Cristiano Ronaldo aims to end goal drought against surprise packageSassuolo

WINDHOEK, SEPT. 13 – The 2018/19 Serie A returns for round four from this Saturday and features a top-of-the-table battle between Juventus and surprise early-season challengers Sassuolo.

The Juve-Sassuolo clash takes place on Sunday afternoon at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. The Old Lady have racked up three successive wins at the start of the season, but manager Max Allegri still has some concerns to address, the most notable of which is the lack of goals from Cristiano Ronaldo – the Portuguese superstar has played 270 minutes of Serie A football and has yet to find the back of the net.

Sassuolo come into the game placed second on the log and were certainly free-scoring in their last outing, as they racked up a 5-3 triumph over Geno prior to the international break. The Modena club is powered by African stars, particularly Ghanaian attacker Kevin-Prince Boateng, who has netted two goals already this season.

Their other key men from the continent are Ivorian Jeremie Boga, Senegalese attacker Khouma Babacar and Boateng’s compatriot Alfred Duncan, while even French midfielder Mehdi Bourabia is of Moroccan descent.

The round gets underway on Saturday afternoon with a meeting of Kwadwo Asamoah and Keita Balde’s Internazionale and Gervinho’s Parma at the San Siro, before Kalidou Koulibaly and Napoli chase a home win against Fiorentina, and Raman Chisbah’s struggling Frosinone host Sampdoria at Stadio Benito Stirpe.

Sunday’s action begins with an early kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico as Roma look to rise from mid-table with a home game against Joel Obi’s Chievo Verona, before a Torino defence featuring Nicholas N’Koulou and Ola Aina looks to keep a clean sheet away to Udinese.

Christian Kouame will target another goal at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris when Genoa host Orjo Okonkwo’s Bologna, Ismael Bennacer and Afriyie Acquah will feature in Empoli’s midfield for the visit of Bastos’ Lazio, and Franck Kessie’s AC Milan will chase a second win when they face Cagliari at the Sardegna Arena.

The round wraps up on Monday night when SPAL, who feature Senegal’s Alfred Gomis as their goalkeeper, play host to Gambian Musa Barrow and his Atalanta team. Don’t expect a high-scoring match, as SPAL’s four official outings so far this season have produced just four goals in total – all 1-0 results, three in their favour and one against.

Key match stats

Napoli v Fiorentina – Head-to-Head, all competitions
Matches played 36
Napoli wins 14
Fiorentina wins 12
Draws 10

Juventus v Sassuolo – Head-to-Head, all competitions
Matches played 10
Juventus wins 8
Sassuolo wins 1
Draws 1

Internazionale v Parma – Head-to-Head, all competitions
Matches played 44
Inter wins 18
Parma wins 14
Draws 12

Serie A fixtures, September 15-17
All times CAT

Saturday 15 September
15:00: Internazionale v Parma – Live on SS8
18:00: Napoli v Fiorentina – Live on SS8, Max2 & SelGO4
20:30: Frosinone v Sampdoria – Live on SS8/SS10, Max360 & SelGO2

Sunday 16 September
12:30: Roma v Chievo – Live on SS8, Max 2, SelGO4
15:00: Juventus v Sassuolo – Live on SS8, Max 2, SelGO4
18:00: Empoli v Lazio – Live on SS8/SS10, Max360 & SelGO2
20:30: Cagliari v AC Milan – Live on SS8, Max 2, SelGO4

Monday 17 September
20:30: SPAL v Atalanta – Live on SS8 & Max 2 – info@namibiadailynews.info