Category: Salernitana

Serie A | Empoli 1-1 Salernitana: Penalty save blows race wide open

May 14, 2022

Salernitana fought back for a point in Empoli, but saw a late Diego Perotti penalty saved by Guglielmo Vicario, this result still mathematically relegating Venezia and leaving the rest wide open.

Watch the highlights here.

Serie A Highlights: Empoli 1-1 Salernitana

The Tuscans were already comfortably mid-table, while Davide Nicola had dragged his side kicking and screaming from a seemingly impossible situation to one point clear of the drop zone. Valerio Verre and Petar Stojanovic returned from suspension, with Riccardo Marchizza, Lorenzo Tonelli and Nicolas Haas injured. Franck Ribery and Emil Bohinen sat out bans after the chaotic 1-1 draw with Cagliari.

Serie A Liveblog: Empoli-Salernitana, Roma-Venezia, Udinese-Spezia, Verona-Torino

Just seven minutes in, Fabiano Parisi needed a goal-line clearance to prevent the Milan Djuric header on a corner. Moments later, Guglielmo Vicario fingertipped a Norbert Gyomber header onto the underside of the bar from Simone Verdi’s free kick.

However, it was Empoli who broke the deadlock when Kristjan Asllani threaded through for Patrick Cutrone, who squeezed his right-foot shot between the goalkeeper and the near post. That was Cutrone’s third Serie A goal of the season, his second past Salernitana.

Ivan Radovanovic’s daisy-cutter flashed inches wide, while Pasquale Mazzocchi and Ederson strikes skimmed the far top corner.

Valerio Verre tested Luigi Sepe from distance and Cutrone should’ve made it 2-0, his free header off target from six yards.

Guglielmo Vicario made a simply extraordinary save to claw Federico Bonazzoli’s header off the line after a Matteo Ruggeri cross.

Moments later, Empoli went on the counter and Cutrone hit the base of the upright, then Sepe needed a double save on Nedim Bajrami and Filippo Bandinelli.

Vicario made another extraordinary save on Djuric’s header and the attempted Bonazzoli tap-in. However, Vicario also fumbled the successive corner and Bonazzoli equalised with a spectacular bicycle-kick.

The drama wasn’t over, as Mamadou Coulibaly and Simone Romagnoli both lunged at the same ball, the Salernitana man getting there millimetres earlier and so a penalty was awarded after a VAR review. Diego Perotti stepped up, but his spot-kick was fingertipped out of the bottom corner by Vicario.

Andrea La Mantia almost won it for Empoli, a header inches over in the final kick. At the final whistle Perotti collapsed in tears, consoled by his teammates.

Empoli 1-1 Salernitana

Cutrone 31 (E), Bonazzoli 76 (S)

Saved penalty: Perotti 84 (S)

Tightest relegation battle since Serie A went to 20 teams

May 11, 2022

For the first time since Serie A moved to 20 teams in 2004-05, we go into the final two rounds with nobody yet certain of relegation, while only five clubs have nothing to play for.

It’s wide open in the Scudetto race and for the Europa League and Conference League spots, but the relegation battle is particularly complicated.

There are six teams who could still go down and for the first time since the expansion to 20 sides in 2004-05, none of them are guaranteed relegation yet going into Week 36.

Sampdoria and Spezia need two points to be sure of safety, but it’s more complex for Salernitana, Genoa, Cagliari and Venezia.

Traditionally, the quota at which clubs celebrated their Serie A safety was 40 points, but that has dropped lower and lower in recent years.

As things stand, 35 points could be enough to guarantee a place in the top flight for next season.

It’s the lowest figure since Crotone, coached by Davide Nicola to come back from a seemingly impossible situation, finished at 34 points in 2016-17.

That doesn’t mean the sides at the bottom or terrible, but rather that things have evened out, because going into the last two rounds only five teams have nothing left to play for.

They are Hellas Verona, Torino, Bologna, Udinese and Empoli.

Head-to-head records could be decisive for Serie A relegation

May 9, 2022

Serie A goes into the final two rounds with six teams fighting to avoid the three relegation places, but how will it be decided if two or more sides finish level on points?

The situation could not be tighter, as Sampdoria and Spezia are on 33 points, Salernitana have 30, Cagliari 29, Genoa 28 and Venezia 25.

