Crotone vs Spezia
Stadio Ezio Scida, Crotone
Saturday, 12-12-2020 @5pm
These two teams were promoted from Serie B over the summer, but have had a very different approach to life in the top flight.
While Crotone have struggled badly to score goals and sit rock bottom of the table, with coach Giovanni Stroppa under increasing pressure, Spezia have impressed with their attacking approach, organised tactics under Vincenzo Italiano and interesting new faces.
The differences are evident, from Spezia’s 10 points to Crotone’s eight, but also 14 goals scored to just six. The statistics are astonishing, as only six of Crotone’s 96 attempts on goal were converted.
Since 2011-12, only one of the 10 newly-promoted teams who picked up at least 10 points in the opening 10 rounds ended up relegated. That was Frosinone in 2015-16.
Torino vs Udinese
Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, Torino
Saturday, 12-12-2020 @8pm
Torino are still stuck in the relegation zone and were insulted by their own fans at training, so hosting an Udinese side in good shape is not what they wanted right now.
The Granata have thrown away 19 points from leading situations in 10 games, but none more painfully than the Derby della Mole with Juventus. Coach Marco Giampaolo is at breaking point and failing to win this fixture could well be his final curtain.
The Friulani were rested last week, as their game with Udinese was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch.
If Torino fail to win, it’ll match the all-time club record of eight consecutive Serie A home games without victory, set in 1959.
Lazio vs Hellas Verona
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Saturday, 12-12-2020 @10:45pm
Lazio are riding on a wave of enthusiasm after reaching the Champions League knockouts, even if it was a tense finale, and now host Hellas Verona.
The Aquile squeezed past 10-man Club Brugge thanks to a 2-2 result and the crossbar rescuing them in stoppages, but the elation of achieving that qualification for the first time in over 20 years is still going to be a boost.
Verona lost only one of their last seven games, but have a very poor record against Lazio, losing six of their last seven Serie A meetings.
Lazio have conceded 17 goals in the opening 10 rounds, their worst defensive record at this stage since 18 goals in 1992-93.
The upcoming Serie A fixtures
Sunday, 13-12-2020
-Cagliari vs Inter Milan @2:30pm
-Atalanta vs Fiorentina @5pm
-Bologna vs AS Roma @5pm
-Napoli vs Sampdoria @5pm
-Genoa vs Juventus @8:30pm
-AC Milan vs Parma @10:45pm
Serie A result on Friday
-Sassuolo 1-0 Benevento
