BRESCIA-SAMPDORIA
Brescia: they actually played better than expected versus Lazio, where they had some opportunities to score, in particular with Ernesto Torregrossa, but were unable to cash in. Several injuries left them with a skeleton crew as Torregrossa, Florian Aye, Nikolas Spalek and Jaromir Zmrhal are the only attackers available. All of them, excluding Aye, have been able to hit the net recently, while Sandro Tonali and Bruno Martella have been pretty good in the less offensive roles.
Suggested picks: Torregrossa, Spalek, Zmrhal.
Sampdoria: they were the latest team to be run over by Milan and capitulated rather easily after tepidly trying to come back early in the second half. The consolation goal was bagged by unlisted youngster Kristoffer Askildsen. Fabio Quagliarella has scored twice in the last five matches, while Gaston Ramirez has bounced back performance-wise. Federico Bonazzoli and Manolo Gabbiadini are both banged up so their status is uncertain: if healthy, they are the clear second options. Gonzalo Maroni, who missed a PK against Milan, and Antonino La Gumina could see decent minutes. Jakub Jankto and Karol Linetty have been serviceable in recent games.
Suggested picks: Quagliarella, Ramirez, Gabbiadini.
ATALANTA-INTER
Atalanta: their attackers continue to alternate on the stat-sheet and versus Parma Ruslan Malinovskyi came through with his eighth goal of the season and the third after the resumption, while Alejandro Gomez ended a scoring drought that had been going on since January, although he had dished out countless assists in between. Duvan Zapata hit the net in four of the last five prior to that one, while Luis Muriel has done it in half of the last six. Mario Pasalic instead has been productive in just one of the post-lockdown fixtures, despite getting a pair of starts. Robin Gosens has slowed down since he has scored just once in the last seven games.
Suggested picks: Zapata, Malinovskyi, Gomez.
Inter: Lautaro Martinez roared back after four scoreless rounds with a screamer versus Parma, reacting to Alexis Sanchez’s surge that was threatening his minutes. Danilo D’Ambrosio was the other scorer, while Cristiano Biraghi notched his second assist in a row and he has been their most effective out of the wing-backs lately as Antonio Candreva and Ashley Young have not picked up non-clean sheet related bonus points in the last four matches. Romelu Lukaku recently bagged a brace and he has been very consistent in the restart, but really all season long. Better to shy away from Christian Eriksen, while Marcelo Brozovic has rounded into form.
Suggested picks: Lukaku, Martinez, Sanchez.
JUVENTUS-ROMA
Juventus: they are coming off a rare game without scoring and Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest to be capocannoniere ended. Gonzalo Higuain could not take advantage of his major minutes and, besides one goal, has been rather poor in the restart. Same thing for Federico Bernardeschi even though he has feature consistently, but they stay on the radar for their big roles sans Paulo Dybala. Adrien Rabiot is back from a suspension and he has been pretty lively, like Rodrigo Bentancur and Juan Cuadrado, while Aaron Ramsey, who could have gotten some run in meaningless games, is dinged up. However, as it is the case for most of the matches, the lineup could be revolutionized and filled with youngsters that are not available in the fantasy game. It looks like Ronaldo is indee going to be rested, so Higuain and Bernardeschi will be their main weapons.
Suggested picks: Ronaldo, Rabiot, Higuain.
Roma: Edin Dzeko led the charge in Torino match, bringing home four bonus points for the third time in the last four matches. Henrikh Mkhitaryan had a strong first half and provided an assist, while Carles Perez did not fully exploit his start in relief of Lorenzo Pellegrini, who will be absent in this one as well. Nicolò Zaniolo might be in the XI for a final test run ahead of Europa League and he has found the target twice coming off the bench in the restart. Bruno Peres and Leonardo Spinazzola have been very positive in recent games, same for Jordan Veretout, who logged four goals, mostly PKs, in the last six appearances. Nikola Kalinic, Diego Perotti and Justin Kluivert appear slated to get good minutes and they could do something if the game goes as expected.
Suggested picks: Kalinic, Zaniolo. Veretout.
MILAN-CAGLIARI
Milan: they continue to steamroll opponents and put four in the sack against Sampdoria as well, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hakan Calhanoglu as the main protagonists and their recent surge has been spectacular. Giacomo Bonaventura and Rafael Leao combined for the final goal and one of the two will get the nod for the suspended Ante Rebic and both are fairly accustomed to picking up bonuses. Less so Alexis Saelemaekers and Samu Castillejo, who will man the right flank. Theo Hernandez recently recorded his sixth goal of the season.
Suggested picks: Ibrahimovic, Calhanoglu, Leao.
Cagliari: they were powered by the youngster Luca Cagliano in the clash with Juventus, as the youngster, who came out of nowhere, bagged a tap-in and the provided an assist for Giovanni Simeone, who notched his second goal in the last three matches, with some help from the opponents. Joao Pedro made the stat-sheets three rounds ago but has lacked burst in the restart. One in one out in the midfield since Nahitan Nandez returns from suspension, while Marko Rog will miss one. If they rotate or trot out a more aggressive lineup, Gaston Pereiro and Valter Birsa can have some small value. Federico Mattiello dished an assist in the last tilt. Pedro came down with a late injury so Alberto Paloschi is likely to start against one of his former teams.
Suggested picks: Simeone, Paloschi, Nandez.
NAPOLI-LAZIO
Napoli: they had few chances before and after intermission, but for the most part they did not play well against Inter and the lack of motivation is showing. Arkadiusz Milik grossly squandered his opportunity to play major minutes and Dries Mertens will be back here and he has hit the net in his two most recent starts. They have been pretty much the same for few games in a row now as Lorenzo Insigne is their main playmaker but has not found the target with continuity, while José Callejon and Matteo Politano both have had their moments and their best midfielders, Fabian Ruiz and Piotr Zielinski, have struck out in June and July despite their quality and their involvement in the final third.
Suggested picks: Mertens, Insigne, Callejon.
Lazio: they got some performance anxiety in the Brescia game, but in the end Ciro Immobile found the goal he was looking for, but not multiple ones as he hoped, while Joaquin Correa broke the deadlock dancing through defenders. The Argentinian attacker has been terrific in the last two appearances, while Luis Alberto has been a little subpar, but only because he set lofty standards. Two goals in the last three matches instead for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Manuel Lazzari continues to be solid but bonus points have eluded him, Jony and Jordan Lukaku have instead taken turns of the other flank.
Suggested picks: Immobile, Correa, Milinkovic-Savic.
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