Matchday 13 TIM 2020-21 19 - 20 December 2020 19/12/2020 15:00 - FIORENTINA Vs HELLAS VERONA Fiorentina have won one point in their last three Serie A TIM matches against Verona, conceding six goals in the process – they had won seven points in as many encounters prior to this (W2 D1), conceding only one goal. Verona have won 14 games against Fiorentina in Serie A TIM, more than against any other side in the top-flight – they’ve also scored more goals against them than against any other opponent in the competition (64). Fiorentina are looking to win a home game against Verona for the first time since December 2013 in Serie A TIM (D2 L2), when they won 4-3 under Montella, thanks to Borja Valero’s only Serie A TIM brace to date. Verona have won their last two away games in Serie A TIM and could win three consecutive matches on the road only for the second time, having last done so in December 1984 under Osvaldo Bagnoli. No side have won fewer points than Fiorentina in Serie A TIM since the start of November (3 – joint-fewest along with Genoa). Verona's seven away goals in Serie A TIM this term have been scored by five different players (two own goals), while four of these five goals were scored by . Three Fiorentina players have previously played for Verona (Amrabat, Caceres and Eysseric), while Hellas have four former Fiorentina players in their ranks (Ceccherini, Di Carmine, Benassi and Kalinic). Fiorentina’s José Callejon has scored four goals at home in Serie A TIM against Verona; more than against any other opponent, with each of those goals coming while playing for Napoli. Patrick Cutrone has found the net in his last two games against Verona in Serie A TIM, both at home: with Milan in May 2018 and with Fiorentina in July 2020.

19/12/2020 18:00 - LUIGI FERRARIS SAMPDORIA Vs CROTONE Crotone have won 50% of their Serie A TIM matches against Sampdoria (W2 D1 L1), although their most recent away game against them ended in a 5-0 defeat – their heaviest defeat in their top-flight history. Sampdoria have only won three of their last 10 Serie A TIM matches against newly promoted side (D3 L4), while they haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of the last 11 such games, conceding 18 goals in the process. Sampdoria have won none of their last six games (D3 L3) against sides starting the matchday lower than them in the table in Serie A TIM, with their last such victory coming back in July against SPAL. No side have won fewer points at home than Sampdoria (1) since the start of November in Serie A TIM, with the ‘Blucerchiati’ losing five of their last seven home games in the competition (W1 D1). Crotone have won four points in their last two league games, one more than in their previous 13 Serie A TIM matches (3). Four of Sampdoria’s eight home goals in Serie A TIM this season have been scored from corners - no side have scored more such goals on home soil this season (level with Juventus). Crotone will be the 43rd different side faced by during his managerial career in Serie A TIM: Ancona, Benevento, Novara, Sassuolo and Vicenza are the only five teams he has never won against in the competition. Only Milan (211) have made more tackles than Crotone (210) and only Spezia (129) have won more tackles than Crotone (121) in Serie A TIM this season. Sampdoria Jakub Jankto’s only previous brace in Serie A TIM came against Crotone back in December 2017, while playing for Udinese. Salvatore Molina of Crotone has delivered three assists in Serie A TIM this term – no other player on a newly-promoted team has made more so far.

19/12/2020 20:45 - ENNIO TARDINI PARMA Vs JUVENTUS Juventus have won six of their last eight Serie A TIM matches against Parma (D1 L1), including the last two away games in a row against them. Juventus have won each of their last six Serie A TIM games against Parma in their first of the two season meetings, keeping four clean sheets in the process. Parma have failed to score in three of their last six home matches against Juventus in Serie A TIM, having scored at least one goal in 17 of their opening 19 home games against Juventus in the top-flight. Among teams they have faced more than twice at home in Serie A TIM, Juventus are the side Parma have the worst win percentage against: 28%, seven out of 25. Juventus are looking to keep a clean sheet on the road for the first time since June against Bologna in Serie A TIM (11 games since then), while they last conceded at least one goal in 12 away games in a row in August 2010 (15). Parma have drawn 0-0 in three home consecutive games for the first time since 1996, while they’ve never had four in a row in Serie A TIM; indeed, they are the side with the most 0-0’s this term (3). Juventus have drawn at least six of the first 12 Serie A TIM games for the first time since 1984-85, when they finished the season in 6th position. Only twice in their history have they drawn seven of their first 13 matches of the season (in 1980-81 and 1965-66). Gervinho has scored three goals in his three matches with Parma against Juventus in Serie A TIM, including his first brace with Parma in the top-flight (in February 2019). has scored more goals than any other player born after 1996 in Serie A TIM (27) – the last game between Parma and Juventus at “Tardini” stadium including his father Enrico was back in September 1998, as Parma won 1-0 thanks to a Dino Baggio goal. The first of Álvaro Morata’s three braces in Serie A TIM came against Parma, when he netted twice in a 7-0 victory for Juventus in November 2014.

