Before the Round – Trends on Italy Serie A (13-14/05)

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Napoli are the Serie A champions, but there is still plenty to play for this season. Second place through fourth are still up for grabs, as six teams battle for Champions League qualification.

There are four matches left in the Serie A season, and every point is massive.

Salernitana – Atalanta

Salernitana were blasted 8-2 by Atlanta earlier this season. The Granata are drifting dangerously close to the bottom three and are not safe yet. Atalanta are sixth and five points off the top four.

Atalanta lost 2-0 to Juventus at the weekend, ending a three-match winning streak. La Dea took 10 points from their last six matches. The team scored nine goals but conceded nine times.

Salernitana are also coming off a defeat. The Granata fell 2-1 at Empoli. The defeat ended a six-match unbeaten run. Salernitana can clinch Serie A safety on Saturday with a win, draw, or a Spezia loss.

• Salernitana have achieved just 3 wins of their last 22 Serie A games
• The team of Atalanta Bergamo are on a poor run of 9 matches in Serie A in all of which they have conceded 1+ goals
• Salernitana are unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 Serie A games
• Atalanta Bergamo have lost just 2 of their last 6 matches in Serie A.
• Prediction: Atalanta

Spezia – Milan

Spezia find themselves in the relegation zone ahead of matchday 35. The team are on a three-match losing streak and were leapfrogged by Hellas Verona a week ago. Spezia took just two points from the last six matches.

AC Milan are coming off Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg against Inter Milan. It could affect their play if Stefano Pioli rotates the team. Milan are fifth in the standings and two points off the top four. The Rossoneri took 10 points from the last six matches.

Spezia won two of their last four matches against AC Milan in Serie A. However, the Rossoneri took the spoils, 2-1, earlier this season at San Siro. The game saw one red card.

• Spezia Calcio are on a losing streak of 3 straight matches in Serie A.
• In their 50 most recent matches of Serie A, AC Milan have been undefeated 43 times.
• Spezia Calcio have won just 3 of their last 27 matches in Serie A.
• AC Milan have not suffered any defeats in their 7 most recent Serie A matches.
• Prediction: AC Milan

Hellas Verona – Torino

Hellas Verona are winless in six straight matches versus Torino in all competitions. Four of the last six matches, including the reverse fixture this season, ended in draws. The teams finished 1-1 in January.

Verona are in dire need of more points. They are now three points clear of 18th-place Spezia and could rise as high as 16th with a win over Torino and results going their way. The Gialloblu are unbeaten in five of their last six matches.

Torino are unbeaten in back-to-back games. Il Toro were pushing for European qualification not long ago. However, a dip in form post-Christmas has them stuck in midtable.

• Hellas Verona haven't lost a match in 5 of their last 6 matches in Serie A.
• Torino FC are undefeated against Hellas Verona in 11 of their last 12 league games.
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Hellas Verona's last 3 home league games.
• Torino FC are undefeated in their last 7 games against Hellas Verona in Serie A.
• Prediction: Over 2.5 goals

Fiorentina – Udinese

Fiorentina will host Udinese in a midtable clash. La Viola have their attention on the Europa Conference League semifinals and the Coppa Italia final later this month. It could give Udinese the chance to steal a win at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Udinese are on a two-match winning streak against Fiorentina, outscoring the Florence-based club 5-0. The Zebrette took eight points from the last six matches. They scored eight times and conceded seven goals.

Fiorentina picked up just six points from the last six matches. The team scored 12 goals but conceded nine times. They failed to win their last two Serie A matches.

• Fiorentina are undefeated in their last 6 home league games.
• Udinese Calcio have lost all of their last 3 away matches in Serie A.
• In their last 12 games in Serie A, Fiorentina have recorded 10 undefeated encounters.
• Udinese Calcio have not managed to score a goal in their 3 most recent away matches in Serie A.
• Prediction: Both Teams to Score