Matchday 7 TIM 2020-21 6 - 8 November 2020 06/11/2020 20:45 - MAPEI STADIUM SASSUOLO Vs UDINESE Sassuolo have picked up only two points in their last four league games against Udinese, after winning three of the previous four against the Friulians in Serie A TIM (L1). Udinese haven’t conceded any goals in each of their last three matches on the road against Sassuolo in Serie A TIM; only once in their top-flight history have the Friulian team kept four clean sheets in a row in away games against the same opponent (v Piacenza from 1993 to 1998). Sassuolo have netted 10 goals in 14 league matches against Udinese, their worst return against teams faced at least 10 times in Serie A TIM. Only one of Sassuolo's four wins against Udinese in Serie A TIM has come at Mapei Stadium, in September 2016 thanks to a Defrel goal (1-0) – there have been three draws and three wins for the Friulians in Emilia. For the first time in Serie A TIM, Sassuolo have picked up 14 points in their first six games of a season; in the era of three points for a win, only one Emilian team has won more points from their first seven games in the top-flight: 's , 16 points in 1994/95, when they ultimately finished third. Sassuolo have scored 18 goals in the league this season; in the previous 17 Serie A TIM campaigns only Napoli in 2017/18 netted more goals (22) after the first six games. Udinese have lost five of their six matches in the league this season (W1); only in 1961/62 did the Friulians record six defeats in their first seven Serie A TIM games of a campaign. On the two occasions where Sassuolo started a matchday in Serie A TIM in second place in the table, they failed to win: a 1-2 defeat against Juventus in September 2018 and a 3-3 draw last October against Torino. Francesco Caputo could score in five matches in a row for the first time in his career in Serie A TIM – no Sassuolo player has ever reached this milestone in the top-flight. Stefano Okaka has scored in both of his last two matches against Sassuolo in Serie A TIM; overall, the Udinese striker has netted three goals against the Neroverdi, against no other team has he scored more in the Italian top-flight.

07/11/2020 15:00 - SARDEGNA ARENA CAGLIARI Vs SAMPDORIA Cagliari have won more games against Sampdoria than against any other team in Serie A TIM: 24 (30 draws and 14 Sampdoria successes). Cagliari have won only two of their last 12 Serie A TIM matches against Sampdoria (D5, L5), falling to score in five games in the period. Cagliari are unbeaten in their last 10 home league games against Sampdoria in Serie A TIM (W5, D5); the last time the Rossoblù recorded a longer streak without defeat against a single team in Sardinia in the top-flight was in February 2012 against Roma (11). Cagliari have conceded 15 goals in their first six games of the season for the first time in Serie A TIM – however, the Sardinians have scored 12 goals; only in 1968/69 had they netted more (15) at this point of the season in the top-flight. Cagliari have scored 2+ goals in their last four league games; only three times before in their history in Serie A TIM have the Rossoblù recorded a longer streak: in 1968, in 1970 and in 2019. Sampdoria are unbeaten in their last four league matches (W3, D1): under they have never managed five in a row without defeat - the last time the Blucerchiati had a longer streak without defeat in Serie A TIM was in December 2018 under (six matches). Since 2019/20, Cagliari’s João Pedro is the top Brazilian scorer in the big five European Leagues (22), netting seven more than Neymar and Gabriel Jesus (both 15). João Pedro has scored in each of his last four league games; the last Cagliari player to score in five consecutive Serie A TIM matches was Alessandro Matri in December 2009 (seven). Sampdoria are Cagliari's Leonardo Pavoletti favorite opponent in Serie A TIM: he has scored five goals against them in seven matches, including his first brace in the competition, in Genova’s derby in January 2016. has scored 10+ goals against five teams in Serie A TIM (Atalanta, Fiorentina, Chievo, Cagliari, Sampdoria) - since the 2000s, only (seven) and (six) have netted 10+ goals against more opponents in the top-flight.