20/12/2020 12:30 - OLIMPICO GRANDE TORINO TORINO Vs BOLOGNA Torino and Bologna haven’t repeated the same result twice in a row over their last eight Serie A TIM encounters - three Torino wins, two Bologna victories and three draws - including their last meeting in August (1-1). Torino are unbeaten in 12 of their last 14 home matches against Bologna in Serie A TIM (W9 D3) – overall, only against Fiorentina (39) have Torino won more home games than against Bologna in the top-flight (32 – level with Roma). Torino have scored at least one goal in 26 of their last 27 Serie A TIM home games against Bologna, with the 0-0 in January 1980 being the only exception. Torino are looking to win at home for the first time since last July against Genoa, having only taken three points (D3) in their last eight Serie A TIM home games - they have failed to win nine consecutive home matches for the first time in their top-flight history. Bologna have conceded 10 goals in December (in three league games), at least two more than any other side in Serie A TIM in this period. Torino have conceded seven of their last eight goals at home in the second half of games - since the start of November, only Genoa (8) have conceded more goals in the second half on home soil in Serie A TIM. Bologna have conceded 13 goals in the first half of games in Serie A TIM this term (including 10 of the last 12) - only Crotone (15) have conceded more such goals so far. Sinisa Mihajlovic coached Torino for 57 Serie A TIM matches between 2016 and 2018, averaging 1.37 points per match - in the Cairo era, only (1.51) recorded a higher average amongst Torino managers in the top-flight. Torino forward has failed to score in each of his last five games against Bologna in Serie A TIM, having netted five goals in his first three matches against them. Musa Barrow has missed three of the four penalties he has taken over the last two Serie A TIM seasons - one with Atalanta and two with Bologna, which were both against Spezia.

20/12/2020 15:00 - CIRO VIGORITO BENEVENTO Vs GENOA Benevento and Genoa are equal in their previous two meetings in Serie A TIM, with one victory each (for the side playing on home soil), both by 1-0. Genoa have won four of their last seven Serie A TIM games against newly promoted sides (D2 L1), including each of the last three; their last defeat against a promoted side was back in January 2020 (away against Verona). Genoa have lost four of their last eight Serie A TIM away games (W1 D3), failing to score on five occasions in the process. Benevento have only drawn four home matches in their history in Serie A TIM, including two in their last two home games. Each of Genoa’s last seven league goals were scored in the second half of games, last scoring in the first half back on November 1st in Serie A TIM. Genoa are one of only three sides yet to win a single game since the start of October in the top-5 European Leagues, alongside Schalke 04 and Sheffield United. is the only player in Genoa’s team to have scored a goal against Benevento in Serie A TIM, with Bologna in January 2018. Marco Sau of Benevento has been directly involved in five goals (4 goals, 1 assist) in his 10 games against Genoa in Serie A TIM, more than against any other side in the top-flight. Gianluca Lapadula has played 36 of his 100 games in Serie A TIM with Genoa, more than with any other side in the competition – he scored seven goals for them in the competition between 2017 and 2019. 20/12/2020 15:00 - SARDEGNA ARENA CAGLIARI Vs UDINESE Cagliari have lost their last four Serie A TIM matches against Udinese, having won five of their previous seven in the competition against The Friuliani (D1, L1) - only once previously have the Sardinians lost more consecutive games against the Bianconeri in the top flight: between 1996 and 2005 (seven). Only against Atalanta (27) have Udinese won more games than against Cagliari in Serie A TIM (25, including the last two away matches); the Friuliani could win three games in a row on the road against the Rossoblù for the second time in the competition (the first one was between 1996 and 1999). Cagliari and Udinese have met five times in Serie A TIM in December, with the Friuliani winning all five and scoring at least two goals in each. Udinese have won their last two league away games, against Lazio and Torino; the last time the Friuliani went on a longer such streak in Serie A TIM was in December 2017 (four). Cagliari have drawn three of their last four league matches (L1), as many as in their previous 15 Serie A TIM games (W4 L8). Udinese have scored their last 16 away goals in Serie A TIM from open play - the last time they went on a longer such streak was in December 2015 (20 consecutive away goals from open play). Cagliari are the only team that Udinese manager Luca Gotti has a 100% record against in Serie A TIM, recording wins in each of his two such games. Cagliari’s João Pedro has scored four goals in his eight appearances against Udinese in Serie A TIM, only against Bologna (five) he has found the net more times; however, his only home goal against the Friuliani in the competition was back in May 2015, in a 4-3 win at Sant’Elia. Rodrigo De Paul is the player with most dribbles completed in Serie A TIM this season (38), the player with the second-most created chances (30, behind Calhanoglu) and the player with the third-most fouls won (36, behind Belotti and Zaccagni).

