Italian Serie A
2012-05-13 - Chievo vs Lecce
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Match Preview :
Lecce goes into this final match knowing they must win at all costs against Chievo, but that too is not enough to guarantee their survival in Serie A as they must wait for the results of other matches.
Lecce’s loss to Fiorentina last Saturday has left them in the final relegation spot, whereby they are three points away from Genoa. Coach Serse Cosmi stated after the game that his side will ‘probably get relegated’.
Lecce fans gave the players and staff warm send-off after the game despite relegation not yet certain. Lecce can technically still escape relegation due to Genoa's loss to Udinese last weekend. They must now hope Genoa suffers a defeat to Palermo and they need to win this match against Chievo. That would put them and Genoa both on 39 points.
Genoa and Lecce’s last two meetings were both draws, 0-0 and 2-2, so can only be decided by total goal difference. As it is, Lecce have the advantage over their relegation rivals, as they are on -15 to Genoa’s -21 ... so it's just possible Lecce could survive.
Meanwhile, Chievo go into the final round of fixtures off the back of a surprising 4-4 draw against Palermo. They have had trouble scoring goals prior to their trip to Sicily, and it looked no different when they went behind in that match but somehow they managed to get the draw.
As it is Chievo are mathematically safe and sit comfortably in mid-table. They are no longer able to play in Europe as they are fourteen points behind Napoli who occupy the final Europa League spot.
Chievo will only be playing for their pride when they take on Lecce in this match. Boukary Drame and Cyril Thereau’s will undergo late fitness tests to see it they can start this match.
Lecce’s Colombian duo Luis Muriel and Juan Cuadrado will be back after serving suspensions. However, Gennaro Delvecchio and Leonardo Migliónico will miss out due to suspension.
Possible lineups
Chievo : Puggioni; Sardo, Cesar, Acerbi, Jokic; Luciano, Rigoni, Bradley; Cruzado; Pellissier, Paloschi
Lecce : Benassi; Tomovic, Carrozzieri, Esposito; Cuadrado, Blasi, Giacomazzi, Bertolacci, Brivio; Di Michele, Muriel
Predictions :
Take Lecce and accept the 1/4 ball here as Chievo has nothing left to play for in this match.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
Chievo 1-2 Lecce
BEST BETTING TIP :
Go for Lecce to win here.
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take Lecce and accept the +1/4 ball.
