Sassuolo vs. Hellas Verona (Saturday, 2.00pm)
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Defensive deficiencies have left Sassuolo with just one point from their past three matches ahead of their clash with Hellas Verona at the Mapei Stadium this Saturday afternoon.
Increasingly susceptible to the counter-attack, the Neroverdi will have their hands full with Ivan Juric's well-honed side, who - despite losing to Milan last time out - had previously put together a run of eight points from four games in Serie A.
We say: Sassuolo 1-1 Hellas Verona
Two closely-matched sides - separated by only one place and two points in the standings - are poised to play out a low-scoring draw in Emilia.
Given Sassuolo's inability to keep a clean sheet and Verona's defensive resilience, there is a fair chance that the hosts will again be punished for failing to keep the back door shut, as they press forward persistently in adherence with the De Zerbi master plan.
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Benevento vs. Fiorentina (Saturday, 5.00pm)
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After a terrible start to 2021, Benevento will seek to earn a first win in 11 games when they host fellow strugglers Fiorentina at Stadio Ciro Vigorito on Saturday.
As the sides are currently separated only by goal difference, following draws for both last weekend, the pressure is rising to produce a positive result and ease mounting relegation fears.
We say: Benevento 1-0 Fiorentina
There is every chance that Benevento can break their awful run of results with a rare home win against Fiorentina, which would also lift them above their more illustrious opponents in the Serie A standings.
With both sides' strikers often starved of opportunities, a creative deficit and the difficult situation this struggling pair find themselves in may not be conducive to a free-flowing affair, so just one goal could be decisive at the Vigorito.
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Genoa vs. Udinese (Saturday, 7.45pm)
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Having seen their ascent of the Serie A standings halted by a recent winless run, Genoa host fellow mid-table outfit Udinese on Saturday evening, aiming to pull further clear of the drop zone with a win.
Their Friulian visitors, however, will feel justifiably confident of adding another success to a number of positive results in recent weeks.
We say: Genoa 1-1 Udinese
Goals are likely to be few and far between in this meeting of two well-drilled teams who owe their mid-season improvements primarily to excellent endeavour by their respective rearguards.
Genoa's trend of drawing rather than converting opportunities for maximum points could continue, as they set up similarly to Udinese and both are short of strikers in form.
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Barney Corkhill