07/11/2020 18:00 - CIRO VIGORITO BENEVENTO Vs SPEZIA There have been no draws in six matches between Benevento and Spezia: the Giallorossi have won four games with two wins for the Ligurians. In the last five matches between two newly promoted teams in Serie A TIM, the home side have always won; during this period, the hosts have scored 13 and conceded just two goals. In the last 13 matches between newly promoted teams in Serie A TIM, the away side has won only once (D3 L9): a win 1-0 for Hellas Verona on the road against Lecce in September 2019. Benevento have lost three consecutive Serie A TIM games for the first time since March 2018, when they lost also the fourth match. After conceding exactly one goal in both their first two home games ever in Serie A TIM, Benevento have conceded 2+ goals in 16 of their last 20 home games in the top-flight, keeping a clean sheet in the other four. Four of Spezia's five points in Serie A TIM this season have come in away matches: a win in was followed by defeat at Meazza against AC and a draw at Tardini against Parma. Benevento have scored in six consecutive Serie A TIM games for the first time ever. The Giallorossi could become the first newly promoted team to score in each of their first seven Serie A TIM matches of a season since Chievo in 2001/02. Gianluca Lapadula, who has scored three goals in Serie A TIM this season, could become the first player from a newly promoted team to score in four of his first seven Serie A TIM matches of a season since Cheick Diabaté in 2017/18, also with Benevento. Julian Chabot and Emmanuel Gyasi are the only two players to have played in each of Spezia's six games in the league this season. No player from the Ligurian club has both scored and assisted.

07/11/2020 20:45 - ENNIO TARDINI PARMA Vs FIORENTINA There is a perfect balance regarding the last 11 Serie A TIM matches between Parma and Fiorentina: three wins apiece and five draws. After a streak of seven home games without defeat against Fiorentina in Serie A (W2 D5), Parma lost their most recent home match; the Ducali have never recorded two defeats in a row against the Viola at the Tardini in Serie A TIM. Parma have drawn 2-2 in both of their last two league games; the Emilians could draw three Serie A TIM matches in a row for the first time since May 2019 (five). Parma have scored two goals in each of their last three league matches; the last time they had a longer streak with 2+ goals in Serie A TIM was back in October 2013 (five in that case). Four of Parma's five points in Serie A TIM this season have come at the Tardini; the last time the Ducali didn’t lose in three consecutive home league games was back in January 2020. Fiorentina have conceded 12 goals in the league this season; in the 21st century, only in 2001/02 did the Viola concede more goals (15) after their first six Serie A TIM matches. Parma have conceded the most headed goals in Serie A TIM this season (four), Fiorentina follow with three. Parma’s has scored three goals against Fiorentina in Serie A TIM: only against Inter has he netted more (five). The Ivorian striker could find the net in two consecutive Serie A TIM matches for the first time since November 2018. Erick Pulgar's first and only brace in Serie A TIM with Fiorentina came against Parma in July 2020 at the Tardini (both goals from penalties). , has scored four goals in the league this season (already a record for him in a single Serie A TIM campaign) and is the only Fiorentina player to have netted more than one goal this season in the league.

08/11/2020 12:30 - OLIMPICO LAZIO Vs JUVENTUS The last draw between Lazio and Juventus in Serie A TIM came back in January 2014 (1-1); there have been 10 Bianconeri successes and two Biancocelesti wins in the most recent 12 fixtures. In their record run of nine Scudetti in a row - starting from 2011/12 - Juventus kept more clean sheets against Lazio than against any other team in Serie A TIM: 11 in 18 matches. After a streak of 14 home games without a win (D3 L11) against Juventus in the top-flight, Lazio won the most recent one; the Biancocelesti could win two home matches in a row against the Bianconeri in Serie A TIM for the first time since 2001. Lazio have conceded 12 goals in their first six Serie A TIM matches this season for the first time since 1992/93 (14). Juventus have scored 14 goals in the league this season; in the previous 12 Serie A TIM campaigns, the Bianconeri netted 14+ goals after six games only twice: 18 in 2017/18 and 15 in 2012/13. Juventus have recorded three wins and three draws in the league this season; during their nine Scudetti streak, they remained unbeaten seven times in the first seven matches. Since 2019/20, Lazio have gained the most points from losing positions in the big five European Leagues: 32, three of these coming in the most recent match against Juventus at the Olimpico. Since last season, Lazio’s and are the two players with the most goals (both four) scored in the 90th minute onwards in Serie A TIM; follows with three. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in each of his three league games this season; in the three points for a win era (since 1994/95), only one Juventus player has netted in each of his first four Serie A TIM matches of a season: in 2017/18. Juventus Paulo Dybala has scored seven goals against Lazio in Serie A TIM: against no team has he netted more; the Argentinian striker made his debut in the Italian top-flight against the Biancocelesti, at the Olimpico, in September 2012 with .

