Serie B, top-ranked Sassuolo hosts former Dionisi’s Palermo while Inzaghi’s Pisa pays a visit to Modena fresh from its success in the derby with Reggiana.
With the success over Frosinone last Saturday, Sassuolo’s consecutive victories have become six, and it is increasingly first. The neroverdi have reached 40 points and remain the main candidates for direct promotion to the top division, but at their heels is still Pippo Inzaghi’s Pisa, which is trying to keep up with Fabio Grosso’s men: the Tuscans, after their victory against Bari, remain at -3. Wider, on the other hand, is the gap from third-placed Spezia, which slipped to -6.
Sassuolo, which in this pre-Christmas round goes in the hunt for the seventh consecutive statement in the league and will do so against an important piece of its past: coach Alessio Dionisi, who until a few months ago was sitting on the neroverde bench and is now instead at the helm of Palermo, the next opponent of the leader.
The Tuscan coach needs to get a result in Emilia: in case of a defeat it would be the third in a row and his position would begin to waver dangerously, especially if we consider that the Sicilian club’s ownership in the summer spared no expense to strengthen the squad (Palermo is currently ninth, even out of the playoff zone). Expect at least three goals in total at the Mapei Stadium, although we find it hard to imagine a rosanero coup against the strongest and most in-form team in Serie B. For Pisa, on the other hand, there is the tough away match in Modena: the canarini are more solid since they changed coach (via Bisoli and in Mandelli), they have not lost for 5 rounds and a week ago they won the heartfelt derby with Reggiana. Nerazzurri slightly favored in a match in which they could, however, cash in at least one goal.
The predictions on the other matches
Risk something also Spezia, just back from the 0-0 at Marassi in the derby with Sampdoria: the Ligurians have nine points ahead of the fourth, Cremonese, but they will have to watch out for a reborn Catanzaro. Fabio Caserta’s men seem cured of “pareggitis” and they only needed two wins in a row to get back into the playoff zone. Moreover, the Giallorossi have not lost since last Sept. 20 (the only home loss).
Bari wants to restart after the stop with Pisa: Sudtirol within reach but watch out for the Castori cure that has already had its first effects (draw with Mantova after a long nagative series). Juve Stabia, on the other hand, could take advantage of the wave of success in the derby with Salernitana, committed at home against a Cesena side that last Wednesday was overwhelmed 6-1 by Atalanta in the Coppa Italia (Mignani fielded almost only reserves).
The spotlight on Sunday, however, will be on Cremonese-Sampdoria. Grigiorossi better placed in the standings but too discontinuous, blucerchiati almost in the relegation zone and fresh from the predictable thud in the Coppa Italia with Roma at the Olimpico (4-1): there should be no shortage of goals. Carrarese-Cosenza and Mantova-Frosinone – two salvation clashes – are also likely to be lively, while the number of goals may not be high in Cittadella-Reggiana.
Serie B: possible winners
Bari or draw (in Bari-Sudtirol, Saturday 21 3 p.m.)
Sassuolo (in Sassuolo-Palermo, Saturday 21 3 p.m.)
Catanzaro or draw (in Catanzaro-Spezia, Saturday 21 5:15 p.m.)
Juve Stabia or draw (in Juve Stabia-Cesena, Sunday 22 3:00 p.m.)
Sampdoria or draw (in Cremonese-Sampdoria, Sunday 22 5:15 p.m.)
Matches by at least two goals overall
Sassuolo-Palermo, Saturday 21 at 3:00 p.m.
Carrarese-Cosenza, Saturday 21 at 3 p.m.
Cremonese-Sampdoria, Sunday 22 5:15 p.m.
Serie B: the matches with at least one goal per team
Mantova-Frosinone, Saturday 21 at 3:00 p.m.
Modena-Pisa, Saturday 21 5:15 p.m.
Matches by less than three goals overall
Bari-Sudtirol, Saturday 21 3 p.m.
Cittadella-Reggiana, Saturday 21 5:15 p.m.
Share comparison
Sassuolo’s win is listed at 1.75 on Goldbet, Lottomatica and Snai. The “Goal” sign in Cremonese-Sampdoria is also quoted at 1.75 on Goldbet, Lottomatica and Snai.
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