On Sunday, Cesena travel to the Stadio Bentegodi to face Chievo with both teams in the Serie A relegation zone, the former being in 18th place while the Flying Donkeys sit at the foot of the table.
Essentially, this match could very well determine the worse team in Serie A.
Chievo are currently dead last in the table, with a single win to their name thanks to a 1–0 victory over Napoli early in the season. With one draw and four losses, the Flying Donkeys relieved Eugenio Corini of his coaching duties in mid-October and it is clear that his replacement, Rolando Maran, has his work cut out for him. Under Maran, Chievo have lost two of their three matches, with a 0-0 draw against Sassuolo last weekend, their only solace.
However, Cesena aren’t much better. The newly promoted club currently holds the record for the longest winless streak of the season, a record nine winless matches in 10 games played. Though, the Seahorses managed a 1–1 draw against Hellas Verona – the other team from Verona – in their last match.
In other words, on paper this is shaping up to be the worst game of the season. A Derby del Fondo, if you will. But don’t like that deter from watching. As both teams are equally matched and have equally as much to lose, it’s bound to be a good game.
Chievo and Cesena have only met each other on 10 occasions, with the Flying Donkeys holding a much better record over their opponents, winning four compared to the Cavallucci Marini’s solitary 1-0 win in Serie A three years ago.
The away side’s goalkeeper Nicola Leali will serve the last match of a three game ban after being sent off in October for insulting the fourth official during Cesena’s loss against Inter. Additionally, Riccardo Cazzola, Andrea Tabanelli, Nico Pulzetti, Guido Marilungo, and lead goal scorer Alejandro Rodriguez are all out due to injury.
Chievo on the other hand, have no suspensions but a handful of injuries; Mariano Izco, Ruben Botta, and Ezequiel Schelotto are expected to sit out the match.
Expected Starting XIs
Chievo: Bardi; Biraghi, Cesar, Dainelli, Frey; Hetemaj, Radovanovic, Cofie; Birsa; Lopez, Paloschi
Cesena: Agliardi; Volta, Lucchini, Capelli; Renzetti, Cascione, De Feudis, Carbonero, Giorgi; Defrel; Alemeida
