CROTONE-UDINESE
Crotone: another productive offensive output, but another loss for the Squali, which got pipped at the post by Spezia last week. Simy delivered for the sixth game in a row for an ungodly total of nine goals. Junior Messias (8 goals, 4 assists) had hit the net in the previous two matches, while Adam Ounas (2/1) has not been super effective since coming back from injury, but he might in better shape following another week of practice. Ahmad Benali recently showed up in the stat-sheet with a helper, but he might be back on the shelf with an ankle injury. Should he be ruled out, Salvatore Molina (1/4) would likely have a more prominent role in the midfield. Arkadiusz Reca (2/3) is also a viable midrange option. Niccolò Zanellato set up a teammate in the last bout but is generally not a big offensive weapon.
Suggested picks: Simy, Messias, Ounas.
Udinese: they are trying different solutions, but they have had subpar showings in three of the past four matches, oddly faring better versus Atalanta in the recent underwhelming stretch. Whether it is Fernando Llorente or Stefano Okaka spearheading the attack, they continue to get lackluster production out of that spot. Roberto Pereyra is fairly dynamic and netted one of their lone recent goals, but he is not super consistent and not as prolific as a striker. They have not fully unleashed Fernando Forestieri and Jayden Braaf, who could perhaps help out in that role. Therefore, they remain primarily powered by their star midfielder Rodrigo De Paul (6/5), Pereyra, and Nahuel Molina, who has had some impressive performances from the right flank, tallying five helpers in limited appearances. Jens Stryger Larsen has had more success in the final third since moving to the left flank.
Suggested picks: De Paul, Pereyra, Molina.
SAMPDORIA-VERONA
Sampdoria: they did not put up a whole lot of offense versus Napoli, while they were more convincing in the two previous and more feasible matches. Their top dogs Fabio Quagliarella (10/1) and Antonio Candreva (5/6) each hit the net once in those, while Manolo Gabbiadini provided an assist. Balde Keita (5) has been MIA in the last seven tilts, while Mikkel Damsgaard has not fully exploited the increased playing time, but he has the potential to get it going in a hurry. Jakub Jankto (5/4) is instead more of a steady hand than a difference-maker. Gaston Ramirez has picked up two assists in the last seven matches, but his playing time is rather spotty.
Suggested picks: Quagliarella, Candreva, Gabbiadini.
Verona: they had few opportunities versus Lazio, but they did not capitalize and got stung at the end. Kevin Lasagna’s finishing remains a little lacking, but he is generally their contributor with most chances in each game: he is up to four goals and one assist in the year. Nikola Kalinic (one goal) might start to take minutes away from him, though. Antonin Barak (7/2) has taken home points just once in the last five matches, but he has still outpaced Mattia Zaccagni (6/5). Darko Lazovic (2/4) had a nice run in previous tilts, but it looks like Federico Dimarco (3/6) is back to being their wing player with the highest offensive volume no matter where or how much he plays. Marco Davide Faraoni (2/6) is worth a flier.
Suggested picks: Lasagna, Barak, Dimarco.
SASSUOLO-FIORENTINA
Sassuolo: an own goal by the opponents decided the last game, but it was still one of Jeremie Boga’s best performances of the season and he is hitting his stride thanks recently thanks to the consistent minutes. Giacomo Raspadori rubbished a late sitter but remains a viable option until Francesco Caputo and/or Gregoire Defrel return: he has found the target twice so far and has major usage. Hamed Traore (5/1) is will be back from suspension and he has made the stat-sheet in three of the past four games, taking full advantage of Domenico Berardi (11/4), who has okay chances to be available for this one, but he might be a little limited at first. Filip Djuricic is in a groove with two assists and one goal in the last five games.
Suggested picks: Traore, Djuricic, Boga.
