Matchday 35 TIM 2020-21 8 - 9 May 2021 08/05/2021 15:00 - ALBERTO PICCO SPEZIA Vs NAPOLI Napoli have won six of their last seven games against Spezia across Serie A TIM, and (L1), having lost three of their previous five against the Ligurians (D2). Napoli have won each of their last three away games against Spezia across Serie B and the Coppa Italia, by an aggregate scoreline of 6-1. The last match in Liguria between these two sides came back in September 2006: the Partenopei won 1-0 in Serie B thanks to a Paolo Cannavaro . Spezia are unbeaten in their last six home league games (W3 D3), the last newly promoted team to register a longer unbeaten home streak in a single Serie A TIM season was Palermo in March 2015 (10). Napoli have scored in each of their last 22 league games, only in 1975 (24) have they netted in more consecutive matches in their Serie A TIM history. Napoli haven’t conceded goal in four of their last five away league games (W4 L1), including the two most recent; the last time they kept three clean sheets in a row on the road in Serie A TIM was back in February 2019. In their last 28 games against newly promoted sides in Serie A TIM, Napoli have never drawn (W25 L3), however their last defeat against such opposition came in the reverse fixture against Spezia. In the reverse match against Spezia, Napoli attempted 29 shots, only Benevento against Sassuolo in December 2020 attempted more shots (30) in a defeat in this Serie A TIM season. Spezia’s Diego Farias has scored more Serie A TIM goals against Napoli than against any other side: four goals, including his first brace in the competition (in November 2014 with Cagliari). Napoli's (17 goals) is close to equalling his best season in terms of goals in Serie A TIM (18 in 2016/17) - the Italian striker has been involved in 15 goals in his last 13 league matches against newly promoted sides: seven goals and eight assists. Among the players with at least eight goals in Serie A TIM this season, only Ibrahimovic (18) has played fewer games than Victor Osimhen (eight goals in 20 appearances). The Nigerian striker has scored in three consecutive matches for the first time in the Top-5 European leagues.

08/05/2021 15:00 - DACIA ARENA - STADIO FRIULI UDINESE Vs BOLOGNA Udinese have lost only one of their last seven Serie A TIM matches against Bologna (W4 D2), 1-2 in September 2018. Udinese have won each of their last four home games against Bologna in the top-flight - the last time they registered a longer streak of consecutive home wins against a single opponent in Serie A TIM was back in January 2013 against (six in that case). Udinese have lost each of their last four league games at the Dacia Arena - only three times in their Serie A TIM history have they suffered a longer streak of consecutive home defeats: in 2018, in 2015 and in 1961 (six on all three occasions). Bologna have won only one of their last six league games (D2 L3): 4-1 against Spezia on 18th April. Since the restart of Serie A TIM last June, no side has failed to score in more away matches than Bologna (10, level with Genoa). Udinese have conceded 11 goals from the penalty spot in Serie A TIM this season: since 1994/95 only Reggiana in 1996/97 (12) have conceded more goals from the spot in a single Serie A TIM campaign. Rodrigo de Paul is one of only three with at least eight goals and eight assists in Serie A TIM this season, alongside and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Only in 2018/19 (17) has the Argentinian been involved in more goals in a single Serie A TIM campaign (16 in 2020/21: 8 goals + 8 assists). Udinese's Stefano Okaka has scored in each of his last two games against Bologna in the top-flight - the Italian striker has never netted in three consecutive matches against a single opponent in Serie A TIM. Rodrigo Palacio, who netted his first hat-trick in Serie A TIM last time out, has scored five goals against Udinese in the competition. The Argentinian striker could score in two consecutive Serie A TIM matches for the first time since May 2015 with Inter.

