Genoa vs. Spezia (Saturday, 2.00pm)
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Locked together on 33 points in the lower reaches of the Serie A standings, Ligurian rivals Genoa and Spezia meet on Saturday, with both sides in search of a win to seal survival.
After hanging on for a famous draw versus champions-elect Inter in midweek, the visitors will face a home side who have won only once in 11 matches.
We say: Genoa 2-1 Spezia
Though they have delighted fans and neutrals alike with their refreshing approach to life in the Italian elite, Spezia's flaky defence has undermined much of their good work in the final third.
Genoa's striking options have tended to score in streaks, so perhaps Pandev or Destro can benefit from target-man Gianluca Scamacca's physical presence to strike on more than one occasion and seal just a second win in 12.
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Parma vs. Crotone (Saturday, 5.00pm)
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Both bound for Serie B next month, Parma and Serie A basement boys Crotone meet at Stadio Ennio Tardini on Saturday with only pride to play for after disastrous campaigns set to end in demotion.
Respectively 11 and 16 points adrift of safety ahead of the weekend's action, the unfortunate pair were both beaten in midweek and have won just seven games between them all season.
We say: Parma 3-2 Crotone
Short of a sporting miracle, neither side can realistically hope to achieve Serie A salvation next month, so can approach this encounter in a spirit of playing for pride.
With both defensive units clearly lacking in stability and cohesion, goals should be expected at the Tardini, with the hosts' superior playing personnel helping them to edge past their luckless Calabrian counterparts.
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Sassuolo vs. Sampdoria (Saturday, 7.45pm)
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On the back of three straight Serie A wins, eighth-placed Sassuolo welcome mid-table rivals Sampdoria to the Mapei Stadium on Saturday, with the once-distant top seven still in their sights.
Claudio Ranieri's visitors, meanwhile, have posted back-to-back victories of their own to stay within arm's length of their hosts.
We say: Sassuolo 2-2 Sampdoria
Despite their commitment to a front-foot approach - or perhaps because of it - Sassuolo have won just five of their 15 home fixtures this term, so they may once more dominate the ball but fail to keep the back door shut.
Samp have not exactly excelled on the road, with goals at a premium, but Claudio Ranieri has various attacking options fit and available this time out, so they can steal back to base with a point.
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Barney Corkhill