The Lagunari would’ve already been doomed if Salernitana had beaten Cagliari on Sunday, but as the Sardinians snatched a 99th-minute equaliser, they too can have some slender hope.

Should two teams finish level on points, their position would be decided by head-to-head record in results and then goals.

If those too are level, then it’d be overall goal difference in the league.

However, if three or more teams are level on points, a ‘Classifica Avulsa’ is drawn up.

That is effectively a mini-league between these teams facing each other, the side at the bottom going down.

Sampdoria have to hope Cagliari don’t improve, because they have a dire record against the Sardinians, losing both matches.

Cagliari and Salernitana are totally even in their head-to-head record, drawing both games 1-1.

Genoa won both their meetings with Cagliari, but picked up one point against Salernitana.

Two games left in Salernitana’s great escape dream

May 9, 2022

Salernitana seemed destined to suffer relegation this season but in the last month they’ve started work on a truly incredible bid to avoid the drop to Serie B, and now only two games remain.

The Campania side’s season started with four defeats on the bounce, leaving them rock bottom in the Serie A table. They would not leave the relegation zone for over half the season, only managing to briefly poke their heads out at the start of January following a win over Hellas Verona.

Unfortunately for Salernitana, they had only escaped the bottom three for one match day, and they promptly slipped back down a week later. After a 2-1 loss to Roma on April 10, they seemed certain to suffer the drop, but suddenly they began to turn things around.

Everything changed on April 16, when they beat fellow relegation candidates Sampdoria 2-1 in Liguria. This seemed to give the team the spark they so desperately needed and they followed up that result with a 1-0 away win over Udinese only four days later.

Four days after that, they hosted a European challenging Fiorentina side and managed to upset the odds, pulling off a 2-1 win. Suddenly the Campania side began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

A 1-1 draw with Atalanta in Bergamo was sufficient and was followed up by a vital 2-1 victory over Venezia three days later, in what was essentially a relegation play-off match.

Salernitana almost secured another vital three points in yesterday’s match with currently Serie B bound Cagliari, but a 99th minute equaliser by Giorgio Altare gives the Sardinian side hope.

With only two games remaining – against Empoli and Udinese – Salernitana are on the cusp of achieving one of the greatest relegation zone escapes seen in Serie A for years. Things will be tense, however, as they only sit a point ahead of 18th place Cagliari.

Empoli vs. Salernitana Predictions & Betting Tips

May 9, 2022

Just seven points separate the two sides ahead of these Empoli vs. Salernitana predictions, with both teams in the lower half of the Serie A table. The hosts have been in miserable form without a win in three, while the opposite is true for the visitors.

Empoli vs. Salernitana odds

1 – Salernitana to win – 13/10

2 – One-goal winning margin –  5/1

3 – Under 3.5 goals scored – 4/6

4 – Both teams to score – 1/2

5 –  Bonazzoli to score anytime – 13/10

Salernitana travel to face Empoli on Saturday looking to continue a truly remarkable run of results. The Granata are one of only two teams in Serie A to go unbeaten in their last six games – the other being league leaders Milan.

The incredible form of Davide Nicola’s side has seen them catapult out of the relegation zone, with last week’s draw against Cagliari further reinforcing their safety – despite the late heartbreak. This weekend Salernitana travel to Empoli with the opportunity to jump potentially as high as 15th in the Serie A table, just one spot below their weekend opponents.

The hosts on Saturday have had a wildly different experience in the past few weeks, winning just one of their last six. Aurelio Andreazzoli’s side are mathematically safe from relegation, which will have been their target at the beginning of the season, and arguably have rested on their laurels in recent weeks.

With the battle very much still on for the visitors, we tip Salernitana as the team to win on Saturday afternoon. Should they do so, it is likely to be by a margin of just one goal, as has been the case in all seven of their wins in Serie A this season.

Looking in on past form, another safe bet may be on a low scoreline this weekend. The Granata have earned their recent success on being defensively compact and not allowing space for their opponents to attack. Furthermore, Empoli have been far from prolific this season, averaging just 1.3 goals per game, so a bet on under 3.5 goals scored has a good chance of paying out.

On a similar note, neither side has been particularly impressive at keeping clean sheets, with Salernitana boasting just two this season and Empoli just a little better with six. A bet on both teams to score at the Stadio Carlo Castellani should therefore be considered.