08/05/2021 18:00 - INTER Vs SAMPDORIA Sampdoria could win both matches against Inter in a single Serie A TIM campaign for the third time in their history, after 2016/17 and 1990/91. The last draw between Inter and Sampdoria in Serie A TIM came back in October 2015 (1-1), since then, seven Nerazzurri wins against three for Sampdoria. In each of the last five Serie A TIM matches between Inter and Sampdoria at Meazza stadium, both sides have scored: 18 goals in total (3.6 on average). Inter won the with four matchdays remaining - the last time the Nerazzurri won the Italian top-flight with the more games still to play came back in 2006/07 (five in that case). Inter could win 14 home games in a row for the first time in their Serie A TIM history - currently 13, level with a streak set back in May 2011. Since losing against Sampdoria in the reverse fixture, Inter have gone 18 games without defeat in Serie A TIM (W14 D4) – the last time they embarked on a longer unbeaten run in the top-flight came back in February 2008 (31). Sampdoria have won three of their last four league games (L1), as many wins in their previous 12 matches (D4 L5). Inter’s has managed 199 games in the Italian top-flight: he will become the manager with the most wins in his first 200 Serie A TIM games in charge, in the three points for a win era (currently at 135). Since Conte joined Inter (from 2019/20), (44) and Lautaro Martínez (29) have scored 73 goals combined, only two teams have a more prolific couple of players in the Top-5 European Leagues in the period: Bayern Munich (91: Lewandowski and Gnabry) and Barcelona (74: Messi and Griezmann). Sampdoria’s has scored more Serie A TIM goals against Inter than against any other side: six, with five coming in his last four against them. The Italian played 124 games for the Nerazzurri in the top-flight, scoring 12 goals.

08/05/2021 20:45 - ARTEMIO FRANCHI FIORENTINA Vs LAZIO Lazio have won more Serie A TIM games against Fiorentina than against any other side in Serie A TIM (55) - the Viola are also the side against which the Biancocelesti have scored the most goals in the top-flight (198). Lazio have won five of their last six games against Fiorentina in Serie A TIM (D1), scoring 12 goals in this period. Fiorentina have won only one of their last seven home games against Lazio in Serie A TIM (D1 L5), after having registered four wins in the previous seven (D1 L2). Under Commisso President management (since 2019/20), Fiorentina have drawn the most matches in Serie A TIM: 24/72 (W20 L28). Fiorentina have drawn their last two league matches, the last time they registered three draws in a row in Serie A TIM was back in June 2020. Following victory against Genoa last time out, Lazio have gone 18 consecutive matches without a draw in Serie A TIM for the very first time. In 2021, only Inter (75%) have won a higher percentage of their Serie A TIM game than Lazio (74%: 14/19). Dusan Vlahovic (19 goals) could become only the fourth foreign Fiorentina player to score at least 20 goals in a single Serie A TIM campaign, after , Kurt Roland Hamrin and Pedro Petrone. Lazio's has netted in each of his last five league games against Fiorentina, only against Napoli has the Italian forward scored in six consecutive matches against a single opponent in Serie A TIM. Lazio’s Luis Alberto has scored three goals against Fiorentina in Serie A TIM, against no side has he scored more in the competition. The Spanish midfielder could provide assists in three consecutive league appearances for the first time since November 2019.

09/05/2021 12:30 - LUIGI FERRARIS GENOA Vs SASSUOLO Sassuolo have won their last two league matches against Genoa, the Neroverdi have never recorded three wins in a row against the Grifone in Serie A TIM. Genoa have lost only one of their seven home games against Sassuolo in Serie A TIM (W4 D2): 0-1 in February 2017 due to goal. Genoa are unbeaten in their last 11 league matches at Ferraris stadium (W4 D7), the last time they had a longer streak without a home defeat in Serie A TIM was back in February 2009: 12 games case under Gian Piero Gasperini. Genoa have scored 2+ goals in each of their last three league matches, they last had a longer such run in Serie A TIM back in February 2012 (four games with at least two goals). Sassuolo have picked up 53 points in 34 matches in Serie A TIM this season, with four remaining games the Neroverdi have already gained more points than six of their previous seven entire Serie A TIM campaigns - only in 2015/16 have they collected more points (61). Sassuolo have won four of their last five league games (D1), as many as in the previous 18.

Gianluca Scamacca, on loan to Genoa from Sassuolo, played his first three Serie A TIM games with the Neroverdi in 2017/18 - the Italian striker has been involved in six goals in his last six league games (five goals and one assist). has scored three goals against Sassuolo in the top-flight, while he has netted 11 goals in the league this season - the last Italian player to score more in a single Serie A TIM campaign with Genoa was Leonardo Pavoletti in 2015/16 (14). Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi has been involved in at least one goal in each of his last five league games (six goals and one assist), the Italian striker is close to equaling his record for goals in a single Serie A TIM campaign (16 in 2013/14). Genoa are the only side against which Giacomo Raspadori has scored in two different Serie A TIM games; while four of his six goals in the top flight have been as a substitute (including two against the Grifone).

