Can Fiorentina Break Down Stubborn SPAL?

The past few weeks have seen Fiorentina take some huge strides forward, reaching the Coppa Italia semi-finals while also earning an excellent 0-0 draw with Napoli in their most recent Serie A outing. However, such results have been offset by missteps against teams the Viola should be despatching, making Sunday’s encounter with SPAL a game that provides Stefano Pioli’s men with another chance to show they are constantly evolving. Continue reading

Serie A Injury and Suspension Report – Round 23

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Juventus: Federico Bernardeschi will be good to go after leaving the last game with a chest injury. On the other hand, Douglas Costa is iffy due to a bruised quad and Leonardo Spinazzola has a sore ankle. Giorgio Chiellini (calf) will be out again, while Leonardo Bonucci (ankle) is making a late push to be in the squad list.

Napoli: Amin Younes is having troubles with the surgically repaired Achilles tendon. Raul Albiol is reportedly dealing with a patellar tendon issue that could turn out to be a very serious one.

Inter: Matteo Politano will serve the final game of his suspension. Balde Keita has been called up despite the coach saying that he is not ready. Borja Valero is out with knee soreness.

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Serie A Injury and Suspension Report – Round 22

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Juventus: Giorgio Chiellini suffered a calf pull that should force him to miss a couple of games. Miralem Pjanic and Sami Khedira returned in Coppa Italia, while Mario Mandzukic (ankle) is expected to be available this week. Emre Can is ill but available.

Napoli: Fabian Ruiz is suspended. Raul Albiol and Elseid Hysaj are fatigued, while Adam Younes is banged up: the first two have called up, the winger has not.

Inter: Matteo Politano was slapped with a two-game ban. Stefan De Vrij is dealing with some muscle fatigue, but he has been called up, while Balde Keita remains out.  Continue reading

Serie A Injury and Suspension Report – Round 19

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Juventus: Blaise Matuidi and Medhi Benatia missed the last game, but they will be available to play. Federico Bernardeschi has been called up after missing time with a thigh pull. Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended. Juan Cuadrado underwent knee surgery and could be on the shelf for three months. 

Napoli: Lorenzo Insigne and Kalidou Koulibaly were handed two-game bans. Marek Hamsik subbed off against Inter due to a thigh injury and will try to recover for the first game of 2019. Continue reading

Serie A Injury Report – Round 15

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Juventus: Emre Can made the squad list, approximately two months after suffering the thyroid issue. Rodrigo Bentancur is dealing with a back problem, but he was called up. Alex Sandro (thigh) and Sami Khedira (ankle) have been ruled out, same for Andrea Barzagli, who is rumoured to have suffered a severe quad injury, and Moise Kean, who has some muscle fatigue.

Napoli: Simone Verdi will remain on the mend because of an ankle sprain, while Adam Ounas missed the last game with a minor muscular ailment. Alex Meret should be ready to start. Continue reading

Serie A Club of the Round – Fiorentina

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Another second appearance for a team in the club of the week award, as Fiorentina smoked SPAL to return to winning ways after losing in Naples and drawing with Sampdoria in a make-up game. It is early, but they are currently in third position in the standings, while other competitors like Inter, Milan and Roma suffered various degrees of struggling so far.

Stefano Pioli arrayed what is expected to be his go-to line-up this season, with Marko Pjaca as left winger and Marco Benassi, Jordan Veretout and Gerson manning the midfield. Continue reading

Serie A Player Status Updates – Round 38

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No shortage of injuries and suspensions heading into the final game.

Juventus: Sami Khedira got pulled last minute against Roma due to a muscular issue and he should not be available, same for Giorgio Chiellini and Benedikt Howedes, who have been on the shelf for a while now. Massimiliano Allegri has ruled out also Juan Cuadrado. Despite what the coach said, Federico Bernardeschi is the only one not in the squad list.

Napoli: Vlad Chiriches has undergone surgery to stabilize the shoulder that has given him a lot of problems in the past few years.

Roma: Radja Nainggolan in disqualified, while Cengiz Under got a knock on the ribs and he is very questionable. Gregoire Defrel and Rick Karsdorp are out with severe injuries, Bruno Peres is doubtful with a muscular one. Alisson has some soreness in his hip flexor and will not play.  Continue reading

Serie A Player Status Updates – Round 37

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Here are the updates on the health of few players.

Juventus: Juan Cuadrado is suspended, while Stefano Sturaro and Mattia De Sciglio were in the squad list for the Coppa Italia final, so they have shaken off a foot and an Achilles injury. Giorgio Chiellini and Benedikt Howedes should remain out due to thigh injuries, but they have been called up. 

Napoli: Faouzi Ghoulam made a surprise return to the squad list last week after a lengthy recover for a pair of serious knee injuries. Vlad Chiriches and Adam Ounas have been ruled out late.  Continue reading

Serie A Player Status Updates – Round 36

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Injuries pile up at the end of the season and unfortunately some top players got caught.

Juventus: Miralem Pjanic is suspended, while Mario Mandzukic will be held out due to a cut on the ankle. Giorgio Chiellini, Stefano Sturaro and Mattia De Sciglio are out with their previous injuries. Benedikt Howedes suffered yet another muscular ailment. 

Napoli: Kalidou Koulibaly is disqualified and Faouzi Ghoulam continues to rehab his fractured patella.  Continue reading

Serie A Player Status Updates – Round 35

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Here are the updates on few players’ conditions ahead of the upcoming round.

Juventus: Giorgio Chiellini suffered a hamstring (biceps femoris) strain just above the knee and will miss at least three weeks, with the risk of not returning this season. Mattia De Sciglio is out with a plantar fascia injury, Stefano Sturaro with a sore Achilles.

Napoli: no absentees other than the usual one Faouzi Ghoulam.

Roma: Diego Perotti and Kevin Strootman have already been ruled out due to an ankle sprain and a rib contusion. El Monito’s ailment is more severe since there is some ligament damage. Gregoire Defrel and Rick Karsdorp remain out following knee surgeries.  Continue reading