Parma vs Atalanta predictions

Parma vs Atalanta predictions

Atalanta will be looking to make further strides in their push for second when they visit Parma on Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have been Serie A’s most entertaining team this season and go into the penultimate round four goals away from reaching a century.

Parma, meanwhile, sit in mid-table and though Roberto D’Aversa’s charges have nothing realistically left to play for, they can boost their confidence with a big scalp.

Parma & Atalanta’s previous line-ups:

  • Parma (vs Brescia): Sepe; Laurini, Iacoponi, Dermaku, Darmian; Kurtic, Barillà, Kucka; Kulusevski, Gervinho, Caprari.
  • Atalanta (vs AC Milan): Gollini; Tolói, Caldara, Djimsiti; Hateboer, Freuler, De Roon, Gosens; Malinovskyi, Papu Gómez; Zapata.

Hernani, Matteo Scozzarella and Andreas Cornelius are missing for Parma while Gaston Brugman, back from suspension, is a doubt with a muscular injury. Atalanta, meanwhile, are sweating over the fitness of Josip Ilicic.

Players to watch:

  • Parma: After enduring a seven-match winless run, which included six defeats, Parma are finishing 2019/20 on a strong note. They go into the penultimate round having won their last two matches and playing a pivotal role is Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski, who scored in the wins over Napoli and Brescia. That brought his tally for this campaign to nine goals, another here will not only see him reach double figures but score in three consecutive games, something he’s not managed this season.
  • Atalanta: Although they are unbeaten in their last nine matches on the road Atalanta have now failed to win three away games on the bounce. That being said, two of those draws came at Juventus and AC Milan, plus they are regularly finding the net. One person, in particular, who is having joy in front of goal is Duván Zapata who scored in each of those aforementioned games, he’s currently on 18 for the season.With two games remaining it will be a tall order for him to match last season’s tally of 23 but rest assured, he and his Atalanta teammates will try their level best.

Scoreline prediction: Parma 1-3 Atalanta

Serie A 2019/20 recent form:

  • Parma: DLLWW
  • Atalanta: DWDWD

Cardiff City vs Fulham predictions

Cardiff City vs Fulham predictions

Fulham’s quest to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking sees them travel to Cardiff City on Monday at 7:45pm.

The Cottagers finished fourth in the Championship, two points behind second-placed West Browmich Albion having drawn with Wigan Athletic on the final day of the regular season. Scott Parker’s side went into the match knowing their chances of automatic promotion were slim, needing both West Brom and Brentford to lose while they won, but it may still feel like a missed opportunity.

Some eight points separated Fulham from hosts Cardiff City in the table, with the Bluebirds leapfrogging Nottingham Forest on the final day thanks to their routine win at home to Hull City. For Cardiff, it’s also a chance to return to the Premier League after one season, but could also line up an all-Welsh Championship play-off final.

Which team will take the advantage into the second leg?

Cardiff & Fulham’s previous line-ups:

  • Cardiff (vs Hull City): Smithies; Bacuna, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett; Ralls, Pack; Mendez-Laing, Tomlin, Hoilett; Glatzel.
  • Fulham (vs Wigan Athletic): Rodak; Odoi, Hector, Ream, Bryan; Cairney, Arter; Knockaert, Onomah, Kebano; Mitrovic.

Neither side has any fresh absentees but Fulham will be able to call upon Harrison Reed after suspension.

Player to watch:

The past three seasons have been strange for Aleksandar Mitrovic, as he has both thrived and struggled when leading the line for Fulham. In 2017/18, while on loan from Newcastle United for the second half of the campaign, the Serbian scored 12 goals in 17 games to help Fulham out of the Championship and into the Premier League.

He followed that up with a disappointing season in the top flight, however, managing just 11 goals in 37 games as Fulham went immediately back down to the second tier. But, once again, Mitrovic found his feet in the Championship and finished 2019/20 as the division’s top scorer, with 26 goals in 40 appearances, helping to secure Fulham’s play-off spot.

But the pressure will be on Mitrovic to carry that scoring into the play-offs to help overcome a Cardiff side against which he has scored two goals in two games this season. Since the Championship returned from its break in June, Mitrovic hasn’t been in great form, scoring three goals in six appearances. The Serbian also missed three games through suspension after being retrospectively punished for an elbow on Ben White in Fulham’s 3-0 defeat away to Leeds at the end of June.

Should Mitrovic find the goals to get Fulham past Cardiff over the two legs and secure a final win, the Serbian will have the chance to prove he is capable of playing in the Premier League — something the 25-year-old will undoubtedly be keen to do.

Scoreline prediction: Cardiff 0-2 Fulham

Liverpool vs Chelsea predictions

Liverpool vs Chelsea predictions

Chelsea will look to strengthen their position in the Premier League top-four when they travel to newly-crowned champions Liverpool on Wednesday at 8:15 PM.

Frank Lampard‘s men currently occupy third place, although they’re only one point clear of fifth-placed Manchester United. That said, the Blues will be full of confidence after a dominant 3-1 win over the Red Devils in the FA Cup semi-final at the weekend, while fourth-placed Leicester look doomed to drop into the Europa League places having struggled in recent weeks.

They’ll also fancy their chances against a Liverpool side who appear to have had one eye on their summer holidays since being crowned champions. Jurgen Klopp‘s men have won just three of their seven Premier League games since returning from lockdown, conceding eight goals during that time.

Liverpool & Chelsea’s previous line-ups:
Liverpool (vs Arsenal): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Chelsea (vs Man Utd): Caballero*; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Willian, Giroud, Mount.
James Milner remains doubtful for the Reds as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, while Klopp will be without Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip.

Lampard will be without midfielders Billy Gilmour and N’Golo Kante for the trip to Anfield but he will likely restore Kepa Arrizabalga to the starting line-up after benching him for the FA Cup semi-final.

Player to watch: Christian Pulisic (Chelsea)
Alongside Willian, “Captain America” has arguably been Chelsea’s standout performer since the return of English football. The United States international wasn’t required during the Blues‘ 3-1 FA Cup win over Man Utd at the weekend but has three goals and an assist in his last eight games.

The inconsistencies which plagued his early months at Chelsea seem to be falling away and Pulisic now looks set to spearhead Lampard’s attack for years to come. His battle with Liverpool‘s forward-thinking full-backs will be one of the most intriguing match-ups to keep an eye on during Wednesday’s clash.

Scoreline prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
Premier League 2019/20 recent form:
Liverpool: LWWDL
Chelsea: LWWLW