Matchday 29 Serie A TIM 2020-213 April 2021

03/04/2021 12:30 - GIUSEPPE MEAZZA

MILAN SAMPDORIAVsAC Milan have won four of their last six Serie A TIM matches against Sampdoria (D1 L1), includingthe most recent one; the last time the Rossoneri won both league games against Sampdoria in aseason was back in 2015/16.

AC Milan have lost just one of their last seven home Serie A TIM matches against Sampdoria (W4D2), drawing 0-0 in the most recent in January 2020 - a match in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic madehis return to the Rossoneri.

AC Milan haven’t won any of their last five home games in all competitions (D2 L3); the last timethey went on a longer such run came in December 2013 under Massimiliano Allegri (six).

AC Milan are the team with the largest negative difference between points picked up at home (22)and those gained away (37) in the Top-5 European leagues this season:  -15.

Sampdoria haven’t drawn any of their last 20 Serie A TIM matches against sides starting the dayin the top two of the table (W5 L15); a 2-1 victory against Inter in the most recent such fixtureback in January.

AC Milan have had more Direct Attacks than any other side in Serie A TIM this season (65).

AC Milan (42%) and Sampdoria (36%) have conceded the highest percentage of free kick goals inSerie A TIM this season.

AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored 15+ goals in six different Serie A TIM campaigns -among foreign players, only Gunnar Nordahl (eight), Kurt Roland Hamrin and Gabriel Batistuta(seven each) have reached this milestone in more different Serie A TIM campaigns.

Post lockdown, AC Milan remain unbeaten in the 14 games in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic hasscored in Serie A TIM, winning 12 of these matches: 22 goals for the Swedish striker during thisperiod.

Antonio Candreva has been involved in 11 Serie A TIM goals this season (five goals and sixassists), more than any other Sampdoria player. The Italian winger has netted three goals againstAC Milan in the top-flight.

03/04/2021 15:00 - GEWISS STADIUM

ATALANTA UDINESEVsAtalanta have won five of their last six matches against Udinese in Serie A TIM (D1), scoring 18goals during this period (3 on avergage per game).

Atalanta's 7-1 win against Udinese last season (October 2019) was their joint second biggestmargin of victory in Serie A TIM game after a 7-0 win against Torino in January 2020.

Atalanta have scored the joint-most goals in Serie A TIM this season (65, level with Inter); only in2019/20 have they netted more in Serie A TIM at this stage of the season (80 goals in that caseafter 28 games).

In Udinese's last 14 league games: four wins, six draws and four defeats for the Friulians.

Udinese have drawn their last three away league games; the last time they recorded four awaydraws consecutively in Serie A TIM was back in May 1983.

Atalanta’s high press has led to 40 shots from high turnovers this season, the highest tally inSerie A TIM, while no side has fewer than Udinese (16).

Atalanta’s Luis Muriel has scored seven goals against Udinese in Serie A TIM (a joint-record forhim in the competition, level with AS Roma) - including his only hat-trick in the Italian top-flight,in October 2019 against the Friulians.

Atalanta’s Luis Muriel (16 goals and 7 assists) is one of only two non-European players to havebeen involved in 23+ goals this season across the top-5 European leagues, alongside LionelMessi (31).

Atalanta’s Duván Zapata (63 matches and 18 goals in Serie A TIM) and Luis Muriel (57 games and15 goals in the top flight) used to play for Udinese, both scoring 10+ goals for the first time in asingle Serie A TIM season with them: Zapata in 2016/17 and Muriel in 2012/13.

Udinese’s Rodrigo de Paul has been involved in the most unique open play sequences in Serie ATIM this season (1363) while he has also completed the most dribbles (92) in the competition.

03/04/2021 15:00 - CIRO VIGORITO

BENEVENTO PARMAVsThe only previous meeting between Benevento and Parma ended 0-0 (in Serie A TIM, Serie B andCoppa Italia), in the reverse fixture this season.

After a streak of 11 matches without a win in the top-flight (D5 L6), Benevento beat Juventus lasttime out - only twice have they recorded back-to-back wins in the competition: in December 2020and in January 2018.

Parma have conceded goals in each of their last 20 away league matches, only in 2010 (24) and in2006 (22) have they had a longer such run on the road in Serie A TIM.

Parma have drawn three of their four matches in Serie A TIM this season against newly promotedsides (L1); in their Serie A TIM history, they have never finished a season without a single winagainst such opposition.