Super-sub Federico Bonazzoli is our tip to score anytime, having notched two goals in his last four games, despite starting just once. The Italian is Salernitana’s top scorer this season and one more strike will take him into double figures.

How to stream Empoli vs. Salernitana

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Empoli vs. Salernitana last five matches

Empoli last five matches

Salernitana last five matches

Empoli top goalscorers

Salernitana top goalscorers

Empoli vs. Salernitana line-ups

Empoli (4-3-1-2): Vicario; Fiamozzi, Luperto, Romagnoli, Parisi; Zurkowski, Stulac, Bandinelli; Asllani; Pinamonti, Bajrami.

Salernitana (3-5-2): Sepe; Gyomber, Fazio, Radovanovic; Mazzocchi, Ederson, Bohinen, Coulibaly, Ruggeri; Djuric, Verdi.

Empoli team news

Andreazzoli has the majority of his squad available, with Lorenzo Tonelli and Nicolas Haas the only potential absentees from Saturday’s game. The Azzurri coach is unlikely to make any major changes to the team, with Liam Henderson the only potential change in midfield. Federico Di Francesco is unlikely to play a role after being substituted after just eight minutes last weekend.

Salernitana team news

No changes are expected from Davide Nicola, who has looked to retain consistency during his team’s remarkable run. Mamadou Coulibaly remains the only injury absence for the visitors, who will also be without Franck Ribery after the winger received a red card from the bench against Cagliari.

Serie A Liveblog: Verona-Milan, Salernitana-Cagliari

May 8, 2022

Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games, Spezia–Atalanta, Venezia–Bologna, Salernitana–Cagliari and potential Scudetto decider Verona–Milan.

Week 36 already provided plenty of drama on Friday and Saturday, with Inter and Genoa completing comeback wins over Empoli and Juventus respectively, while Sampdoria lost 2-0 away to Lazio.

We begin today at 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT), as Spezia are not guaranteed Serie A safety yet and host Europe-chasing Atalanta, a game between two sides who are furious with recent refereeing decisions.

At 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), expect emotional scenes as Sinisa Mihajlovic returns to the Bologna bench after leukaemia treatment when they visit rock bottom Venezia.

Relegation could well be decided at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT) at the Stadio Arechi when Salernitana and Cagliari go head-to-head.

Milan must beat Hellas Verona at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) to retain their two-point lead at the top of the Serie A table, but already lost the Scudetto twice in ‘Fatal Verona’ and face the ghosts of history.

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Serie A | Venezia 4-3 Bologna: Lagunari postpone relegation

May 8, 2022

Venezia postpone relegation a little longer with a dramatic 4-3 victory on the day Sinisa Mihajlovic returned to the Bologna bench from leukaemia treatment.

This was the first match with Mihajlovic back on the bench since going into hospital for leukaemia treatment six weeks ago. The Lagunari were rock bottom after 10 consecutive defeats, missing Sergio Romero, Marco Modolo and suspended Ethan Ampadu, knowing anything less than a victory would mathematically doom them.

It took just four minutes to break the deadlock with pure Route One football, as goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa booted a long ball over the top, Thomas Henry let it bounce and chipped it over on-rushing Lukasz Skorupski.

Bologna’s defending was all over the place again when Ridgeciano Haps was brought down by Skorupski for a penalty. Sofian Kiyine’s spot-kick was parried by the goalkeeper, but he was able to score on the rebound to double Venezia’s lead.

Lorenzo De Silvestri’s header was off target from a corner, while Skorupski got down to fingertip a Kiyine low drive round the post and had his gloves stung by Henry after sluggish Adama Soumaoro defending.

Musa Barrow also tested Maenpaa, but Mihajlovic hauled Arthur Theate off just 33 minutes in for a tactical switch and it proved a smart change, because Riccardo Orsolini was allowed a free header at the back post on Barrow’s cross.

Marko Arnautovic forced a couple of saves after the restart, then got the equaliser when De Silvestri steered a looping header back from the by-line for the veteran Austria international to tap in on the volley from close range.

It was all Bologna in the second half and the comeback was completed with a sensational bit of skill from Jerdy Schouten, who gathered from a corner on the edge of the area and aimed a remote-controlled right-foot curler into the far top corner.

