Separated by just a point in the Serie A standings, Salernitana and Spezia clash at Stadio Arechi on Saturday, seeking to draw themselves further clear of the drop zone.
Despite losing three of their last four games, the hosts sit just above their Ligurian counterparts, as both clubs battle to secure mid-table comfort rather than flirting with relegation again.
Match preview
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After conceding seven goals in successive defeats to Lecce and Sassuolo, last week Salernitana followed up just their second Serie A win of the season with a tough trip to San Siro.
Having beaten Verona 2-1 via a stoppage-time winner at Stadio Arechi, the Granata took on an Inter side fresh from holding Barcelona to an enthralling draw and were outplayed by their hosts, who led from the 14th minute and ultimately won 2-0.
Davide Nicola's 12th-placed side have therefore lost as many times in their last four Serie A fixtures as in the previous 15, so will be keen to stop such a trend developing into something more prolonged.
Though they unsurprisingly lost in Milan, Salernitana have still tallied three more points than at this stage last term, when their long-awaited comeback campaign seemed destined to end in a swift return to Serie B.
Thanks to the inspiration provided by Nicola and some mid-season signings, they just about stayed afloat, and an initial defensive improvement then had the Campanian club on track for a much more comfortable 2022-23 season.
If they are not to be derailed entirely, then, they must take advantage of home games against sides of similar stature. With that in mind, producing a first league win over Spezia since 2018 would prove timely before travelling to Lazio next weekend.
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Following last season's events, Spezia are unbeaten in their two Serie A meetings with Salernitana to date: a 2-1 win at Stadio Alberto Picco and February's 2-2 draw at the Arechi.
The Ligurians sit 15th in the table this term, due to a dire run of results on the road: they have lost each of their last five away matches without scoring a single goal.
Also conceding 12 times in the process, they now aim to avoid becoming the first team to lose their first six since the 1930s - but recent form suggests they may struggle to do so.
Since opening the season with consecutive wins in the Coppa Italia and on Serie A's opening day, Spezia have only tasted success twice in 10 subsequent outings, following a 2-2 draw with Cremonese last week and Wednesday's cup win over Brescia - both of which took place at the Picco.
If the Aquilotti are to assure a fourth straight year in the top flight without becoming embroiled in a scrap for survival, then they must start picking up points outside of La Spezia - particularly as meetings with Milan and in-form Udinese feature in their upcoming fixture list.
Team News
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Though Salernitana will be without midfield regular Giulio Maggiore again on Saturday, coach Davide Nicola has reported no further injuries and also has Ivan Radovanovic back from a ban.
Tonny Vilhena could continue in the engine room, flanked by Antonio Candreva on the right and Pasquale Mazzocchi as a left-sided wing-back: no defender has completed more dribbles (17) than the hosts' ever-present skipper in Serie A this season.
Up front, Boulaye Dia and Krzysztof Piatek - who both scored in the Granata's last home game, against Verona - join forces once again. Veteran winger Franck Ribery will not be involved, as the 39-year-old announced his retirement with immediate effect earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Spezia should switch back to a more familiar lineup after Luca Gotti made several changes in midweek, so seeking to build on his fourth Serie A goal of the season last time out, M'Bala Nzola is set to start up front.
Captain Emmanuel Gyasi will also return, so David Strelec could drop to the bench despite scoring twice in the 3-1 cup win over Brescia.
Simone Bastoni, though, remains sidelined by a muscular problem, while Arkadiusz Reca's participation is in doubt due to a similar issue. On-loan midfielder Viktor Kovalenko has been ruled out until next year by a thigh injury.
Salernitana possible starting lineup:
Sepe; Bronn, Daniliuc, Lovato; Candreva, Coulibaly, Radovanovic, Vilhena, Mazzocchi; Dia, Piatek
Spezia possible starting lineup:
Dragowski; Ampadu, Kiwior, Nikolaou; Holm, Ekdal, Bourabia, Agudelo, Ferrer; Gyasi, Nzola
We say: Salernitana 2-1 Spezia
Both sides will sense an opportunity to take maximum points, but as Spezia tend to travel so badly, Salernitana's greater goal threat can pay dividends. They have found the net at a rate of nearly two goals per game at the Arechi, so should be able to continue in that vein this weekend.
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Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
