Category: Spezia

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)

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)

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.

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)

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)

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)

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.

Udinese vs. Spezia Predictions & Betting Tips

May 9, 2022

These Udinese vs. Spezia predictions see the hosts on track for their best Serie A finish in a decade. With two games remaining, the Zebrette are 12th and come up against a Spezia side in dreadful form. 

Udinese vs. Spezia odds

1 – Udinese to win – 10/13

2 – Udinese to win 1-0 – 28/5

3 – Beto to score anytime – 21/20

4 – Over 2.5 goals scored – 8/11

5 – Both teams to score – 17/10

Udinese welcome Spezia to the Dacia Arena on Saturday looking to deal the Aquilotti their fifth consecutive defeat. Thiago Motta’s side have the worst form in the league over the last six matches and another loss here could see them at risk of relegation on the final day of the Serie A season. 

Gabriele Cioffi may only be caretaker manager since taking over from Luca Gotti in December, but has lead Udinese to a respectable seven wins since. Saturday’s penultimate game of the season offers the chance to further impress the owners into handing the manager a permanent contact. 

On paper the hosts are very much favourites, and we back the Zebrette to add to their win tally this weekend. If you’re looking to place a higher odds bet on the exact score then look no further than recent meetings between the teams, the last two of which have both ended 1-0 to Udinese. 

Neither of the goals scored in these two wins for the Friulani came from a forward. However, we forecast that the strikers may have more of an impact on Saturday. Gerard Deulofeu has been excellent this season, but our tip to score anytime is Beto, who is expected to return from a lengthy absence this weekend. The Brazilian has missed Udinese’s last six matches but could make a goalscoring return at the Dacia Arena. 

Should Udinese’s front two get back to their best, fans could be in for an entertaining fixture. There have been three goals or more scored in all of Spezia’s last four games, and in three of Udinese’s last four. As a result, a bet on over 2.5 goals scored could be a winner this weekend. 

Likewise, despite their relatively decent form, Udinese have managed to secure just one clean sheet from their last 14 league matches. Although they remain favourites, this defensive vulnerability suggests that a bet on both teams to score at the Dacia Arean may well pay off. 

How to stream Udinese vs. Spezia

Place funds in your bet365 account to stream Udinese vs. Spezia live, or simply place a bet within 24 hours of kick-off. Viewers wanting to tune in from abroad can sign up to ExpressVPN and claim three months free by following the steps below: 

  • Head to expressvpn.com
  • Click ‘Get the #1 Rated VPN’
  • Choose your plan
  • Enter email address and payment details
  • Click ‘Join Now’ and download app

Udinese vs. Spezia last five matches

Udinese last five matches

Spezia last five matches

Udinese top goalscorers

Spezia top goalscorers

Udinese vs. Spezia line-ups

Udinese (3-5-2): Silvestri; Becao, Mari, Perez; Lucero, Makengo, Walace, Pereyra, Udogie; Deulofeu, Beto.

Spezia (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Amian, Erlic, Hristov, Nikolaou; Kiwior, Maggiore; Verde, Agudelo, Bastoni; Gyasi.

Udinese team news

Gabriele Cioffi could welcome back both Isaac Success and Beto for Saturday’s match in a significant boost to the front line. Nehuen Perez came off for Bram Nuytinck 60 minutes into last weekend’s draw at Sassuolo, with Udinese’s captain potentially struggling with injury here. 

Spezia team news

Spezia are without Jacopo Sala for the trip to Udine but could well see Ubrima Colley and Leo Sena return to the squad, while Ivan Provedel is expected to start in goal having served his suspension. Following Daniele Verde’s goal against Atalanta, Thiago Motta might look to push the winger further forward and return to a 4-2-3-1 formation. 

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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