Football Previews
Chievo have hit form at just the right time and go into Wednesday’s match at home to relegation-threatened Cagliari knowing that victory would ensure them of Serie A football next season. The Verona outfit have lost just one of their last eight league games and held second-place Lazio to a 1-1 draw in Rome on Sunday to climb to 14th in the standings with six matches remaining. Chievo have 37 points in the bank after 32 games played and are 13 points clear of the relegation zone. “To have taken a point at Lazio is a result that gives us a boost in confidence,” Chievo coach Rolando Maran said to Gazzetta dello Sport. “Everyone thought we would lose in Rome but my players gave all that they had to earn a valuable point. “This is a very important stage of the campaign and every point matters. “Now we must focus on our game against Cagliari looking for a win that will see us achieve our aim.” Chievo have won just three of their 16 games at the Marc’ Antonio Bentegodi stadium this season and will be at full strength with midfielder Valter Birsa and striker Riccardo Meggiorini both returning from suspension. Cagliari travel to Verona brimming with confidence after winning at the first attempt with new coach Gianluca Festa. The Sardinian outfit had lost seven of their previous eight league games before Sunday’s 3-1 triumph at Fiorentina. The outcome was Cagliari’s first win since January 24 and their fifth overall. Cagliari are seven points from safety but have six games remaining and their coach firmly believes his team can avoid the drop. “I am very proud of my players,” Festa said. “They have not lost confidence. “We are still very much alive. We are in a situation where we have to give our all in every game. “We are now fully focused on the game at Chievo and I’ve told my players to isolate themselves from everything else.” Cagliari have the worst defensive line in the competition with 62 goals conceded and will be without defender Danilo Avelar, who serves a one-match ban. The visitors are bolstered by the return of defender Luca Rossettini and striker Samuele Longo from suspension.
#
Team
MP
W
D
L
F
A
G
P
1
SSC Napoli
12
8
2
2
19
9
+10
26
2
Atalanta
12
8
1
3
31
15
+16
25
3
Fiorentina
12
7
4
1
25
10
+15
25
4
Inter Milan
12
7
4
1
26
14
+12
25
5
Lazio
12
8
1
3
25
14
+11
25
6
Juventus
12
6
6
0
21
7
+14
24
7
AC Milan
11
5
3
3
20
14
+6
18
8
Bologna
11
4
6
1
15
13
+2
18
9
Udinese
12
5
1
6
15
18
-3
16
10
Empoli
12
3
6
3
9
10
-1
15
11
Torino
12
4
2
6
15
18
-3
14
12
Roma
12
3
4
5
14
17
-3
13
13
Parma
12
2
6
4
16
18
-2
12
14
Verona
12
4
0
8
17
27
-10
12
15
Como
12
2
4
6
13
23
-10
10
16
Cagliari
12
2
4
6
12
22
-10
10
17
Genoa
12
2
4
6
9
22
-13
10
18
Lecce
12
2
3
7
5
21
-16
9
19
Monza
12
1
5
6
10
15
-5
8
20
Venezia
12
2
2
8
11
21
-10
8
Please Gamble Responsibly