Before the Round – Trends on Serie A (09/03-10/03)

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Serie A will see a relegation six-pointer this week when Cagliari host Salernitana.

Meanwhile, Hellas Verona will seek a second straight win, as they try to push away from the bottom of the table.

Cagliari - Salernitana

Cagliari and Salernitana played out a high-scoring 2-2 draw earlier this season in Serie A. The Islanders went unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions against Salernitana, winning three times and drawing three times.

Salernitana are bottom of the table and still unable to win matches. The Granata failed to win their last nine Serie A matches. They conceded the second-most goals in Serie A after 27 games (54).

Cagliari are starting to pick up points. The Islanders took five points from the last nine on offer. They are coming off a 1-0 win over Empoli last time out. Cagliari will begin the weekend level on points with 17th-place Hellas Verona and could overtake them.

• Cagliari Calcio and Salernitana have drawn at half time/full time the last 3 games against each other in the league.
• Salernitana's form hasn't been good, as the team has won only 2 of their last 28 matches (Serie A).
• Cagliari Calcio's performance has been disappointing of late, as they have won just 1 of their 7 most recent Serie A clashes.
• Salernitana have been scoring 0.62 goals on average in their away games in Serie A.
• Prediction: Draw

Genoa - Monza

Monza defeated Genoa 1-0 at home earlier this season. It was the first head-to-head match between the clubs in nearly two decades. Both teams are comfortable in midtable.

Genoa took eight points from their last six matches. They struggled to score in their six fixtures, tallying just seven goals. The Grifone scored just 29 times this term. The club’s coming off a 2-1 loss to Inter.

Monza are in excellent form, with 11 points from their last six fixtures. However, they only scored eight times in the six games. The defence carried Monza in their last six games, conceding just six times.

• Genoa are unbeaten in 10 of their last 12 Serie A games.
• Monza are unbeaten in 5 of their last 6 matches in Serie A.
• Genoa have lost just 2 of their last 6 fixtures in Serie A.
• On average, Monza have been scoring 0.85 goals in their most recent away matches in Serie A.
• Prediction: Under 2.5 goals

Lecce - Verona

A six-point relegation battle will commence at Lecce. Hellas Verona are looking for a second straight win and to move away from the bottom three. Lecce are 13th in the standings. Just two points separate Lecce and Hellas Verona in the standings.

The teams drew 2-2 earlier this season at Hellas’s Bentegodi Stadium. Verona play far better at home than they do on the road. Just six of Hellas Verona’s 23 points have come on the road. Verona lost five of their last six road matches.

Lecce failed to win their last four matches, picking up one point during that time. Nineteen of Lecce’s 25 points have come at home this term. Lecce scored just 25 goals in their opening 27 games. Verona tallied 24 goals in their 27 fixtures.

• US Lecce are on a poor run of just 2 wins in 22 matches (Serie A).
• Hellas Verona have achieved just 3 wins in their 34 most recent away games in Serie A.
• US Lecce's last 3 home clashes with Hellas Verona in Serie A have seen under 2.5 goals scored.
• Hellas Verona have scored an average of 0.64 goals in their away league games.
• Prediction: Both Teams to Score - No

AC Milan - Empoli

AC Milan rolled to a 3-0 win over Empoli earlier this season. The Rossoneri kept clean sheets against Empoli in their last two head-to-head meetings. Will the trend continue this weekend.?

AC Milan are third in the standings and battling for a top-two finish. Stefano Pioli’s team took 11 points from the last six fixtures. They are coming off a strong 1-0 win over Lazio last weekend.

Empoli have found form in recent weeks. The Azzurri took nine points from the last 18 available. They are coming off a 1-0 loss at home to Cagliari. The loss ended a five-game unbeaten streak.

• A period of 22 straight home games without a loss at half time marks the Serie A campaign of AC Milan.
• Empoli FC are unbeaten in 6 of their last 7 Serie A games.
• AC Milan haven't lost in 32 of their last 38 matches in Serie A.
• Empoli FC are conceding an average of 1.69 goals in their away Serie A games.
• Prediction: AC Milan