09/05/2021 15:00 - CIRO VIGORITO BENEVENTO Vs CAGLIARI There’s not been a draw in the last three Serie A TIM matches between Benevento and Cagliari: two Rossoblu wins against one for the Giallorossi (in the reverse match). Cagliari have won only four of their last 18 Serie A TIM matches against newly promoted sides (D7 L7), after a streak of seven consecutive wins previously. In the second half of this season Benevento have picked up nine points, while at this point in the first half of the season they had gained twice as many (18). Benevento have conceded four or more goals in four different home games in Serie A TIM this season, the joint-most in the top five European leagues in 2020/21 (Along with Nimes and West Brom). Cagliari are unbeaten in four consecutive matches in Serie A TIM (W3 D1) for the first time since December 2019 (13 games without defeat). Cagliari have picked up four points in their last two away league games, as many as in their previous eight matches on the road. Benevento have scored the fewest goals in the first 30 minutes of play in Serie A TIM this season (seven), while Cagliari have netted the fewest goals in the first half (14 goals). Nicolas Viola has been involved in five goals in his last four league games (three goals and two assists) – he has netted seven goals in the top-flight and he is close to equaling Cheick Diabaté (eight) as the club’s top scorer in Serie A TIM. Cagliari’s João Pedro is the Brazilian with the most goals in the top five European leagues in 2020/21 (15); excluding himself last season, the last Brazilian to score more in a single Serie A TIM campaign was Kaká in 2008/09 (16).

09/05/2021 15:00 - MARCANTONIO BENTEGODI HELLAS Vs TORINO Verona and Torino have drawn six of their last seven league games (a win for the Gialloblù): since the start of 2015/16 only fixtures between Inter and Roma (seven) and Fiorentina and Genoa (eight) have seen more draws. Having failed to score in four of their previous five home games against Torino in Serie A TIM, Verona have scored in each of the last five, although they have only achieved one win (D2 L2). Verona have not won in five league games (D1 L4), they last failed to win for more in a row in July 2020 (7). After three consecutive home Serie A TIM wins, Verona have only gained two points in their last six home games; the Gialloblù have not gone more home games without winnning since 2016 (12). Torino have won three of their last five league games (D1 L1), as many wins as in the previous 22.

Torino have achieved three away wins so far in the league in 2021 (D3 L3), one more than in the whole of 2020 (D4 L12). Verona have hit the woodwork 20 times in the league in 2020-21, in Serie A TIM since 2004/05 (since this data is available) they have never hit more than 17 in a single season. After Mergim Vojvoda's goal in the last match, Torino have scored with players of 12 different nationalities in Serie A TIM this season, more than any other team. Eddie Salcedo has scored two goals in his last three league games, one more than in his previous 34; the Verona forward is the youngest among players with at least two goals in Serie A TIM this season. Verona are the team against which Andrea Belotti has played the most Serie A TIM games with Torino without ever finding the net (seven games) – he scored his only goal against the Gialloblù in the competition in February 2015, with Palermo.

09/05/2021 15:00 - ENNIO TARDINI PARMA Vs ATALANTA After three consecutive wins between 2013 and 2014, Parma have picked up only one point in their last seven Serie A TIM meetings against Atalanta, scoring only two goals in the process. Parma have lost each of their last two Serie A TIM home games against Atalanta, as many defeats as they had in the previous 18 such matches (W9 D7). Parma have lost their last five league matches: only twice in their Serie A TIM history have they had a longer such run, six in 2001 and in 2014. Parma have won only one of their last 15 Serie A TIM home matches (D5 L9): they had never collected fewer wins in a 15-game streak in the top-flight. Atalanta have gained 20 points from the last 24 available in Serie A TIM: only Lazio have won more points in this period (21). Atalanta (nine away wins) could equal their record of away wins in a single Serie A TIM campaign (11 last term) - they have two away matches left this season. Atalanta are one of the two sides to have three players with 10+ goals in the Top-5 European Leagues this season, alongside Lyon (Muriel, Zapata and Gosens). Atalanta have scored the most goals in Serie A TIM this season (79), whilst Parma have scored the fewest (36). Parma’s Andreas Cornelius has scored only one goal in Serie A TIM this season (his worst tally in a single campaign), but he has delivered four assists so far (his best tally in a single Serie A TIM season). Robin Gosens is the first Atalanta defender to score at least 10 goals in a single Serie A TIM campaign; while the last defender in the competition to do so was Marco Materazzi (Inter 2006/07). In fact, Materazzi (12 goals in 2000/01) was the last defender to have scored more than Gosens and only Daniel Passarella (11 in 1985/86) and Antonello Cuccureddu (12 in 1973/74) had also previously netted more than 10 amongst defenders.