Gary Medel clipped Mattia Aramu on the ankle for another penalty. It was certainly soft, but also late and caught him, so the VAR on-field review did not change the referee’s mind. Aramu stepped up and send Skorupski the wrong way for 3-3.

It still wasn’t over, as in stoppages Dennis Johnsen curled a fantastic finish into the far top corner after Henry’s initial attempt was parried for 4-3.

They still might go down this weekend if Salernitana beat Cagliari, but at least it’s with their first win since February, ending a run of 10 consecutive defeats.

Venezia 4-3 Bologna

Henry 4 (V), Kiyine 19 (V), Orsolini 45 (B), Arnautovic 55 (B), Schouten 68 (B), Aramu pen 77 (V), Johnsen 93 (V)

Saved penalty: Kiyine 19 (V)

Serie A Liveblog: Verona-Milan, Salernitana-Cagliari, Venezia-Bologna

May 8, 2022

Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games, Spezia–Atalanta, Venezia–Bologna, Salernitana–Cagliari and potential Scudetto decider Verona–Milan.

Week 36 already provided plenty of drama on Friday and Saturday, with Inter and Genoa completing comeback wins over Empoli and Juventus respectively, while Sampdoria lost 2-0 away to Lazio.

We begin today at 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT), as Spezia are not guaranteed Serie A safety yet and host Europe-chasing Atalanta, a game between two sides who are furious with recent refereeing decisions.

At 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), expect emotional scenes as Sinisa Mihajlovic returns to the Bologna bench after leukaemia treatment when they visit rock bottom Venezia.

Relegation could well be decided at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT) at the Stadio Arechi when Salernitana and Cagliari go head-to-head.

Milan must beat Hellas Verona at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) to retain their two-point lead at the top of the Serie A table, but already lost the Scudetto twice in ‘Fatal Verona’ and face the ghosts of history.

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Serie A | Genoa 2-1 Juventus: Criscito revives the Grifone

May 6, 2022

Paulo Dybala scored a wonderful goal, but Genoa completed a dramatic comeback with Domenico Criscito this time in tears of joy for a last-gasp penalty.

Watch the highlights here.

Serie A Highlights: Genoa 2-1 Juventus

The Bianconeri were already guaranteed a top four finish, but didn’t rotate the squad too much ahead of Wednesday’s Coppa Italia Final against Inter. Juan Cuadrado and Mattia De Sciglio returned, with Danilo and Luca Pellegrini joining long-term absentees Manuel Locatelli, Weston McKennie, Federico Chiesa and Kaio Jorge, so 18-year-old Fabio Miretti started his second game in midfield. Genoa were desperate after the defeat to Sampdoria left them four points from safety, with Nikola Maksimovic and Zinho Vanheusden not fully fit.

Moise Kean wasted a huge chance in the opening minutes, nodding over from a Paulo Dybala cross at the back post.

Mattia Destro also turned a header over from a Pablo Galdames corner, while Salvatore Sirigu got his fingertips to a Kean pull-back for Dusan Vlahovic.

Serie A Liveblog: Inter-Empoli and Genoa-Juventus

Leonardo Bonucci charged down Filippo Melegoni’s attempt and Dybala tested Sirigu from distance, as did Manolo Portanova on Wojciech Szczesny with a scorcher.

Straight after the restart, Destro ballooned over when relatively undisturbed from eight yards, but Juventus did take their chance moments later.

Dybala gathered just outside the D and unleashed a wonderful curling finish with his weaker right foot into the far bottom corner, dipping just beyond Sirigu’s fingertips.

Szczesny had to readjust after a poor Kean back-pass and deal with a Frendrup strike, but Dybala almost had a second when curling with his left foot from a similar position to the goal, this time finding the base of the upright.

Vlahovic rode two tackles to force a save at the near post, while Kean had the ball in the net only after he was flagged offside.

Caleb Ekuban’s header whistled wide, but Genoa breathed a sigh of relief when the referee awarded a penalty on 84 minutes, only to change his mind after a VAR on-field review, seeing Albert Gudmundsson got the ball before Marley Ake.

It proved decisive, because moments later Gudmundsson equalised for Genoa. It was a divinely weighted through ball from Nadiem Amiri and he kept his cool for the angled drive past Szczesny.

It should’ve been 2-1 for Genoa a minute after that, Juve giving it away cheaply only for Amiri to fire straight at Szczesny from nine yards. Amiri also saw a shot charged down by Denis Zakaria.

