SPAL vs Udinese
Stadio Paolo Mazza, Ferrara
Thursday, 09-08-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Daniele Chifi
Udinese are still in the danger zone after fumbling a 2-0 lead to Genoa, but SPAL are rock bottom and desperately need a result.
The Friulani are thoroughly unpredictable at the moment, able to beat 10-man Roma 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, take a commanding 2-0 lead against Genoa, only to concede with the last kick of the game for 2-2. Ken Sema is suspended, replaced by Marvin Zeegelaar, although he gave away the stoppage-time penalty at the weekend.
SPAL bring in Arkadiusz Reca for suspended defender Thiago Cionek, with Andrea Petagna back leading the line for Gigi Di Biagio’s increasingly-doomed outfit.
SPAL are unbeaten in five Serie A home games against Udinese, winning three and drawing two.
Hellas Verona vs Inter Milan
Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, Verona
Thursday, 09-07-2020 @10:45pm
Ref: Massimiliano Irrati
Inter cannot shake the ‘Pazza’ tag and their defence is revamped again after the defeat to Bologna, while Hellas Verona hope to rediscover their confidence.
Antonio Conte said he would end the club’s reputation for being wildly unpredictable, but even he was stunned by going from a 6-0 thrashing of Brescia to 2-1 home defeat against 10-man Bologna. The Scudetto dreams are gone and they are now only one point clear of Atalanta.
Milan Skriniar returns from his three-match ban, but Alessandro Bastoni and Danilo D’Ambrosio are suspended now, so Diego Godin is practically guaranteed a starting spot. Marcelo Brozovic is back in business for a weakened midfield, but Lautaro Martinez could be rested in favour of Alexis Sanchez, having failed to find the net in his last four games.
Verona were the surprise outfit of the season, going from promotion via the Serie B play-offs to challenging for a place in Europe, but have lost some momentum since the lockdown. Their 2-0 defeat to Brescia on Sunday was a surprise and Sofyan Amrabat sorely missed in midfield.
Verona have not beaten Inter in Serie A since 1992, managing just three draws from 17 attempts, home and away.
Serie A mid-week Results
Tuesday, 07-07-2020
-Lecce 2-1 Lazio
-AC Milan 4-2 Juventus
Wednesday, 08-07-2020
-Fiorentina 0-0 Cagliari
-Genoa 1-2 Napoli
-Atalanta 2-0 Sampdoria
-Bologna 1-2 Sassuolo
-Roma 2-1 Parma
-Torino 3-1 Brescia
