Italian Serie A: Chievo Verona V Genoa

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Chievo Verona V Genoa

Kick-off: Sunday, 23rd January – 14:00 (GMT)

There isn’t a massive difference between these two sides heading into Sunday’s showdown, and we reckon backing neither to come out on top in Verona could pay dividends.

When two teams are so difficult to separate on paper, the home side usually get the tentative vote of confidence. Chievo just might be the exception to the rule however, the Gialloblu having failed to win any of their last three at home in the league and still find themselves win-less in 2011.

Draws have been Mussi Volanti’s main source of points income in recent weeks, Stefano Pioli’s side drawing three of their last four matches in Serie A, all of which were very impressive as well. First came a score-draw with Juventus on home soil before another home stalemate with the usually free-scoring Palermo. In fact, both Juventus and Palermo have found locating the back of the net a doddle this season, so for Chievo to restrict the pair of them to next to nothing in front of goal is an outstanding achievement and testament to what is a very tidy defence they have.

As the results above indicate, Chievo do posses a strong defence, one capable of keeping the team in matches. In total, Pioli’s men have shipped 22 goals while in league action this season, though just 8 of those concession were at home. Their Achilles heel has actually been their blunt attacking-line, having plundered a grand total of 20 altogether, just nine of those coming inside their 39,000 capacity Marc’Antonio stadium in Chievo. In fact, Pioli’s men have failed to score in half of their home fixtures this season and so may understandably struggle to find a way past a Genoa rearguard which has conceded just six goals on their travels all season.

Like Chievo, Genoa have their rock-solid defensive set-up to thank for at least some flow of points, else their satisfactory position in the middle of the table would be a far more precarious one.

In fairness, their defensive record away from home is nothing short of outstanding. As you’ve probably guessed, it’s the strongest away defence in Serie A, one which has kept clean sheets against Udinese, Cagliari, Brescia and Cesena and has conceded more than one goal on just one solitary occasion, when going down 2-1 away at Roma on 16th October.

So why are Genoa sat in mid-table when they have such a tidy defence on the road? Simply really, they have a similar problem to their opponents, worse in fact, as goals really are hard to come by for the Grifone. 15 goals from 19 games is the worst offensive record in the Italian top-flight, and just seven of those have come on their travels.

To further rub salt into the wounds of the Genoa followers, the club has recently lost some of its fire-power, if you could really call it that, with Luca Toni, who was their top-scorer beforehand with a meager 3 goals, and Giuseppe Sculli having moved on in January. Though Antonio Floro Flores and Mauro Boselli have joined on loan from Udinese and Wigan Athletic respectively as the club desperately seek to change their disconcerting fortunes in front of goal. The latter, though, is still sidelined with a hamstring injury.

 

Betting Tip: Draw @ 3.10 PaddyPower

I don’t know how anyone could predict a match winner after some thorough research. Neither stand out or have any credentials of note other than two incredibly strong defences which will take some beating by two ineffective offensive units. This has stalemate written all over it, with 0-0 (8.50 Unibet) standing out like a sore thumb.

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Chievo Verona

Last 5 Matches

Serie A: Catania 1-1 Chievo
Coppa Italia: Palermo 1-0 Chievo
Serie A: Chievo 0-0 Palermo
Serie A: Udinese 2-0 Chievo
Serie A: Chievo 1-1 Juventus

Last 5 Matches at Home (Serie A ONLY)

Chievo 0-0 Palermo
Chievo 1-1 Juventus
Chievo 2-2 AS Roma
Chievo 2-1 Inter Milan
Chievo 0-0 Bari

2010/2011 Serie A Statistics

League Position:
12th
Win-Draw-Lose: 5-8-7 (Home: 3-5-2)
Goal Difference: 20-22 (Home:9-8)
Top Scorer: Sergio Pellissier (7)

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Genoa

Last 5 Matches

Serie A: Genoa 2-4 Udinese
Coppa Italia: Inter Milan 3-2 Genoa
Serie A: Cesena 0-0 Genoa
Serie A: Genoa 0-0 Lazio
Serie A: Genoa 0-1 Napoli

Last 5 Away Matches (Serie A ONLY)

Cesena 0-0 Genoa
Lecce 1-3 Genoa
Brescia 0-0 Genoa
Cagliari 0-1 Genoa
Palermo 1-0 Genoa

2010/2011 Serie A Statistics

League Position: 13th
Win-Draw-Lose: 6-5-8 (Away: 3-3-3)
Goal Difference: 15-19 (Away: 7-6)
Top Scorer: Milanetto, Destro, Ranocchia, Rossi & Mesto (2)

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