Fiorentina: Dusan Vlahovic went ham again versus Atalanta, making the most of his chances and bagging a brace. He is the gift that keeps on giving as he has taken home points in each of the last four matches, improving to 15 goals in a season. An impressive haul considering that they are not exactly the most offensive-minded side. Christian Kouame finally showed up with an assist after a long slump while filling in for Franck Ribery (2/5), who was suspended. Red card aside, the French winger has been pretty good over the last seven matches, notching two goals and two helpers. Gaetano Castrovilli (5/3) teed up teammate two weeks ago, while Giacomo Bonaventura has been mostly quiet in the last three months. Erick Pulgar is eligible to play after a suspension and has been a menace with his sharp free kicks.
Suggested picks: Vlahovic, Ribery, Castrovilli.
CAGLIARI-PARMA
Cagliari: it is getting eerie in Sardinia due to the four straight losses and Torino’s better results. They have collectively found the target just twice in the recent disappointing spell, with Giovanni Simeone and Gaston Pereiro, who have both had limited flashes throughout the season. Their stud Joao Pedro (13/2) has fallen into a little slump, while Leonardo Pavoletti has found paydirt just twice in the season, even though he is getting the lion’s share of minutes lately. Midfielders Radja Nainggolan (one goal), Razvan Marin (1/3) and Nahitan Nandez (one goal) would technically have some potential, but the messy situation of the team severely brings down their stocks. The same goes for wingbacks Charalampos Lykogiannis (2/2) and Gabriele Zappa (4 assists). Still, this is one of the best chances they’ll have to bounce back.
Suggested picks: Pedro, Marin, Nainggolan.
Parma: they righted the ship at intermission after a terrible first half against Milan, but it was not enough to salvage some points. Riccardo Gagliolo re-opened the contest on a terrific flick-on by Graziano Pelle. The striker has been solid since joining, registering one goal and one assist and serving as a giant hub for the offense. Gervinho was pulled at half time as he was playing poorly and he has last picked up some points in mid-December, but they do not have better options unless Valentin Mihaila and Yann Karamoh do not shake off their injuries. They went with two pure center-forwards there, the other being Andreas Cornelius, with decent returns. Dennis Man has been their peppiest winger as of late, notching one goal and one assist in the past four games. Their midfield always tends to show up big: Jasmin Kurtic (4 goals) has been the better contributor in last month, but Juraj Kucka (6/2) is no slouch either, while Hernani is unavailable this week.
Suggested picks: Pellè, Man, Kurtic.
MILAN-GENOA
Milan: the last round was ripe as Ante Rebic and Rafael Leao both returned to the stat-sheet and that is a nice confidence boost as they will have to shoulder more responsibilities in this one because of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s suspension. The Croatian international (5/6) had not hit the net in three games but has mostly been productive when healthy in the last couple of months, while the Portuguese starlet had last scored in early January. Mario Mandzukic could get some run as well, but there is no telling in what kind of shape he is after so much time off. Franck Kessie reached the double-digit threshold in the past game, plus he has added three assists in the season, making him their second most consistent contributor behind Zlatan. Hakan Calhaoglu (2/8) is poised to get more touches to fill in the void but, despite his creative prowess, he has been more up and down than his teammates. Alexis Saelemaekers and Brahim Diaz instead have more complementary roles. Theo Hernandez (4/5) finally resurfaced with a helper and fellow full-back Diogo Dalot set up a teammate late, so they will not lack punch.
Suggested picks: Rebic, Kessie, Leao.
Genoa: Gianluca Scamacca is on a tear as he has tallied three goals and one assist in the past three outings. Goran Pandev and Mattia Destro netted their other recent goals as the strikers have taken care of all their recent scoring. Their secondary options are not very palatable in this one, both for the difficulty of the match-up but also because Davide Zappacosta (2/2) is hobbled and Miha Zajc (1/2) was benched for Nicolò Rovella in the last game, who had a rough defensive game but provided an assist with a corner kick. Kevin Strootman (three helpers) has been a bigger offensive factor than anticipated. The stocks of Eldor Shomurodov are plummeting as the other attackers have outplayed him, while Marko Pjaca recently recorded an assist.
Suggested picks: Scamacca, Destro, Pandev.
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