08/11/2020 15:00 - GEWISS STADIUM ATALANTA Vs INTER Atalanta have won one of their last seven Serie A TIM games against Inter (4-1 in November 2018) and haven’t found the back of the net in four of the last six. After winning 2-0 last season away against Atalanta, Inter could win back-to-back away games against them in Serie A TIM for the first time since 2001, when they won three in a row under three different managers (Simoni, Tardelli and Cúper). Atalanta lost their last Serie A TIM game against a side from Lombardia (0-2 v Inter in August) and could be defeated in back-to-back encounters against sides from the same region for the first time since 2015 (v AC Milan and Inter). Atalanta have conceded in each of their last nine Serie A TIM games: their last longest run in the top-flight without a single clean sheet was in August 2015 (12 games). Inter have shipped 15 goals in all comps this season (they conceded seven in their first nine matches last term), their worst tally since 2011/12 (18) - only other two times have they conceded more at this stage of the season in their history (20 in 1930/31 and 16 in 1932/33). Atalanta boss managed Inter for three Serie A TIM games (recording 0.33 points per game, his worst experience with a Serie A TIM club) - with Atalanta he has 1.84 points per game (158 games), his best average in Serie A TIM. 's first 13 Serie A TIM games as a manager were with Atalanta: the current Inter coach is unbeaten against his former club in the competition, thanks to seven wins and a draw. Atalanta’s has scored five goals with four different teams against Inter in Serie A TIM (Lecce, Udinese, Sampdoria and Fiorentina): only (six) and (five) have scored with more different teams against the Nerazzurri in the top-flight. In the last round against Parma, Inter’s Ivan Perisic found the net in Serie A TIM for the first time in 537 days - the Croatian has not scored or delivered assists in seven previous games against Atalanta, only against Napoli (eight) he played more games in the competition without a single goal involvement. 08/11/2020 15:00 - LUIGI FERRARIS GENOA Vs ROMA Genoa's last win against Roma in Serie A TIM was back in May 2014 (1-0), drawing three and losing nine since. Genoa’s last win in their first meeting of the season with Roma was back in October 2011 under (2-1). Genoa have lost their last three Serie A TIM games against teams from Lazio: they have not had four consecutive defeats since 2010 (two against Lazio and two against Roma). After a 2-0 win against Fiorentina in the last round, Roma could keep clean sheets for two straight Serie A TIM games for the first time since May 2019. Genoa have lost only one of their last eight Serie A TIM games played on Sunday (0-6 against Napoli in September), achieving five wins (D2). Genoa coach has only won one of 13 Serie A TIM games against Roma (Catania 1-0 Roma in January 2013), drawing six and losing six. Roma are the team most faced in Serie A TIM by (25 games) - the only current outfield player with more appearances in the competition against a single team is Fabio Quagliarella (27 against Lazio and 26 against Milan and ). The Luigi Ferraris stadium is the only one where Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini has scored more than one away goal in Serie A TIM (two goals): his last against Genoa in February 2017 with Sassuolo. Genoa striker (21 years and 311 days) could become the youngest Italian Genoa player to score at Ferraris against Roma since Alberto Paloschi's goal in February 2011.

