Serie A to trial video replays
Referees chief Marcello Nicchi has confirmed that Serie A will begin trialling video replays in TorinoFiorentina and Milan-Sassuolo this weekend.
Video Assistant Referees (VAR) were used in a match situation for the first time ever during Italy’s 31 defeat to France at the start of September, and Nicchi revealed the technology was ready to be experimented in calcio throughout the season.
“VAR will begin this Sunday in Torino-Fiorentina and Milan-Sassuolo, but it’s only a trial,” the AIA President told Radio Crc.
“Every Sunday, we will use it in two-to-three games in rotation. All the referees will rotate and then the same referee will referee and another will look at the monitor, but everything will be offline.”
Udinese - Lazio
Udinese have rather gone off the boil in recent weeks, but hope to get back on track against injury-hit Lazio.
Simone Inzaghi’s men come into this game with six points from the last three games. A change in formation to three at the back and two easy home fixtures brought about this run of form. Last time out they brushed aside Empoli 2-0, whereas Udinese suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Sassuolo. Udinese are currently struggling in 14th position with just seven points.
This fixture in the last 10 seasons has been balanced with both teams winning three games each and scoring 15 goals apiece.
Udinese Coach Giuseppe Iachini has a terrible record against Lazio, winning once and losing six from a total of seven attempts.
Both teams need a win, as Lazio are trying to build momentum for a Europa League spot and Udinese want to stay away from the relegation zone. Lucas Biglia, Federico Marchetti, Dusan Basta and Bastos are injured for Lazio.
Udinese will miss the services of Emmanuel Badu, Samir, Emil Hallfredsson, Silvan Widmer and Marco Davide Faraoni.
Lazio have a leaky defence away from home, therefore expect both teams to score. Udinese generally have a poor record against the Aquile, beating them just once in the last seven competitive meetings, home and away, along with five defeats.
Pescara - Chievo
Pescara have now drawn two consecutive games against nine men and host a Chievo side eager to get back on track.
The Delfini have been involved in some controversial matches this season. Last week Genoa had both Edenilson and Goran Pandev sent off and were denied a clear penalty and red card for Francesco Zampano handling on the line. Pescara equalised late in the match against the nine men through Rey Manaj and should now be looking to bank on that bit of fortune and kick start a good run.
Zampano will sit out a twomatch ban after being suspended through retrospective video evidence, while Norbert Gyomber, Andrea Coda, Simone Pepe and Jean-Christophe Bahebeck are all currently injured. Zampano is set to appeal the decision on Friday, stating that it was an involuntary movement as the ball bounced off his leg and onto his hand.
Chievo should be looking to pick themselves up after losing 2-0 at Napoli in a match where goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino was their best player. Argentinian midfielder Mariano Izco made his comeback as a late substitute after being out of the game for 13 months with a cruciate ligament injury. Chievo are not great travellers and have only won four times away from home since the turn of the year. Surprisingly for being Serie A’s oldest squad, Chievo have no injuries or suspensions to contend with and have a full squad to pick from.
Expect to see Pescara’s youthful team take the game to Chievo’s more experienced outfit. Host fullbacks Cristiano Biraghi and Alessandro Crescenzi should look to push forward and provide an outlet for classy passers like Bryan Cristante and Valerio Verre to find, while Gianluca Caprari could be the one that pulls the strings around the box.
Chievo should rely on keeping tight and compact at the back, attacking on the break through Valter Birsa and Antonio Floro Flores. Chievo’s game-plan has been tried and tested for years, just like a cat playing with a mouse, they pounce when you least expect it. Pescara’s possession-based style can be somewhat hit and miss, as so much depends on whether or not Ahmad Benali or Caprari can create any clear-cut chances.
This is only the third game in Serie A between the sides and Chievo have won both previous meetings 2-0 with all of four goals coming after the 75th minute mark.
Empoli - Juventus
After an impressive midweek Champions League victory in Croatia, Juventus look to keep the good times rolling domestically in Empoli.
It’s been a rough start to the season for Giovanni Martusciello’s men, having earned just four points from their opening six matches. Unquestionably, the biggest issue for Empoli has been their struggles in front of goal. The only game the Azzurri scored in was the victory they earned against Crotone.
They couldn’t have asked for a worse match on the weekend to solve the issue though, as they take on a Juventus side with the stingiest defence in the league.
No team has conceded less than Massimiliano Allegri’s men, with Gianluigi Buffon only having to pick the ball out of his net four times so far. They haven’t allowed a goal in any competition since their loss to Inter in the Derby d’Italia, going 282 consecutive minutes without conceding.
With 12 goals scored in Serie A already, Allegri has his team firing on all cylinders offensively as well. Only Roma and Napoli have been more prolific, but expect the Bianconeri attack to continue to improve as Gonzalo Higuain, Miralem Pjanic and Marko Pjaca, adapt to life with their new club.
The match-up against Juventus doesn’t bode well for Empoli’s chances of breaking out of their slump, but games are played on the field and the Old Lady hasn’t exactly been invincible.
Tomorrow Empoli-Juventus ..................................... Atalanta-Napoli ...................................... Bologna-Genoa ....................................... Cagliari-Crotone ..................................... Sampdoria-Palermo ................................ AC Milan-Sassuolo .................................. Torino-Fiorentina .................................... Roma-Inter Milan ...................................
Serie B
Yesterday Brescia-Bari ....................................... 1-1 Today Avellino-Pro Vercelli ............................... Benevento-Novara .................................. Frosinone-Perugia .................................. SPAL-Salernitana ..................................... Ternana-HellasVerona ............................ Trapani-Cittadella ................................... V. Entella-Vicenza ................................... Tomorrow Cesena-Latina ......................................... Ascoli-Spezia ...........................................
Lega Pro A
Tomorrow Alessandria-Cremonese .......................... Arezzo-Pro Piacenza ............................... Giana Erminio-Livorno ............................ Piacenza-Olbia ........................................ Siena-Pistoiese ....................................... Carrarese-Tuttocuoio .............................. Como-Racing Roma ................................ Lupa Roma-Viterbese ............................. Pontendera-Lucchese ............................. Renate-Prato ..........................................
Lega Pro B
Today Lumezzane-Reggiana .............................. Sambenedettese-Parma ......................... Sudtirol-Teramo ...................................... Modena-Bassano V ................................. Fano-Maceratese .................................... Padova-Mantova .................................... Santarcangelo-Ancona ............................ FeralpiSalo-Forli ...................................... Pordenone-Venezia ................................ Monday AlbinoLeffe-Gubbio ................................
Lega Pro C
Tomorrow Akragas-Catanzaro .................................. Matera-Foggia ........................................ Melfi-Siracusa ......................................... Messina-Paganese .................................. Monopoli-Fondi ...................................... Casertana-F. Andria ................................ Cosenza-V. Francavilla ............................ Juve Stabia-Vibonese .............................. Lecce-Reggina ......................................... Taranto-Catania ......................................