Kean was limping badly when Alvaro Morata went on the counter and rolled it across for the young striker to incredibly fire wide of an open goal.

That again proved decisive, because moments later Mattia De Sciglio brought down Kelvin Yeboah for a penalty. Criscito had been left in floods of tears just days earlier when his last-gasp penalty was saved against Sampdoria. However, the veteran immediately stepped up and converted with the last kick of the game into the bottom corner, this time left with tears of joy as his teammates surrounded him.

Genoa are still alive and Criscito went from zero to hero.

Genoa 2-1 Juventus

Dybala 48 (J), Gudmundsson 87 (G), Criscito pen 96 (G)

Salernitana vs. Cagliari Predictions & Betting Tips

May 6, 2022

It is a battle for Serie A survival in these Salernitana vs. Cagliari predictions for Sunday afternoon’s match. The two teams sit 17th and 18th in the table respectively ahead of kick-off with just three games remaining of the campaign.

Salernitana vs. Cagliari odds

1 – A draw at full-time – 29/20

2 – 1-1 at full-time – 6/1

3 – Both teams to score – 5/6

4 – Under 3.5 goals scored – 1/3

5 – Joao Pedro to score first – 11/2

Salernitana welcome Cagliari to the Stadio Arechi on Sunday afternoon hoping to complete a remarkable late escape from the relegation zone. The Granata have been in the bottom three virtually all season but a win would make 17th place their own with just two games to play, and push their opponents deeper into relegation trouble in the process.

The hosts undoubtedly have recent form on their side as Cagliari have won lost seven out of their last eight games, with Walter Mazzarri paying for that run with his job this week, replaced by youth team coach Alessandro Agostini. Unfortunately for Salernitana, they face a disadvantage this weekend as they are played Venezia on Thursday night, giving the manager just two days to prepare for the visit of the Isolani, but the momentum gained from a crucial win might account for it.

Furthermore, having lost a number of key players to injury this season, the Rossoblu are able to welcome back the likes of Nahitan Nandez and Leonardo Pavoletti, both of whom have the potential to be match-winners for the visitors.

Given these factors, we believe the match is likely to be well balanced, with a bet on the match ending in a draw likely. The encounter earlier this season finished 1-1 so punters looking for higher odds could reasonably expect a similar score at the Stadio Arechi.

As with most evenly matched games a bet on both teams to score is likely to pay off, however, with so much on the line neither side will be keen to take undue risks on Sunday. Those looking to place a bet could combine BTTS with a punt on under 3.5 goals scored in the game, as has been the case in Salernitana’s last seven matches, and Cagliari’s past four.

If anyone is to get on the scoresheet, the safest bet would surely be on Cagliari’s Joao Pedro. The forward has at times seemed to drag his side to safety on his own over the past three seasons, and once again has broken double figures for goals scored this campaign. Pedro bagged against Verona last weekend and is our tip to do so again against Salernitana.

How to stream Salernitana vs. Cagliari

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Salernitana vs. Cagliari last five matches

Salernitana last five matches

Cagliari last five matches

Salernitana top goalscorers

Cagliari top goalscorers

Salernitana vs. Cagliari line-ups

Salernitana (4-2-3-1): Sepe; Gyomber, Fazio, Dragusin; Mazzocchi, Jose, Bohinen, Coulibaly, Ruggeri; Bonazzoli, Djuric

Cagliari (3-4-2-1): Cragno; Goldaniga, Lovato, Altare; Bellanova, Deiola, Nandez, Grassi, Dalbert; Pavoletti, Pedro

Salernitana team news

Franck Ribery, Joel Obi and Mamadou Coulibaly are all out injured for Davide Nicola who faces the difficult task of taking to the field twice within four days. The manager may look to make a number of changes to his starting line up on Friday with Federico Bonazzoli, Pasquale Mazzocchi and Matteo Ruggeri all pushing for starts.

Cagliari team news

Cagliari were able to welcome back Nahitan Nandez and Leonardo Pavoletti against Verona with both likely to start on Sunday afternoon. Kevin Strootman also returned to the bench marking a clean bill of fitness for new coach Agostini, with Andrea Carboni hoping to be handed a start after a disappointing performance from Edoardo Goldaniga last weekend.