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Home , Antonio Di Natale, Aurelio Andreazzoli, Davide Faraoni, David Trezeguet, Domenico Berardi, Eusebio Di Francesco

Matchday 1 TIM 2021-22 21 - 23 August 2021 21/08/2021 18:30 - MARCANTONIO BENTEGODI HELLAS Vs Hellas Verona have picked up only one point in their last five Serie A TIM matches against Sassuolo (D1 L4), after having lost only two of the previous seven (W4 D1 L2). Sassuolo have won their last three away matches against Hellas Verona in Serie A TIM without conceding: they have never won four games in a row away from home vs a single side in the top-flight. Hellas Verona were awarded the win in their Serie A TIM opener last term (3-0 awarded against AS Roma) and are looking to win back-to-back season openers in the competition for the second time in their history, after 1983-1984. Sassuolo have picked up only one point in their last two season openers in Serie A TIM (D1 L1); the Neroverdi have never gone three consecutive season openers in the top-flight without a win. Hellas Verona have drawn their last three matches at home in Serie A TIM: the last time they had four draws in a row at home in the competition was back in 1983. Hellas Verona are winless in their last nine Serie A TIM games (D4 L5), the last time they had a longer such run was in January 2016 (24 games). has won only one of his five Serie A TIM managerial debuts with a single side, AS Roma in 2017 (D1 L3) - the new Hellas Verona manager took charge of 147 games with Sassuolo as manager, more than any other. During the last two Serie A TIM seasons, Hellas Verona’s Marco has been involved in 19 goals (9 goals, 10 assists), with only two other defenders registering more involvements in the process: (34) and Theo Hernández (21). Sassuolo’s striker has been involved in seven goals in his eight Serie A TIM season openers (five goals, two assists), scoring four goals in his last three such matches. Hellas Verona are Jeremie Boga’s favourite target in the Italian top-flight (three goals), including the only brace scored by the Sassuolo striker in the competition (in the 3-3 draw of June 2020).

21/08/2021 18:30 - INTER Vs Inter have won their last six Serie A TIM matches against Genoa by an aggregate score of 21-0; they’ve only had a longer run without conceding against a single side in the competition in 2008 versus Reggina (11 games). Genoa haven’t scored against Inter in their last six Serie A TIM matches in a row, their longest run without scoring against a single opponent in the top-flight; their last goal in the competition against the Nerazzurri was back in February 2018, scored by (2-0). Inter have drawn only one of their last 10 season openers in Serie A TIM: 0-0 in 2014 against Torino (W6 D3), this after they’d drawn the previous four. Inter are unbeaten in the last 17 Serie A TIM games when they have started the season at home (W14 D3), while their last such defeat was back in 1987 (0-2 v ). Genoa are unbeaten in their last five Serie A TIM season openers (W3 D2), and they won in 2020 against (4-1). Inter have won their last 16 home Serie A TIM matches, only three teams have had a longer winning home streak in the competition: Torino in 1948 (21), AC in 1950 (19) and Juventus in 2014 (25) and 2017 (33). Genoa have won their last two Serie A TIM away games without conceding: they have registered three such wins in a row without conceding in the top-flight only once before in their history, in January 2009 under . On Saturday August 21st 2021, Inter will play a Serie A TIM match as the title-holder for the first time since 22/05/2011 against Catania (3-1 under Leonardo, 3744 days ago). This could be Edin Dzeko’s 200th Serie A TIM appearance: the new Inter striker has been involved in eight league goals against Genoa (three goals, five assists): against no other side has he had a hand in more goals. Genoa’s Hernani has had a hand in two goals in his last two Serie A TIM meetings against Inter: one at the Meazza in October 2020 and one at the Tardini last March.

