Lazio vs Brescia
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Wednesday, 29-07-2020 @8:30pm
Lazio are back in business and Ciro Immobile will see already-relegated Brescia as an ideal hunting ground for record-breaking goals.
Immobile bagged a hat-trick in the 5-1 victory at Hellas Verona, taking him up to 34 goals for this season. He’s not only closing on the Capocannoniere title, but also the Golden Boot and the all-time Serie A record of 36 set by Gonzalo Higuain.
That’s not to mention the Biancocelesti are level with Atalanta and only one point behind second-placed Inter, as the injury crisis is easing and with it a return to their pre-lockdown form.
Ciro Immobile has scored 101 goals for Lazio since he joined in 2016-17. During that same period, the only players who netted more in Europe’s top five leagues are Cristiano Ronaldo (103), Robert Lewandowski (115) and Lionel Messi (132).
Sassuolo vs Genoa
MAPEI Stadium, Reggio nell’Emilia
Wednesday, 29-07-2020 @8:30pm
Genoa are not yet safe from relegation and visit a frustrated Sassuolo side that has lots its mojo over the last four rounds.
The Neroverdi had every reason to feel irritated after a 2-0 defeat to Napoli, as they had a record four goals ruled offside during the 90 minutes.
As for the Grifone, they are currently four points clear of Lecce with a superior head-to-head record, so any positive result here should seal the deal and guarantee their Serie A status.
Both teams have scored in each of Sassuolo’s last four home games, for a total of 21 goals, an average of 5.1 per match.
Udinese vs Lecce
Darcia Arena, Udine
Wednesday, 29-07-2020 @8:30pm
Udinese are mathematically safe from relegation, but Lecce desperately need a victory and for Genoa to slip up too.
The gap between the Salentini and safety has now opened up to four points, technically five, as Genoa have a superior head-to-head record.
They put up such a great fight to come back from 2-0 down at Bologna, only to be beaten 3-2 in stoppages when totally unbalanced in search of victory.
Lecce have conceded 80 goals this season and are closing fast on the all-time record of 84, set by Pescara in 2012-13 and Benevento in 2017-18.
Sampdoria vs AC Milan
Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Wednesday, 29-07-2020 @8:30pm
Milan remain one of the form teams in Serie A since the restart and visit a Sampdoria side who can cause problems.
The Rossoneri are flying at the moment and pushing Roma for fifth place, having signed coach Stefano Pioli on to an extended contract. Alessio Romagnoli is still out of action, but with even a decimated team holding Atalanta to a draw last week, they should be able to break down Samp. Theo Hernandez and Ismael Bennacer return from suspension.
Having said that, Claudio Ranieri’s men are no pushovers, winning five out of six games before back-to-back defeats in the local derby with Genoa and against title winners Juventus.
Milan have lost their last two Serie A trips to Sampdoria, but have never suffered three straight defeats here.
Hellas Verona vs SPAL
Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, Verona
Wednesday, 29-07-2020 @10:45pm
Verona want to make up for the 5-1 home defeat to Lazio and end their seven-game winless run, while SPAL regained a little dignity by holding Torino.
Hellas committed their future to coach Ivan Juric, although many of his players have already signed for other clubs or are in the process of doing so. That inevitably took a lot of the passion out of them following the lockdown, as did the current injury crisis in defence, but four points in seven rounds is still embarrassing, especially culminating in such a heavy home loss.
SPAL are rock bottom, but at least ended their run of six consecutive defeats by holding Torino to a 1-1 draw at the weekend.
Only SPAL with zero have won fewer games than Verona’s two since the Serie A restart.
Fiorentina vs Bologna
Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
Wednesday, 29-07-2020 @10:45pm
Fiorentina are furious at the penalties that prompted their defeat to Roma, while Bologna survived a scare to win the five-goal thriller with Lecce.
Viola President Rocco Commisso was raging at the 2-1 loss at the Olimpico and will try to transmit some of that determination on to his players, who had certainly been improving in recent weeks.
Bologna had taken a comfortable 2-0 lead with Lecce, been pegged back to 2-2, and snatched a 3-2 winner in stoppages with star striker Musa Barrow. He’ll start upfront, as Rodrigo Palacio is suspended for this trip.
Fiorentina are unbeaten in eight Serie A meetings with Bologna, winning seven of them.
Cagliari vs Juventus
Serdgena Arena, Cagliari
Wednesday, 29-07-2020 @10:45pm
Juventus have been crowned Champions of Italy and can now focus on boosting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Capocannoniere chances against dismal Cagliari.
Maurizio Sarri can finally relax after clinching the first major trophy of his career, even though some are still far from happy with his team’s performances. Paulo Dybala is likely to miss out with a muscular issue, so the attacking options are limited.
The Sardinians’ season has well and truly petered out after such a strong start.
Sacking Rolando Maran did not improve matters, as they concede fewer goals than before, but also struggle to score any. Radja Nainggolan’s injury took away any remaining creativity they had.
Juventus have won each of their last eight Serie A visits to Sardinia.
Torino vs AS Roma
Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, Torino
Wednesday, 29-07-2020 @10:45pm
Torino scraped the point they needed for Serie A safety and can play without pressure against a Roma side battling to keep hold of fifth place.
The Granata only managed a 1-1 draw away to rock bottom SPAL, but it was enough to guarantee they won’t be sucked into the relegation battle during the final week of the season.
As for the Giallorossi, there’s no rest here, as Milan continue to pile on the pressure for that precious fifth spot, which allows them to avoid the Europa League preliminary rounds.
They’ll need a better performance than the 2-1 win over Fiorentina, which was decided by a debatable penalty kick. Carles Perez is the favourite to replace Lorenzo Pellegrini, who fractured his nose and needed surgery.
Roma have lost only one of their last 18 Serie A trips to Torino, winning seven and drawing the other 10.
Results – Tuesday, 28-07-2020
-Parma 1-2 Atalanta
-Inter Milan 2-0 Napoli
