CROTONE-FIORENTINA
Crotone: Simy returned to the stat-sheet after three matches to destroy Benevento’s hopes in the last match, improving to 20 goals in the campaign. Adam Ounas (4 goals, 3 assists) instead had shined in the previous game, but he also picked up an injury, so his status is TBD. They should instead have back Junior Messias (9/4) after a stomach bug, and we would play up front if Ounas did not recover. Their other options Emmanuel Riviere (one goal) and Samuel Di Carmine instead have not done a lot. Ahmad Benali has potential just on paper, but injuries and uninspiring play have limited him to just an assist. Salvatore Molina has tallied one goal and four helpers, but he has been playing on the flank for some time, where he is not as involved in the offense. Luca Cigarini and Niccolò Zanellato (1/1) have just marginal value.
Suggested picks: Simy, Messias, Ounas/Benali.
Fiorentina: Dusan Vlahovic (21/3) has finally let up a bit, failing to score for two games in a row for the first time since early March. Given the soft match-up and his numbers in the last two months, he is a good bet to bounce back right away. The only recent non-Vlahovic goals have been bagged by Giacomo Bonaventura (3/2), while Erick Pulgar (1/3) and Cristiano Biraghi (1/5) have been busy setting up teammates. Franck Ribery (2/6) has not picked up offensive bonuses in five rounds, but he has generally looked pretty good. Gaetano Castrovilli (5/3) instead continues to be MIA in the final third. Valentin Eysseric (2 goals), Christian Kouame, Jose Callejon, and Tofol Montiel will have some appeal if they opt for a deep rotation.
Suggested picks: Vlahovic, Ribery, Pulgar.
CAGLIARI-GENOA
Cagliari: they relied on their defense to stop Milan, and it worked out, while Joao Pedro and Leonardo Pavoletti almost combined for a goal in one of their rare chances of the match. The Brazilian attacker (16/7) has logged three goals and one assist in the last five matches, while the Italian center-forward has scored once in the last six rounds. Giovanni Simeone (6/2) and Alberto Cerri (one goal) could be given an opportunity here as they have already clinched the Serie A permanence. Razvan Marin (3/6) has been extremely involved lately, logging two goals and three helpers in the last six matches. Nahitan Nandez hit the net once and teed up two teammates in the past four. Charalampos Lykogiannis (4/2) fired one home versus Benevento.
Suggested picks: Joao Pedro, Pavoletti/Simeone, Marin.
Genoa: they went with a completely new lineup versus Atalanta, but two familiar faces that carried them as Eldor Shomurodov (7/1) bagged a brace and Goran Pandev (7/3) converted a PK and dished an assist. The Uzbek is finishing strong as he has hit the net four times in the last five games. Gianluca Scamacca (8/2) has put up similar numbers, but a small injury sidelined him. Mattia Destro (11/1) instead has lost a ton of momentum. Their usual studs Davide Zappacosta (2/4) and Kevin Strootman (4 assists) did not feature, and the same could happen here. Possible replacements Francesco Cassata, Filippo Melegoni and Nicolò Rovella have only some minor value, Paolo Ghiglione (4 helpers) and Marko Pjaca (3/2) a little more. Miha Zajc (1/3) instead played regularly.
Suggested picks: Shomurodov, Pandev/Pjaca, Ghiglione/Zappacosta.
SAMPDORIA-PARMA
Sampdoria: Fabio Quagliarella came through off the bench in the last match, registering his 12th goal of the season, the fourth in the last seven rounds. Balde Keita (7/1) instead had delivered in the previous two, and they are currently their hottest strikers since Manolo Gabbiadini (2/2) has abated, and they have been resistant to deploying Mikkel Damsgaard (2/4) in the front-line. Ernesto Torregrossa (one goal) and Antonino La Gumina will be the options if they rest the starters, while Valerio Verre (3/3) might feature in the midfield. Mehdi Leris got to play over Jakub Jankto (6/3) in the past game, while Antonio Candreva (5/6) will likely compete with Damsgaard. The Czech has outperformed the Italian winger in recent fixtures.
Suggested picks: Quagliarella, Keita, Verre/Damsgaard
Parma: injuries and disqualifications have piled up, so Juan Brunetta (1/2) has been their best guy offensively in the last couple of rounds, while Simon Sohm has made some noise in the midfield. Fittingly, Brunetta got hurt as well. Gervinho (5/1) was used only partially in his return from injury, he figures to be in better shape for this one, but he has made the stat-sheet just once in the last three months. Andreas Cornelius has not hit the bullseye in the last nine rounds, although he salvaged three assists in such stretch. Juraj Kucka is banged up, and Jasmin Kurtic is suspended, so Hernani (7/3) is going to be their top midfielder in this one. Gaston Brugman is also having a nice end of the season, but his role is more limiting.
Suggested picks: Hernani, Cornelius, Gervinho.
INTER-UDINESE
Inter: Romelu Lukaku (23/11) has returned to form with two consecutive goals, while Lautaro Martinez (16/5) had a strong showing versus Juventus despite not hitting the net, something he did two matches back. Alexis Sanchez (7/6) is not in tip-top shape, so Andrea Pinamonti would be the choice if they decided to give minutes to the less utilized players. Stefano Sensi, Matias Vecino, and Ashley Young would be the beneficiaries of such strategy in the midfield, and they all have some appeal. The last two successfully capitalized on their recent increased playing time. Among their starters, instead, Achraf Hakimi (7/8) has posted three assists and one goal in the last five outings, while Christian Eriksen has found the target twice in the last six games, but he was not great in the most recent two.
Suggested picks: Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez, Hakimi/Sensi.
Udinese: in their case, instead, they would have to field some Primavera players if they wanted to shake things up since injuries have wiped out all their depth. They have been so-so upfront since pulling the plug early. Stefano Okaka (4/1) snapped out of a scoring slump in the last midweek round, while Rodrigo De Paul’s streak of bonuses came to an end in the Sampdoria game after five positive outings in a row. He is up to nine goals and nine assists and will try to go for the double-double in this one. Roberto Pereyra (4/7) has been underwhelming in the last four rounds, but he remains very high in the pecking order. Nahuel Molina (3/5) has relented after a torrid stretch. Fernando Forestieri has been bubbly whenever they gave him real minutes.
Suggested picks: De Paul, Okaka, Forestieri/Molina.
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