21/08/2021 20:45 - CARLO CASTELLANI Vs Empoli have lost their last five Serie A TIM clashes against Lazio: they have only lost 6+ matches in a row in the top-flight against Juventus and Inter. In no side has been promoted from to Serie A TIM in more seasons than Empoli: five, level with Lecce. Empoli have never drawn a season opener in Serie A TIM (W4 L9), and they won the last time out in 2018: 2-0 against , under . Lazio have won their last two Serie A TIM season openers without conceding; they have never won three such games in a row while keeping a clean sheet. Lazio have only scored one goal in their last five Serie A TIM matches and haven’t score in the last three. The last time they failed to find the back of the net in four matches in a row in the competition was back in September 2001. Empoli have lost only one of their last eight home Serie A TIM matches (W5 D2): 2-4 against SPAL back in April 2019. has won his last two Serie A TIM season openers, after having picked up only one point in the previous three. The new Lazio manager has lost his last two games in the top-flight and has only lost three in a row in the competition once before (with Empoli in 2014). Maurizio Sarri was Empoli’s manager for three seasons, gaining promotion from Serie B to Serie A TIM in 2013/14. In the following campaign, in 2014/15, also with Empoli, he made his managerial debut in Serie A TIM. Empoli’s was the youngest player to score 5+ goals and deliver 5+ assists in the 2020/21 Serie B: five goals and eight assists (born in 1999). has scored seven goals in his last eight Serie A TIM season openers, including five goals in five such matches for Lazio.

21/08/2021 20:45 - OLIMPICO TORINO Vs ATALANTA Torino have lost two of the last three Serie A TIM matches against Atalanta (D1), including 0-7 at home in January 2020, their joint-highest margin defeat at home in the top-flight (level with 0-7 vs AC Milan in 2021). Atalanta are looking to win three matches in a row away from home in Serie A TIM against Torino for the first time in their history; in their last two clashes away at Torino they have scored 11 goals, as many as they managed in the previous 13. Torino lost their season opener in Serie A TIM in 2020/21 against Fiorentina: the last time they lost two such games in a row was back in 1995 (v Inter in 1994 and Fiorentina in 1995). Atalanta have won their season opener in Serie A TIM in the last three campaigns, after having picked up only two points in the previous eight such games. Atalanta have scored the most goals on MD1 in Serie A TIM over the last three seasons combined (11). Since 2016/17, Torino have drawn 67 games in Serie A (35%, 67/190): more than any other side in the top-5 . Atalanta avoided defeat in Serie A TIM in 2020/21 when they went ahead in matches (27 matches, W23 D4) - whilst Torino lost the joint-most games in such situations (5/19). After having failed to find the net in his first 11 Serie A TIM meetings against Atalanta, has scored three goals in his last two matches against them; the Torino striker is close to reaching 100 goals scored in the Italian top-flight (currently 98). has had a hand in six Serie A TIM goals for Atalanta against Torino (four goals, two assists): only against Udinese (eight) has he registered more since he joined his current team. In the 2020/21 campaign, only (one goal every 60 minutes on average) had a better minutes/goals ratio among the Top-5 European Leagues than Muriel (65 minutes) - min. 2 goals. Since his Serie A TIM debut (28th October 2018), no goalkeeper has made more saves than Atalanta’s (350); moreover, only Samir Handanovic (40) and (37) have kept more clean sheets than him in the process (29).

22/08/2021 18:30 - RENATO DALL'ARA Vs SALERNITANA After winning their first Serie A TIM clash in 1948 (4-0), Bologna have failed to win each of the following three top-flight meetings against Salernitana (D1 L2), scoring only one goal and conceding seven. In 2020/21, Salernitana gained their third promotion to Serie A TIM, after 1997/98 and 1946/47 – they will play in the top-flight for the first time in 22 years. Bologna have won just one of their last 11 Serie A TIM seasonal openers (D4 L6): 1-0 against Crotone in 2016 – the last time they hosted a promoted side on matchday one. Salernitana faced Lazio and Roma in their previous two season openers in Serie A TIM: a 2-0 win against the Biancocelesti in 1947 and a 3-1 defeat against the Giallorossi at the Olimpico in 1998. Bologna have won only one of their last 10 league games: A 4-1 win against Spezia last April (D4 L5). Salernitana lost only one of their last eight Serie A TIM games in the 1998/99 campaign (W4 D3), under Francesco Oddo. Bologna have lost their last two Serie A TIM matches at the Dall’Ara (v Genoa and Juventus): they last lost three or more in a row at home in the competition in September 2018 (four). Bologna have gone unbeaten in 13 of their last 14 Serie A TIM meetings against promoted sides (W9 D4): with the only defeat coming against Benevento in October 2020 (0-1). has been involved in seven goals in his last seven Serie A TIM matches against promoted sides (three goals, four assists). In the 2020/21 campaign, the Bologna striker was the second youngest player with 8+ goals and 8+ assists in the Top-5 European Leagues, behind Jadon Sancho. could play a Serie A TIM match for the first time since the 2018/19 campaign: the Salernitana midfielder scored his last top-flight goal in November 2018 against Bologna, when he played for Chievo.

