February 13th 2011, 2.00pm GMT
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| Ventura was not an ace at Bari |
Last week’s 2-0 defeat at Brescia was Bari’s sixth loss in a row, and it turned out to be coach Giampiero Ventura’s last chance to turn their fortunes around. Bari have since replaced Ventura with 56-year-old Bortolo Mutti, who has previously coached Napoli, Atalanta, Reggina and Messina.
Genoa make the journey south on Sunday having held league leaders AC Milan to a 1-1 draw last time out. They have hardly been setting the world alight however, with just one win from their last eight games. Their last win on the road was at Lecce in early December, and they have failed to score in their three away games since then.
Bari have won just once in their last nineteen games, but I believe that a lack of confidence has been their main problem. The appointment of a new coach always seems to boost a team’s spirits, and Mutti will need to be an instant success if he is to save Bari from relegation.
Bari have won three of their last four Serie A encounters with Genoa at the Stadio San Nicola, and I believe they are worth backing at 6/5 in the “draw no bet” market.
Prediction – Bari (draw no bet) – 3pts
Match odds: Bari 11/5
Draw 2/1
Genoa 13/10
Bari (draw no bet) 6/5
Bari: Last 5 Serie A Results
06.02.2011 – Brescia 2-0 Bari
03.02.2011 – Bari 0-3 Inter
30.01.2011 – Cagliari 2-1 Bari
23.01.2011 – Bari 0-2 Napoli
16.01.2011 – Juventus 2-1 Bari
Genoa: Last 5 Serie A Results
06.02.2011 – Genoa 1-1 AC Milan
02.02.2011 – Fiorentina 1-0 Genoa
30.01.2011 – Genoa 3-1 Parma
23.01.2011 – Chievo 0-0 Genoa
16.01.2011 – Genoa 2-4 Udinese