Parma have picked up the fewest points in Serie A TIM this season against sides starting thematchday in the bottom half of the table: 10 points from 14 matches (W1 D7 L6).

This game will see the team with the most different Italian scorers (Benevento, nine) meet theteam with the lowest number of Italian scorers in Serie A TIM this eason (Parma, just one:Graziano Pellè).

Benevento have scored 50% (14/28) of their goals from set-piece situations this season, thehighest percentage in the division.

In 2021, Parma have dropped the most points from winning position (14) across the top-5European leagues.

Gianluca Caprari - five goals and four assists in the current league season - could become thefirst Benevento player to be involved  in 10+ goals in a single Serie A TIM campaign.

His next game will be Luigi Sepe's 100th appearance with Parma in Serie A TIM. Since he joinedthe Emilian club in 2018/19, he has made the most saves in the Italian top-flight (365).

03/04/2021 15:00 - SARDEGNA ARENA

CAGLIARI HELLAS VERONAVsVerona have won seven of their last 11 matches against Cagliari in Serie A TIM (D2 L2), two morethan in the previous 20 against the Sardinians in the competition (D7 L8).

Cagliari and Verona could draw both matches in a single Serie A TIM campaign for the secondtime, previously doing so in 1972/73.

For the third time in their Serie A TIM history, Cagliari have lost 16 of their first 28 leaguematches in a season (also in 2007/08 and 1975/76) - the Sardinians could lose 17 of their first 29matches in a Serie A TIM campaign for the first time.

Verona have lost their last three league games. The last time they registered more consecutivedefeats in Serie A TIM was back in May 2018 - seven in that case under Fabio Pecchia.

Verona have lost four of their last six away Serie A TIM games (W1 D1), having gone unbeaten ineach of their seven previous matches on the road (W3 D4).

Verona have won eight of their last 10 Serie A TIM games against sides starting the matchday inthe bottom three positions of the table (L2).

Only Juventus (eight) have conceded fewer goals than Verona (nine) in the last 30 minutes ofSerie A TIM matches this season.

Verona are the opponent against which Cagliari’s João Pedro has played the most minutes inSerie A TIM (296) without ever scoring..

Only Leeds’ Illan Meslier and West Bromwich's Sam Johnstone (both 115) have made more savesthan Cagliari's Alessio Cragno (111) in the top-5 European leagues this season.

Cagliari are Nikola Kalinic’s favourite opponent in Serie A TIM (six goals in six matches), nettinghis second and most recent hat-trick in the competition, in October 2016 with Fiorentina inSardinia.

03/04/2021 15:00 - LUIGI FERRARIS

GENOA FIORENTINAVsSince 2013/14 season, the fixtures between Genoa and Fiorentina have seen the most draws inSerie A TIM (10/15 matches), including the most recent two - two Ligurian victories and three forthe Viola.

After last season's win 2-1, Genoa could win two home Serie A TIM games in a row againstFiorentina for the first time since 1992.

Genoa haven’t lost any of their last eight home Serie A TIM games (W3 D5), last going longerwithout a home top-flight defeat in November 2011 (nine, the first four under Ballardini and thefollowing five under Malesani).

Despite scoring (30) four goals fewer than lasr season (34), Genoa have picked up five pointsmore than they gained after MD28 in Serie A TIM last season (31 v 26).

With 29 points from 28 Serie A TIM games this season, Fiorentina have their second worst pointsreturn at this stage of a top-flight campaign in the three points for a win era, after 2001/02 (22points – went on to be relegated that season).

Genoa have scored the fewest headed goals in Serie A TIM this season (two), while Fiorentinahave conceded nine headed goals this term with only Parma (13) and Crotone (11) concedingmore.

Giuseppe Iachini has picked up 1.43 points per game as Fiorentina manager in Serie A TIM, hisbest return with a club in the competition.

Genoa’s Mattia Destro (nine goals) could score 10+ goals in Serie A TIM for the first time since2016/17, with Bologna – he could become the 15th player in the history of the competition toscore at least 10 goals in a season with 4+ different clubs (Siena, AS Roma, Bologna and Genoa).

Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic has scored on average 0.17 goals per game (four goals in 23appearances) under Giuseppe Iachini in Serie A TIM - under Cesare Prandelli he averaged 0.52goals per game (11 in 21 games).

Having been involved in 16 goals in 49 Serie A TIM matches with Genoa (nine goals and sevenassists), Christian Kouamé has been involved in three goals in 31 games with Fiorentina in thecompetition (two goals and one assist).