20/12/2020 15:00 - INTER Vs SPEZIA Inter and Spezia met for the last time in August 1989: a 1-0 win for The Nerazzurri thanks to Jürgen Klinsmann's goal in the first Italian Cup round under . Inter have won 15 of their last 19 Serie A TIM matches against newly promoted teams (D3 L1). Spezia will be the fifth Ligurian opponent for Inter in Serie A TIM; the Nerazzurri have won 12 of their last 13 matches in the competition against teams from this region (L1), after losing four of their previous five (W1). Six of the last seven teams playing their first ever Serie A TIM away match at the Meazza against Inter have lost the game; the only exception in this time was Carpi (1-1 in January 2016). Inter have scored 30 league goals in their first 12 Serie A TIM games for the ninth season in their history (the last time was back in 1960/61). Spezia could become the seventh team to win at least three of their first seven away games in Serie A TIM since 1929/30, in which six teams have succeeded: Alessandria, Torino, Bologna, Genoa, Juventus and Inter. is one of three players who has scored double figures in each of the last nine seasons in the Top-5 European leagues, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski. Romelu Lukaku will play his 300th game in the Top-5 European Leagues in his next match. Since he joined Chelsea in 2011/12, Inter’s striker has scored against 42 different teams (146 goals in total) – fewer only than Edin Dzeko (48) in this period including only and Serie A TIM teams. M’Bala Nzola has scored six goals in 2020/21 from just eight shots on target: Spezia’s forward is the youngest (born in 1996) amongst the players to have scored at least six goals in Serie A TIM this term.

20/12/2020 15:00 - MAPEI STADIUM SASSUOLO Vs MILAN After four wins in their first six Serie A TIM matches against Milan (L2), Sassuolo have lost six of their next eight games (D2). The Neroverdi also failed to score in four of their last seven matches against The Rossoneri in the competition, after having found the net in each of their first seven meetings. Sassuolo have won only three of their last 14 Serie A TIM home matches against Lombard teams (L11); the most recent home win for The Neroverdi against such opponents was back in March (3-0 vs Brescia), while the last home win against the Rossoneri was in March 2016 (2-0). Sassuolo have picked up only two points in their last nine league matches against teams starting top of the Serie A TIM table at the beginning of the matchday, however those were in their last two meetings (2-2 against Juventus in December 2019 and 3-3 always against The Bianconeri in July). Among the teams currently in the top seven in the Serie A TIM table, Sassuolo have won the fewest home games, just two (D2, L1). Milan have drawn their last two league games. The last time they went on a longer such streak was in January (three). Each of AC Milan’s last nine goals in Serie A TIM have been netted by midfielders (four) or defenders (five) – the last AC Milan’s striker to have found the net is Zlatan Ibrahimovic v Napoli on November 22. Sassuolo are, with Parma, one of only two teams to have failed to score in Serie A TIM home games since November (excluding penalties). Manuel Locatelli (born in 1998) - disqualified for this match - is the youngest midfielder to have reach at least 100 Serie A TIM appearances since 2015/16 to today. The first 48 of his 122 games in the top-flight came with AC Milan, before moving on to Sassuolo. AC Milan are Domenico Berardi’s favourite opponent in Serie A TIM. He has scored eight goals against the Rossoneri (more than any other current player) in his 12 appearances. However, none of these goals have come in his seven last matches against Milan in the competition. Milan are the team with the most goalscorers (five) born from 1/1/1999 in Serie A TIM this season: Kalulu, Hauge, Díaz, Leão and Saelemaekers.