22/08/2021 18:30 - DACIA ARENA - UDINESE Vs JUVENTUS Juventus have won seven of the last eight Serie A TIM games against Udinese (L1), scoring 24 goals in this run (an average of 3 per match). Udinese have only won one of their last 11 home games against Juventus in Serie A TIM (D3 L7): 2-1 in July 2020. Juventus have won nine of their last 10 season openers in Serie A TIM: with their only defeat in this run coming in August 2015 against Udinese at home. Udinese have drawn only one of their last 11 season openers in Serie A TIM (W4 L6): 2-2 in August 2018 v . Juventus have conceded in each of their last 14 Serie A TIM matches: they only had a longer such streak in 1955 (21) and 2010 (19). is the Juventus manager with the highest win ratio in Serie A TIM (75%: W142 D28 L20). He has won four of his five season openers in Serie A TIM with Juventus (L1), after having won only one of the previous six with Cagliari and AC Milan (D2 L3). Massimiliano Allegri hasn’t won any of his last five Serie A TIM matches as a manager (D3 L2): he has only had a longer winless streak in the competition as a manager twice - both with Cagliari in April 2010 (nine) and October 2008 (six). Udinese’s made his Serie A TIM debut against Juventus in January 2012 and played 48 top-flight matches for the Old Lady. However, Juventus are the side he has faced the joint-most times without scoring or assist a single goal (seven, level with AC Milan). Udinese are ’s favourite target in Serie A TIM (eight goals): the Juventus striker has also delivered six assists against them, more than against any other side in the competition. has scored seven Serie A TIM goals against Udinese, including his last brace in the competition (May 2021 at the Dacia Arena) - only against Cagliari (eight) has the Juventus striker scored more goals in the Italian top-flight. 22/08/2021 20:45 - DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA NAPOLI Vs VENEZIA Napoli are unbeaten in 10 of their 12 Serie A TIM meetings against Venezia (W4 D6); having won the most recent one (4-0 in 1967), Napoli could win two matches in a row against them in the competition for the first time. Venezia will play in Serie A TIM for the first time in 19 years - in their last top-flight campaign, in 2001/02, they lost their opening match at Juventus (0-4). Napoli have won their last four Serie A TIM season openers: they last won five such matches in a row in the period between 1985 and 1989. Venezia have won only one of their 12 opening matches to a Serie A TIM campaign: 1-0 against Inter in 1940 (D4 L7). Napoli have won 26 of their last 29 Serie A TIM meetings against promoted sides (L3): their last draw in such games came back in August 2016 (2-2 v Pescara, on MD1). Venezia have failed to win each of their last 12 Serie A TIM matches (back in 2001/02), the longest run among sides in the current campaign: their last win was back in February 2002, 2-0 against Fiorentina. Napoli’s has overseen 483 Serie A TIM games as a manager: in the era (since 1994/95), only (545) and (486) have been in charge of more in the competition. Napoli’s has been involved in 24 goals in his last 22 Serie A TIM meetings against promoted sides (12 goals, 12 assists). Only Haaland (born in 2000) is younger than (born in 1998) among the Top-5 European Leagues players to have scored 10+ goals in each of the last two campaigns - the Napoli striker scored seven of his 10 Serie A TIM goals last term April 2021 onwards, fewer only than Vlahovic (nine) in this period. Napoli are the only side against which Venezia’s new defender has scored more than once against in Serie A TIM: a brace in Napoli in February 2017.

