The 2022-23 season of Serie A is very similar to the era of the "mini World Cup", similar not to the heyday of the world's first league that year, but to the fierce competition. Back then, there were "seven sisters", and now there are "seven heroes of the Warring States".
For more than ten years, I have been accustomed to seeing Serie A alone and occasionally having one or two competitors, none other than AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus have successively dominated. Today, the three northern powers are still strong, but the strongest is Napoli, Rome, Lazio Rome and the "true blue and black" Atlanta, all of which are competitive enough, just like the pattern of the "Warring States Seven Heroes".
Not surprisingly, this season's Serie A title will go to Napoli, and the remaining six will only be able to compete for Champions League or Europa League qualification, and the only one to compete for the title may be the Coppa Italia. Reigning Serie A champions AC Milan and leaders Napoli have both been out of the Coppa Italia, which is also good news for the powers that are not yet out.
In the early morning of January 20, Beijing time, the last two games of the Coppa Italia 1/8 finals: Lazio vs Bologna, Juventus vs Monza. Lazio and Juventus, two strong, facing weak teams at home, can they pass without suspense?
Lazio vs Bologna
Match time: January 20, 1:00 a.m. Beijing time
Lazio, with 34 points from 18 wins, 10 wins, 4 draws, 4 defeats, are fifth in the Serie A table, three points behind fourth-placed Inter Milan, third-placed Juventus, and the same points as sixth-placed Atalanta and seventh-place Roma. It can be said that in addition to the strong leader Napoli, AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan, Lazio, Atalanta, Roma six, after a round of league over, the ranking will change greatly.
Bologna has 22 points from 18 wins, 6 wins, 4 draws, 8 defeats, and is in eleventh place in the Serie A table, which is also a reflection of its normal strength.
Lazio have won 5, drawn 1 and lost 4 in their last 10 games in all competitions, while Serie A are unbeaten in the last 2 rounds with 1 win and 1 draw.
Bologna have won 7 and lost 3 in their last 10 games in all competitions, ending a two-game losing streak after beating Udinese 2-1 away in the 18th round of Serie A.
In the last 10 meetings between the two sides, Lazio have the upper hand with 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats.
Lazio's top scorer is exempt from the game due to injury, and the attacking firepower will be affected to some extent, but there is no shortage of manpower in the attacking end. Stronger than the opponent, the recent form is also good, the mutual record is also superior, this game can be seen as the home team wins.
Juventus vs Monza
Match time: January 20, 4:00 a.m. Beijing time
Juve have won the most Coppa Italia with 14 titles, most recently in 2020-21.
This season is the first time Monza has played in Serie A in its history, and in the Coppa Italia, it is also unknown.
Before Serie A's 18th round away to leaders Napoli, Juventus Serie A has won eight consecutive victories, and it is not impossible to win the title if it wins again, but in the end it was defeated 1:5, Juventus, like AC Milan, may be limited to qualifying for the Champions League.
In his debut season in Serie A, Monza began to improve after a sluggish start to the season with five consecutive defeats, and after drawing 1-1 away at Lecce in the sixth round to get the first point in the top league in the club's history, Monza began to improve his record after a 1-1 draw away at Lecce in the sixth round, and was exposed in the seventh round, beating Juventus 1-0 at home. Now with 21 points from 18 rounds, it is thirteenth in the Serie A standings, and there is a lot of hope for relegation.
Juve have won 7, drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 10 games in all competitions.
Monza have won 5, drawn 2 and lost 3 in their last 10 games in all competitions, and they are unbeaten in the last 4 Serie A games with 2 wins and 2 draws, and the draw is against Fiorentina and Inter.
The two sides have met in the last two meetings, 1 win and 1 loss, but Juve won Monza in a friendly match and lost an official match.
The 1-5 away defeat to Napoli, the loss is normal, but the loss is a little worse, it does not mean that there is anything wrong with Juve, this home defeat Serie A promotion horse to advance, there should be no suspense.