08/11/2020 15:00 - OLIMPICO GRANDE TORINO TORINO Vs CROTONE Torino are unbeaten in Serie A TIM against Crotone, thanks to two wins (including the most recent in April 2018) and two draws. Torino have only won two of their last eight Serie A TIM games against newly promoted sides (having won five of the previous eight) - both against Brescia last season. Torino have found the net in their last 12 Serie A TIM home games against teams promoted from Serie B (30 goals), since a 0-0 draw with Carpi in February 2016. Torino have lost their last four Serie A TIM home games (equaling their negative records of 1956, 2007 and 2008): they have never had five consecutive home defeats in the competition. Crotone have lost their last five Serie A TIM away games (between the end of the 2017/18 season and the current one) - they have never lost six in a row in the competition. Crotone have conceded 17 goals in this league so far: previously only four newly promoted teams had shipped so many goals at this point in the competition (Sassuolo in 2013/14, Ancona in 1992/93, Venezia in 1949/50 and Lucchese in 1947/48). Crotone have conceded at least once in their last 13 Serie A TIM games: it is the second longest open streak among the teams currently in the competition, after (39). has scored 67% of Torino's goals against Crotone in the top flight (six out of nine) - the Calabrian side is the one against which Belotti has the best average goals-per-game in Serie A TIM (six goals in three games) . Torino’s Simone Verdi scored a brace against Crotone in Serie A TIM, in November 2017 – he has not scored at the Olimpico Grande Torino in Serie A TIM since February 2020, against Sampdoria. Simy has scored one goal in four Serie A TIM games against Torino (April 2017) - the striker has scored 50% of Crotone's goals in Serie A TIM this season.

08/11/2020 18:00 - RENATO DALL'ARA BOLOGNA Vs NAPOLI After six consecutive defeats against Napoli in Serie A TIM between 2016 and 2018, Bologna are unbeaten in their last three league matches against the Partenopei (W2 D1). Napoli have scored in each of their last 14 league games against Bologna; they could equal their second longest streak against a single opponent in Serie A TIM: 15 games against Lazio, in January 2019. Bologna and Napoli have drawn only two of the last 16 Serie A TIM matches played at Dall’Ara - however, one of these arrived in their most recent fixture (1-1 in July 2020). Bologna could win two Serie A TIM games in a row for the second time in 2020, the first streak was back in February (three wins consecutive in that case). After the defeat against Sassuolo, Napoli could lose two consecutive Serie A TIM matches for the first time since January 2020 (three in that occasion). All of Napoli's last five away goals in Serie A TIM have been netted in the second half. Their last goal in the first half on the road arrived at the Dall’Ara in July. Bologna are one of the two teams (with Genoa) that Napoli manager has faced the most in Serie A TIM without ever losing (W3 D2). Roberto Soriano (four goals and three assists) and Musa Barrow (two goals) have been involved in 80% of Bologna's goals at Dall’Ara in Serie A TIM this season (8/10 – including a Soriano assist for Barrow). Napoli’s Dries Mertens has scored 11 goals in 11 matches against Bologna, his favorite target in Serie A TIM, as well as the side he has netted the 2+ goals in games against in the competition (two hat-tricks and one brace). (68 goals) is close to equaling Luis Vinicio (69) as Napoli’s 10th highest scorer in Serie A TIM history.

08/11/2020 20:45 - MILAN Vs HELLAS VERONA Three of the last seven Serie A TIM meetings between AC Milan and Hellas Verona have been drawn, with each side winning twice in that run. Hellas Verona are the opponent that AC Milan have faced the most at home in Serie A TIM without ever losing: 16 wins and 12 draws in 28 matches for the Rossoneri. AC Milan have scored in each of their last 26 league games, they could equal their second longest streak in the Italian top-flight (27 matches in 1949). AC Milan have always scored the first goal of the match in the current Serie A TIM season: only twice in their history they netted the opening goal in each of their first seven Serie A TIM matches (1970/71 and 2003/04). Hellas Verona’s last win on the road in Serie A TIM was in January 2020 (2-0 v SPAL): indeed they’ve picked up only eight points in their last 13 away games in the competition. AC Milan have conceded the highest ratio of goals from set-pieces in Serie A TIM this season (80% - 4/5) - on the other hand, Hellas Verona are the only team that haven’t yet conceded a goal from set piece. AC Milan (five) and Hellas Verona (three) have conceded the fewest goals in Serie A TIM this season – this will be also the match among the two goalkeepers with the best save percentage this term (88.5% for Marco Silvestri and 84.6% for ). Prior to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the last AC Milan player with at least seven goals in the Rossoneri's first six seasonal Serie A TIM matches was George Weah in 1996 - only three players have netted more in AC Milan's first seven league matches: (1950 and 1955), (1992) and (2003). AC Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu has scored two goals in three matches against Hellas Verona in Serie A TIM, both at Meazza. Hellas Verona forward Nikola Kalinic has scored only one goal in five Serie A TIM matches against AC Milan: in February 2017 with Fiorentina.