After their victory over Pisa, the countdown has begun: Sassuolo’s return to Serie A is now only a matter of time. The regular season is still long, it’s true—there are ten games to go—but the Neroverdi have built up such a lead over third-placed Spezia that they can sleep soundly. The Ligurians are 15 points behind, and the gap could widen further this weekend, as the Emiliani will be able to take advantage of the direct clash between Spezia and Pisa to extend their lead.
Fabio Grosso’s team will play at home again, this time against Bari. The Galletti are very solid and are trying to stay in the playoff race – they currently have the same number of points as eighth-placed Palermo – and have not lost in three games, but it will not be easy to keep a rampant Sassuolo at bay, who want to achieve their goal as quickly as possible: it seems like an eternity since last August, when Bari managed to avoid defeat (1-1) at the San Nicola against the Neroverdi. There is no clear favorite, however, in the eagerly awaited big match at the Stadio Picco, which has always been a heated affair between the two sets of fans: the home side are going through a rough patch, having not won in four games, while Pisa are looking to bounce back immediately after their narrow defeat at the Mapei Stadium. A win for the Nerazzurri would be a step closer to Serie A: in case of victory, Pippo Inzaghi’s men would move to +9 ahead of Spezia, the only team that could threaten them in the race for second place and therefore direct promotion. In any case, both teams should score at least once.
Predictions for other matches
Frosinone seem to have regained confidence after the change on the bench: last Saturday, the Ciociari returned to winning ways – something they hadn’t done since December – and in the head-to-head with Carrarese, they have the chance to leave the relegation zone. However, the Apuani have put their difficult spell behind them thanks to their victory over Salernitana and two spectacular draws with Reggiana and Cremonese (2-2) and will sell their lives dearly.
It is also evenly balanced in Sampdoria-Palermo, a clash between two prestigious clubs that have disappointed in the first half of the season. The Blucerchiati are still embroiled in the relegation battle, while the Rosanero, led by newcomer Pohjanpalo, are finding consistency. The Sicilians are slight favorites after two wins against Brescia and Cosenza, but winning at Marassi is never a walk in the park.
Stopped a week ago by Reggiana, Catanzaro will be looking to protect their fourth place and avoid being overtaken by Cremonese: it’s set to be a goal-filled match at the Zini. Juve Stabia, another team in the playoff zone, are coming off two straight defeats: the away match against Mantova, who have fallen back into the relegation zone, hides many pitfalls. Salernitana, still second from bottom, are unable to get back on their feet: Roberto Breda’s men are likely to struggle against a solid Modena side. Finally, we do not expect much excitement in the matches between Brescia and Cesena and between Cittadella and Sudtirol: the Romagnoli, in splendid form, are dreaming of a big win in Lombardy, while the clash between the Venetians and the South Tyroleans is a delicate battle for survival.
Serie B: possible winners
Frosinone or a draw (in Carrarese-Frosinone, Saturday 8, 3:00 p.m.)
Palermo or a draw (in Sampdoria-Palermo, Saturday 8, 5:15 p.m.)
Sassuolo (in Sassuolo-Bari, Sunday 9, 3:00 p.m.)
Matches with at least two goals in total
Cremonese-Catanzaro, Saturday 8, 3:00 p.m.
Sampdoria-Palermo, Saturday 8, 5:15 p.m.
Spezia-Pisa, Sunday 9, 3:00 p.m.
Serie B: matches with at least one goal per team
Mantova-Juve Stabia, Saturday 8, 3:00 p.m.
Cremonese-Catanzaro, Saturday 8, 3:00 p.m.
Spezia-Pisa, Sunday 9, 3:00 p.m.
Matches with less than three goals in total
Salernitana-Modena, Saturday 8, 3:00 p.m.
Brescia-Cesena, Saturday 8, 7:30 p.m.
Cittadella-Sudtirol, Sunday 9, 5:15 p.m.
Odds comparison
The “Goal” bet in Cremonese-Catanzaro is quoted at 1.80 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and at 1.77 on Snai. The “Under 2.5” bet in Cittadella-Sudtirol is quoted at 1.47 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and at 1.50 on Snai.
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