* The Gigliati have shipped 11 goals at home in the league this campaign –that’s as many as Milan and Udinese and fewer than Inter, Lazio and Roma.

* Roma are sixth in the league standings with 49 points from 29 matches, four points off the final Champions League slot.

* The Giallorossi defeated Lazio 2-0 in Serie A last weekend for what was their fifth successive Rome derby triumph, which also includes a Coppa Italia victory earlier this year.

* Vincenzo Montella has yet to lose a single league encounter in charge of Roma, having led his team to three wins in four.

* The Lupi have the third worst defensive record away from home in the championship, having shipped 27 times.

LAST MEETING

November 10, 2010: Roma 3-2 Fiorentina

Fabio Simplicio broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time for Roma and six minutes into the second-half Marco Borriello doubled the former Italian champions’ advantage. However, Alberto Gilardino halved the deficit in the 69th minute but Simone Perrotta restored Roma’s two-goal cushion minutes later. Gaetano D'Agostino netted the second for the Viola a minute before normal time but Roma held on for a 3-2 victory.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Fiorentina: Boruc; Comotto, Gamberini, Natali, Pasqual; Behrami, Montolivo, Vargas; Santana; Gilardino, Mutu

Roma: Doni; N. Burdiosso, Mexes, Juan, Riise; Pizarro, De Rossi; Taddei, Perrotta, Menez; Totti

Prediction
Roma are back on song and after their defeat of Lazio last week will aspire for all three points in Florence. One suspects that the Lupi will just about get them.

Fiorentina 1-2 Roma