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.  Continue reading →

Juventus saved their best for last in this rollercoaster of a season, beating and more surprisingly thoroughly outplaying Atalanta in the second half to take home the 14^th Coppa Italia in their history, ending a two-year drought.

Dejan Kulusevki: he busted out a dominating display, surely his finest in a white-and-black jersey, and he has benefitted greatly from the freedom and usage given to him in the last two matches, where his role has grown considerably larger. He fully capitalized on it with a gorgeous lefty curled shot, which he took with the most naturalness possible, and came up big also on the second goal, perfectly closing a wide triangle with Federico Chiesa with a superb dish. With that goal, on a more difficult finish, the former Viola winger atoned for an earlier big miss, where he hit the post despite being wide-open and having time to take aim in the box. Continue reading →

Gianluigi Donnarumma (7 points): Milan did not get to the three points they were hoping for against versus Cagliari, but the goalkeeper at least avoided the disaster scenario with two magnificent saves on headers, denying point-blank attempts by Leonardo Pavoletti and Diego Godin.

Juan Cuadrado (6 points): he willed Juventus to victory in the crunch match with Inter with two goals in key moments of the contest. He found the target with a deflected strike from distance in the final minutes of the first half and, more importantly, baited Ivan Perisic into a (questionable) foul in the box after the 2-2 tie. He made no mistake from the penalty spot in a clutch situation despite not having great experience with PKs.  Continue reading →

Standing’s implications: Atalanta clinched a Champions League berth despite making the Genoa contest a little tougher than it needed to be, while Milan will have to wait another round as they could find a way to perforate Cagliari. Juventus eked out a win over Inter in an improbable manner, but Napoli responded by breezing past Fiorentina Sunday, so the Bianconeri remain outside looking in the top four. Roma finally won a big game as they prevailed in the Derby with Lazio. Sassuolo remain in the hunt for the seventh spot by strolling past Parma. Sampdoria pipped Udinese away.

Benevento frittered away a golden opportunity as Crotone equalized late, and, even though Torino were deep-sixed by Spezia, they might not have away a final shot to avoid relegation next as the Granata will face Lazio midweek in a make-up game. The Aquilotti instead clinched a remarkable Serie A permanence, and so did Cagliari.  Continue reading →

Genoa-Atalanta: the Grifone clinched the Serie A permanent with the W over Bologna, so the dip in motivation could make it hard for them to keep up with a side that has been successful in eight of the last round, lastly versus Parma and Benevento, and is still fighting for prestigious goals: 1-4.

Spezia-Torino: the Aquilotti finally managed to grab a point on the road in the 2-2 tie with Sampdoria, while at home, they have been taken down only by Napoli in the last seven matches. Torino will hope the drubbing by Milan will not have lingering effects on the morale. They had been bested just once in the previous seven tilts: 1-1. Continue reading →

GENOA-ATALANTA

Genoa (3-5-2): Marchetti; Goldaniga, Zapata, Onguene; Ghiglione, Melegoni, Rovella, Zajc, Cassata; Pjaca, Destro.

Potential lineup changes: Paleari for Marchetti, Zappacosta for Ghiglione, Shomurodov for Pjaca.

Likely bench options: Pjaca, Cassata, Portanova.

Ruled out: Pellegrini (thigh strain), Biraschi (hip muscle strain), Badelj (quad contusion), Criscito (calf edema), Scamacca (muscle fatigue), Czyborra (back pain).

Continue reading →

Atalanta: Rafael Toloi might be available following a small thigh strain. Luis Muriel picked up a knock in the same area and might be managed.

Returning: Toloi. 

Benevento: Luca Caldirola is suspended. Iago Falque was unavailable midweek due to a sore adductor. Their other injured guys are done for the season.

Missing: Caldirola, Iago Falque, Foulon, Moncini, Sau. 

Bologna: Gary Medel could make his return from a calf strain either in this or in the final round. Slim hopes instead for their other players on the shelf.  Continue reading →

BENEVENTO-CROTONE

Benevento: coach Filippo Inzaghi continues to go back-and-forth with the tactics, but he has not found a solution for their woes. They have collectively netted just one goal in the last three games, on a combination between Gianluca Caprari (5 goals, 6 assists) and Gianluca Lapadula (7/2). The Italo-Peruvian striker and Nicolas Viola (5/3) have been their only reliable contributors in their skid, and the latter is not necessarily a full-time starter. Adolfo Gaich has fallen into a slump after a positive start, while Roberto Insigne has not exploited his recent chances. Riccardo Improta continuously switches from position to position, making it hard to trust him. Artur Ionita is a secondary option thanks to a pair of recent goals.  Continue reading →

GENOA-ATALANTA

Genoa: two usual suspects powered them in the Bologna game, as Davide Zappacosta recorded his second goal in a row, while Gianluca Scamacca made no mistakes from the penalty spot, improving to eight goals in the season, six of which coming recently. However, he will miss this one with a minor problem, clearing the way for Mattia Destro (11/1) to be their main finalize. Goran Pandev (6/2) had a brace in the last five matches. Eldor Shomurodov (5/1) has found the target twice in the past four appearances, and Marko Pjaca (3/2) picked up an assist over the weekend. They have not really unleashed Paolo Ghiglione (4 assists) despite the absences on the flanks. Nicolò Rovella could gain some momentum in the midfield with his ability on set pieces. Kevin Strootman (four helpers) and Miha Zajc (1/3) are steady hands. Nicolò Rovella has some value for his ability on set pieces.  Continue reading →