20/12/2020 18:00 - GEWISS STADIUM ATALANTA Vs ROMA Atalanta are unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 Serie A TIM matches against Roma (W5, D5), having collected 10 defeats in 13 previous matches (W2, D1) in the competition. Roma are the team against which Atalanta have scored the most goals in Serie A TIM: 132 and at least two in each of their last five matches. Atalanta won their last Serie A TIM home game against Roma; they have not won two consecutive home matches against the Giallorossi since September 1964 (three in a row). Atalanta have only won two of their five home games in Serie A TIM this season (D1, L2): their exact same record in home matches in the previous two seasons at the same point in the competition. Roma have scored 3+ goals in 12 Serie A TIM away games under Paulo Fonseca: at least three times more than any other team since the start of last season (Inter and Atalanta with nine). Roma have scored 27 goals in their first 12 Serie A TIM games this season, only doing better five times at this stage in a Serie A TIM season, most recently in 2016-17 (29). has lost 12 of his 23 Serie A TIM matches against Roma; only against Juventus he picked up more defeats (13); however, only one of these defeats against The Giallorossi came as Atalanta manager (W4, D3): 0-1 in August 2017. Alejandro Gomez is the player with more appearences with Atalanta under Gasperini: 191 matches in all competitions since 2016/17, at least 12 more than any other player (179 Freuler). Atalanta’s Luis Muriel has scored six goals in 11 Serie A TIM matches against Roma (his favourite opponent level with Udinese), including brace in a 4-2 in April 2012 at Via Del Mare with Lecce. Roma’s Edin Dzeko has been directly involved in six goals (five goals, one assist) in his last seven Serie A TIM matches against Atalanta, including three goals in his two most recent visits to Gewiss Stadium.

20/12/2020 20:45 - OLIMPICO LAZIO Vs NAPOLI Lazio have won only one of their last 10 Serie A TIM matches against Napoli (D1, L8): 1-0 last January. This one is the only one of their last 17 matches in the competition in which The Biancocelesti kept a clean sheet against the Campani. Since 2010/11, Napoli have scored the most goals against Lazio in Serie A TIM, 46, at an average of 2.3 goals per game. After six consecutive home defeats against Napoli in Serie A TIM, Lazio won their last meeting against The Partenopei, in January; the last time the Biancocelesti collected two home wins in a row against the Campani in the competition was in 2012, under . Lazio are unbeaten in four of their last six Serie A TIM matches against teams starting the matchday in the top five positions of the table (W1 D3 L2). Lazio have conceded 12 goals in six home games in 2020/21; only twice have The Biancoceleste conceded more goals in their first seven Serie A TIM home games in a single season: 16 in both 1934/35 and in 1948/49. Napoli lost their last league game against Inter; the last time The Partenopei have lost two Serie A TIM matches in a row was in January. Napoli have conceded the fewest goals in away games in 2020/21: only Benevento’s Roberto Insigne and Inter’s Romelu Lukaku have scored on the road against The Campani (excluding three goals in awarded game against Juventus). Under (11 December 2019 - today), Lorenzo Insigne has missed only two matches in Serie A TIM, both in 2020/21: a win against Atalanta and a defeat against Sassuolo. Lazio’s Ciro Immobile has scored in each of his last four Serie A TIM matches against Napoli. In the era of three points per win, only has found the net for more consecutive games against The Partenopei in the top flight (six between 1998 and 2009). Andrea Petagna scored his first Serie A TIM goal against Lazio, in August 2016 with Atalanta. The Napoli striker has found the net four times in seven matches against The Biancocelesti (including one in each of the two most recent games).