09/05/2021 18:00 - OLIMPICO ROMA Vs CROTONE AS Roma have won each of their five Serie A TIM meetings against Crotone, conceding only one goal – only against Roma and Napoli (6/6) have Crotone lost all their top-flight meetings. Crotone have never scored away from home against AS Roma in Serie A TIM (two matches); besides matches vs Roma, only against Juventus (three games) and Palermo (one) have Crotone always failed to find the net on the road in the competition. AS Roma have won only one of their last eight league games (D2 L5): only Parma (four), Verona (four) and Crotone (three) have picked up fewer points than the Giallorossi in this period (five). AS Roma have lost two of their last five home league matches (W2 D1), as many defeats as they had in the previous 21 such games (W14 D5). AS Roma have scored 29% of their Serie A TIM goals this season in the second half of the season (17/58), the lowest ratio in the league – moreover they have the worst differential between goals scored in the first 15 league games of the season and the first 15 of the second half of this campaign (-15: 32 v 17). Among the nine previous sides with 18 points or fewer after 34 Serie A TIM games played in the three points for a win era, none had scored more than 32 goals (Pescara, 32 goals in 2016/17) – Crotone are the first such side to surpass this goal total, netting 42. AS Roma have gained 37 points in the first half of the season and 18 so far in the second half; should they fail to pick up at least six points in their remaining four games, this could be their highest points difference between the two halves of the season in the three points for a win era (19 so far, whilst the current negative record was in 2003/04 with 13). No side has conceded more goals in both the first (41) half and second half (44, alongside Spezia) in Serie A TIM season than Crotone, but they also are the side to have conceded the lowest share of goals in the opening 15 minutes of play (7%: 6/85). Indeed, AS Roma have scored 10 goals in the same period, fewer only than Lazio (12). The first of the two times that AS Roma’s Borja Mayoral has scored more than one goal in a single Serie A TIM game was back in the reverse fixture against Crotone. Simy has scored 19 league goals for Crotone this season: the only player of a relegated side (excl. penalizations) to have scored 20+ goals at the end of the season was Igor Protti in 1995/96 for Bari (24 goals) – including relegations due to penalization we also have David Trezeguet in 2005/06 (23 for Juventus) and Lorenzo Bettini in 1954/55 (20 for Udinese).

09/05/2021 20:45 - ALLIANZ STADIUM JUVENTUS Vs Juventus have won 15 Serie A TIM meetings against AC Milan since 2011/12 (D1 L3), against no other side have they won more in this period (15 wins also against Lazio and Udinese, but with one more game played). Juventus have won each of their last nine Serie A TIM home matches against AC Milan; only against Foggia (11) are they enjoying a longer current winning run at home in the competition. Juventus have conceded in each of their last 10 Serie A TIM games, their worst run without a clean sheet since April 2010 (19) – the last reigning champion to have a longer such run was Inter back in 2011 (12). Juventus have scored at least two goals in 13 Serie A TIM home matches this season, more than any other side. AC Milan have gained at least 69 points in a single Serie A TIM campaign for the first time since 2012/13 (72 - at the end of the season) – in 2012/13, they had 65 points after 35 games. AC Milan lost their last away league game and could fail to win in two such matches in a row for the first time since February 2020, in their last two before the lockdown. This is the first time in the three points for a win era that there is only two points separating the team in second and the side in fifth after 34 games played. No side have gained more points from trailing situations than Juventus in Serie A TIM this season (17), on the other hand AC Milan have lost the fewest once taking the lead in the games (five). has scored more than one goal on nine occasions in Serie A TIM this season: the Juventus striker last registered more in a single season in 2014/15 (12), while Erling Haaland (10) is the only to have done so more often this term in the Top-5 European Leagues. Theo Hernández is the first AC Milan defender to have scored 5+ goals and delivered 5+ assists in a single Serie A TIM campaign since 2004/05 (when started Opta collecting this data) – he has been involved in 19 total goals in the competition (11 goals, 8 assists), overtaking (18) as the AC Milan defender with the most goal involvements in this period.