03/04/2021 15:00 - OLIMPICO

LAZIO SPEZIAVsLazio have won both previous matches against Spezia, however each victory has come away fromhome: 5-2 in the Quarter-final of the 1940/41 Coppa Italia and 2-1 in this seasons reverse fixture.

Lazio are unbeaten in their last 29 home games against newly promoted sides in Serie A TIM(W23 D6), keeping 18 clean sheets in the process.

Lazio could win eight home Serie A TIM games in a row for the first time since 1999 underSven-Göran Eriksson.

Only Crotone (16 games) are on a longer run without a draw than Lazio among current Serie ATIM sides: 12 (W9 L3).

Spezia have scored 36 goals in the current league season, the last newly promoted side to scoremore after MD28 in a Serie A TIM campaign was Palermo in 2014/15 (38 goals).

Lazio have scored the most goals in the first 15 minutes of games in Serie A TIM this season (10),while only Benevento (eight) have conceded more goals than Spezia (seven) during this period.

Spezia have gained the most points from losing position in Serie A TIM in 2021 (eight).

Lazio’s Ciro Immobile (149) could score his 150th goal in Serie A TIM, eight years and 220 daysafter netting his first - only three players in the history of the competition have reached thismilestone in less time; Gunnar Nordahl (5 years, 25 days) Giuseppe Meazza (6 years, 98 days),and Stefano Nyers (7 years, 111 days).

Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been invovled in five goals in his last five games againstnewly promoted sides in Serie A TIM (three goals and two assists), including a goal and a assist inthe reverse match against Spezia.

Spezia’s Roberto Piccoli has the highest shot conversion rate in Serie A TIM this season (36%: 4goals from 11 shots) among the players who have attempted at least 10 shots. The striker, bornin 2001, has scored three goals in his last four league appearances.

03/04/2021 15:00 - DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA

NAPOLI CROTONEVsNapoli have won all five of their meetings with Crotone in Serie A TIM – their best 100% win ratioagainst an opponent in the competition.

Napoli have won each of their last three league games, keeping clean sheets in the most recenttwo; the last time they recorded three clean sheets in a row in Serie A TIM was back in February2019 (five in that case under Carlo Ancelotti).

Napoli have won their last five league matches at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium,conceding just one goal during this period; the last time they had a longer run of consecutivehome wins in Serie A TIM was back in October 2017 (six), under Maurizio Sarri.

Crotone have conceded 2+ goals in each of their last 10 league games, only Padova (14 in 1996)and Udinese (13 in 2018) have conceded 2+ goals in more consecutive matches in Serie A TIMhistory.

Napoli have kept the most clean sheets in Serie A TIM this season (11); in the entirety of lastseason they only kept seven shut outs in the league.

Crotone have conceded the most goals in the top-5 European leagues this season: 70 in 28 games(2.5 on average).

Crotone and Arminia Bielefeld are the only two teams across the top five European leagues thathaven’t gained a single point from losing positions this season.

Only Lionel Messi (24) has attempted more shots directly following a one-two with a teammatethan Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne (14) in the top-5 European leagues this season.

Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne has scored the first goal of the game in more Serie A TIM matches thanany other player this season (eight) - the Italian striker has been involved in six goals in fourmatches against Crotone in Serie A TIM (three goals and three assists).

Ahmad Benali is the only player of the current Crotone team to have scored against Napoli inSerie A TIM: in August 2016, his first goal in the Italian top-flight with Pescara on his debut in thecompetition.

03/04/2021 15:00 - MAPEI STADIUM

SASSUOLO ROMAVsSassuolo have won only one of their 15 Serie A TIM matches against AS Roma (D6 L8): a 4-2victory last season.

Following their goalless draw in the reverse fixture, Sassuolo and Roma could draw bothmeetings in a single Serie A TIM campaign for the first time.

After losing each of their first five home Serie A TIM games against AS Roma, Sassuolo areunbeaten in the most recent two (W1 D1).

Sassuolo have conceded goals in each of their last 16 league games – they’ve never gone 17matches without a clean sheet in Serie A TIM previously.

AS Roma have failed to score in their last two league games, last going longer without a goal inSerie A TIM in March 1994 (three) – they could also lose three matches in a row without scoring inSerie A TIM for the first time since March 1985.

Since the turn of the year, no team has scored fewer away goals in Serie A TIM than AS Roma(five in six games, level with Cagliari) - the Giallorossi have failed to score in four matches duringthis period.