22/08/2021 20:45 - OLIMPICO ROMA Vs FIORENTINA AS Roma have won their last four Serie A TIM meetings against Fiorentina and could win five in a row against them for the second time in the competition (also between 2012 and 2014 - under three different managers: Zeman, Andreazzoli and ). AS Roma and Fiorentina is the most played fixture in season opening matches in Serie A TIM: this will be the 10th such game between the two sides with none of the previous nine ending in a draw (five wins for AS Roma, four for Fiorentina). Fiorentina have lost each of their last three season openers in Serie A TIM played at the Olimpico in : three defeats against AS Roma in 1990, 2004 and 2014. AS Roma were awarded a defeat in their season opener last term (0-3), having been unbeaten in each of their previous eight such matches (W5 D3). Fiorentina have not drawn any of their last 10 Serie A TIM season openers (W6 L4), after having drawn each of the previous three between 2008 and 2010. AS Roma kept the most clean sheets at home during the 2020/21 Serie A TIM (nine); moreover, they conceded the joint-fewest goals in home matches last term, alongside Inter and Juventus (18). AS Roma will be the sixth different side managed by José Mourinho in the Top-5 European Leagues, after Chelsea, Inter, Real , Manchester United and Tottenham – with four of these five sides he won at least a trophy (with Spurs the only exception). AS Roma coach; José Mourinho has a 2.18 points per game ratio in Serie A TIM: among managers with at least five matches in the three points for a win era, only (2.26) has a higher such ratio. Nicolò Zaniolo has been involved in three goals in his last three Serie A TIM meetings against Fiorentina (two goals, one assist). AS Roma are unbeaten in each of the 10 Serie A TIM matches in which he has found the net (W8 D2). In 2021, Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic scored 17 Serie A TIM goals, the joint-most alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. However, he has lost more top-flight matches versus AS Roma than against any other team (4/4).

23/08/2021 18:30 - UNIPOL DOMUS CAGLIARI Vs SPEZIA Spezia were unbeaten in their two Serie A TIM meetings against Cagliari last term: a 2-2 draw in and a 2-1 win at the Picco in the reverse fixture. Cagliari have won only one of their last eight Serie A TIM seasonal openers: a 2-1 win against Atalanta in 2013 (D2 L5). Spezia lost their opening match in Serie A TIM last season (1-4 v Sassuolo). However, they won their very first away match in the competition, becoming only the second side to do that in the 21st century after Chievo in 2001, under Delneri. Cagliari have failed to score in their last three league matches, they last went four Serie A TIM matches in a row without scoring in July 2020. Spezia are unbeaten in their last three league matches (W1 D2), and could go four in a row without defeat for the first time in the competition. Spezia have conceded at least one goal in each of their last 16 Serie A TIM matches, the longest such run among teams that will take part in Serie A TIM in 2021/22. Spezia’s manager has won only one Serie A TIM game as a coach, in his debut in the competition (3-1 win for Genoa against Brescia in October 2019). In that match Genoa scored three goals with three substitute players. João Pedro (41 goals) is the Brazilian player to have scored the most goals in the Top-5 European Leagues over the last three campaigns – he could become the fifth Cagliari player to find the net in seven different Serie A TIM seasons, after (12) Daniele Conti (11), Nene (10) and Ricciotti Greatti (seven). M'Bala Nzola scored nine of his 11 Serie A TIM goals in 2020/21 in the first half of the season, including the equalizing goal in injury time for Spezia against Cagliari in November 2020 at the .

23/08/2021 20:45 - LUIGI FERRARIS SAMPDORIA Vs MILAN AC Milan have won their last two Serie A TIM away meetings against Sampdoria and could win three such matches in a row for the second time in the competition (after a four-game streak in 1968). After winning their first two Serie A TIM season opening games against Sampdoria, AC Milan have lost two of the following three against them (D1), including the most recent one (0-1 in August 2012). Sampdoria have lost their last three season openers in Serie A TIM, failing to score in each of them; they have never lost four such matches in a row in the Italian top-flight. AC Milan have drawn only one of their last 15 opening matches to a Serie A TIM campaign: 2-2 in September 2011 against Lazio (W8 L6). AC Milan have lost four of their last five Serie A TIM season openers away from home (W1), after having remained unbeaten in 14 successive such matches (W10 D4). Sampdoria have won their last two Serie A TIM matches keeping two clean sheets: they last won three league games in a row without conceding in March 2015. AC Milan have kept a clean sheet in each of their last five Serie A TIM matches: they last had a longer run without conceding in the competition in February 1994 ( under ). has scored eight Serie A TIM goals in August, level with and – he could become the joint-top scorer in this month of the year in the competition: level with Marek Hamsik (nine). This could be Ante Rebic’s 150th appearance in the Top-5 European Leagues: Sampdoria is one of two sides (alongside Napoli) against which the AC Milan player has delivered more than one Serie A TIM assist (two). could become the 15th Frenchman to score for AC Milan in Serie A TIM: AC Milan are already the team with the most French scorers in the competition.