Chievo vs Catania Preview - Maran eyes end to away-day blues

Posted Sunday, April 14, 2013 by PA

Catania coach Rolando Maran hopes his side can overcome their travel sickness to break the club's all-time points record in Serie A with victory at Chievo.

The Sicilians, who finished 11th last season with 48 points, are now targeting a Europa League place and a campaign haul approaching the low 60s from the seven-game run-in.

Three points from Verona would break the first barrier but Catania have struggled on their travels this term, winning only three times on the road.

Maran told La Repubblica: "To forget what we've achieved up to now would be a sin, a true fan would never do that.

"We are one step away from beating our record points total in Serie A and we are giving our all in every single game.

"We must try and continue strongly, improving our position in the league and, while the possibility to fight for something greater remains, we will do what we can against the bigger teams.

"It's going to be a tough period but we have to fight hard to achieve our objective."

Fabio Sciacca, Sergio Almiron, Pietro Terracciano and Adrian Ricchiuti are unavailable through injury while Bojan Jokic is banned for Chievo, who are also without injured defender Nikos Spyropoulos.

Gialloblu boss Eugenio Corini is keeping one eye on the relegation places after overseeing back-to-back defeats.

Chievo are eight points clear of the bottom three and Corini is reasonably optimistic his players have the resolve to swerve a sketchy end to the season.

He said: "Our approach to matches and the confidence we have shown without ever losing heart should be enough to keep us up.

"We will keep that in mind against Catania. We have to look to the future and realise that we are working towards something better."