Salernitana and Frosinone meet at Stadio Arechi for their first-ever Serie A encounter on Friday night.
The sides have met numerous times in the lower league over the past few years, but this weekend opener will be a first.
Match preview
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Coming into a fixture that has not been rich in goals in recent years, Salernitana have not been fruitful in attack of late.
The last five meetings between the two sides have produced just four goals, including two 0-0 draws, and the hosts have drawn blanks in their last two Serie A games.
Everything good about the side from Salerno has come through Antonio Candreva this season, as he scored the only goal in their Coppa Italia win over Ternana, as well as two wonder goals against Roma on the opening day.
It was his assist for Boulaye Dia which earned them a 1-1 draw over Udinese in their only other result this season too.
Defeats without scoring against Lecce and Torino have followed though, and they have coincided with the absence of Dia through injury.
A potentially damaging 3-0 loss to Torino ended a nine-game unbeaten streak here at home - a run which helped secure their survival last season.
Competing in a third-straight top-flight campaign is near-miraculous for Salernitana, but it could be another struggle, similar to the one they faced during the 2021-22 season.
Signing Dia permanently from Villarreal and then keeping him amid Premier League interest could be crucial in their effort to stay at the top table of Italian football, as his 16 goals last season played a huge factor.
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Another of the more recent additions to Serie A, Frosinone have made a brilliant start and find themselves up in the European places.
An opening day defeat to Napoli remains their only blemish, as the newly-promoted side have taken seven points from four games.
That forgivable defeat remains Frosinone's only loss in their last 13 competitive matches.
Two excellent home wins against Atalanta and Sassuolo saw Eusebio Di Francesco's side score six goals, while they also held Udinese to a draw.
Away form played a huge role in their title win, and it has continued into the new campaign, as Frosinone are still yet to lose on the road in 2023.
After having the most prolific attack and the strictest defence in Serie B, Frosinone look like they could bring that to Serie A, based on their start.
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Team News
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Salernitana will be without defender Flavius Daniliuc after he underwent surgery recently, while Lassana Coulibaly is also absent with a muscle problem.
Replacing Dia will provide Paulo Sousa with a huge problem given the importance of the Senegalese forward.
Erik Botheim has been filling in, but the Norwegian has only one goal in 32 Serie A appearances.
Frosinone will be without Abdou Harroui and Sergio Kalaj for this clash, while Karlo Lulic remains on the long-term injury list.
The club signed nine players in the final week of the transfer window, many of whom were youthful incomings on loan.
Reinier from Real Madrid, Arijon Ibrahimovic from Bayern Munich and Matias Soule and Kaio Jorge both from Juventus are the most notable newcomers.
Mehdi Bourabia and Pol Lirola bring more experience, and the latter scored as a late substitute against Sassuolo last week.
Salernitana possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Lovato, Gyomber, Pirola; Mazzocchi, Bohinen, Legowski, Bradaric; Candreva, Botheim, Jovane Cabral
Frosinone possible starting lineup:
Turati; Lirola, Monterisi, Romagnoli, Marchizza; Mazzitelli, Barrenechea, Bourabia; Soule, Cheddira, Reinier
We say: Salernitana 0-1 Frosinone
Goals have not been commonplace in recent meetings between these sides, and another cagey encounter could be on the cards.
Without Dia, Salernitana have struggled heavily in front of goal though, and an in-form Frosinone may just edge this close-looking matchup.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Andrew Delaney