AS Roma are the quickest on average to score the first goal of a game in Serie A TIM this season(26th munute); indeed the Giallorossi have netted the joint-most goals in the first 30 minutes ofplay in the competition this campaign (19, level with AC Milan).

Domenico Berardi has scored three goals against AS Roma in Serie A TIM, however each of thesehave arrived at the Olimpico - the Italian striker (currently on 99 goals) is close to scoring his100th goal with Sassuolo in all competitions.

Gregoire Defrel could play his 100th Serie A TIM match with Sassuolo; the French striker hasn'tscored in his last 10 league appearances, with his last goal coming in January 2021 againstJuventus.

Edin Dzeko (currently on 249 games for Roma) could make his 250th appearace in allcompetitions for AS Roma should he feature in this game - the Bosnian striker hasn't scored inhis last eight Serie A TIM games and could equal this longest run without a goal in the competition(nine between October 2018 and January 2019).

03/04/2021 18:00 - OLIMPICO GRANDE TORINO

TORINO JUVENTUSVsTorino have won only one of their last 29 Serie A TIM matches against Juventus (D6 L22), a 2-1victory in April 2015.

Juventus have found the net in each of their last 19 Serie A TIM matches against Torino: the lasttime they failed to score against the Granata was back in February 2008, under Claudio Ranieri(0-0).

Juventus have won 10 of their last 11 away Serie A TIM games against Torino (L1), including thelast five - keeping a clean sheet on eight occasions during this period: they could win six matcheson the road in a row against the Granata for the first time in the competition.

Juventus lost last time out against Benevento; across their last 215 Serie A TIM matches, onlyonce have they registered consecutive defeats - against Cagliari and AS Roma, in the final twomatches of the 2019/20 campaign under Sarri.

Juventus are unbeaten in their last 33 Serie A TIM matches against sides starting the matchday inthe bottom four of the table (W29 D4), with their last defeat against such opposition coming backin May 2016 against Verona.

Following their defeat against Sampdoria last time out, Torino could lose consecutive matches inSerie A TIM without scoring for the first time since February 2020, under Walter Mazzarri.

Juventus have spent 401 minutes trailing in Serie A TIM this season, more than they had in theentirety of 2019-20 (343 minutes).

Torino’s Andrea Belotti has scored three goals in 13 matches against Juventus in Serie A TIM:among the 23 sides he has faced more than twice in the top-flight, the Bianconeri are the onlyopponent against which he has never won (D2 L11).

Simone Zaza played 19 games, scoring five goals for Juventus in Serie A TIM: against theBianconeri, the Torino forward has netted two goals in the competition - both coming in 2014 forSassuolo.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored just one of his 72 direct free-kick attempts for Juventus in allcompetition, with that goal coming against Torino in July 2020.

03/04/2021 20:45 - RENATO DALL'ARA

BOLOGNA INTERVsBologna have won only two of their last 13 Serie A TIM matches against Inter (D4 L7); these twovictories have come in their last four games against them, both however at the Meazza stadium.

The last draw between Inter and Bologna in Serie A TIM came back in September 2017 (1-1) -since then four Nerazzurri victories and two Emilian wins.

Bologna's last win at Dall'Ara stadium against Inter in Serie A TIM came back in February 2002:since then, the Rossoblu have picked up only three points in 14 home league games against theNerazzurri (D3 L11).

Bologna have won their last two league games: only twice under Sinisa Mihajlovic have they wonthree consecutive matches in Serie A TIM, most recently in February 2020.

Inter have won their last eight league matches. The only time they have won nine consecutivematches in a row in Serie A TIM came back in 2007, when they set a competition record of 17straight wins.

Bologna and Inter have conceded the fewest goals in the last 15 minutes of matches in Serie ATIM this season (both four).

Bologna (51.5%) and Inter (51.2%) are the two sides with the highest shooting accuracy in Serie ATIM this season.

Bologna’s Nicola Sansone has scored four goals against Inter in Serie A TIM, against no side hashe netted more in the competition - his last goal against them however came back in February2015, when he played for Sassuolo.

Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni has started the joint-most open play sequences that have resulted in agoal across the Top-5 European leagues this season: seven, alongside Toni Kroos and LeonGoretzka.

Romelu Lukaku could become the 7th player in Serie A TIM history to score at least 20 goals inconsecutive seasons with Inter (after Giuseppe Meazza, Amedeo Amadei, Roberto Boninsegna,Mauro Icardi, Stefano Nyers and Christian Vieri).