OUR man in Rome Marco Di Cosmo (@Scioltz) picked a huge six winners from seven on last week’s Serie A coupon. Listen up!
Udinese v AC Milan | Saturday 17.00
Udinese have a poor record at home this season, and their style of play is clearly lacking quality. On Saturday they host AC Milan and both teams have no significant targets if you look at the table; that’s despite Milan’s unrealistic claims to finish as high as fifth!
Udinese are pretty much safe having a 12-point cushion ahead of Cesena, but they won’t want to lose at home and this should lead to a tight match where the Bianconeri will try to get at least a point.
This Milan side are terrible travellers, winning just three games on the road. So I’m expecting that win record to remain untouched and Udinese to avoid defeat. Lets back them in the Double Chance market at 3/5 (Bet365).
Inter Milan v Roma | Saturday 19.45 | BT Sport 1
If Roma’s season has turned into a nightmare, you can say the same about Inter. The Neroazzurri are struggling in 10th despite claims all season they’d qualify for the Champions League.
A few years ago this match was a Scudetto classic, while now the two teams have significant weaknesses that can be exploited in the match.
Rudi Garcia’s visitors need a win here to challenge Lazio, who’ll have an easy game at the Stadio Olimpico, and I’m expecting them to push for the three points. But at the other end, their defence just isn’t at the same level of the previous season and they’re likely to concede.
As in the previous meeting when Rome registered a 4-2 victory, backing Both Teams To Score should be profitable once again here at 10/11 with Skybet.
Atalanta v Empoli | Sunday 11.30 | ESPN
Until last season there was a disgusting trend in Italy going into the final part of the Serie A season. I’m talking about draws being backed into odds-on quotes as Italian teams used to find a non-written agreement to share the spoils instead of battling for wins.
This season things appear to be changed. Atalanta and Empoli are almost safe with Cesena struggling all season and independently from fixed matches and all, I see the draw very likely here. Atalanta have something more in terms of players but Empoli are playing on another level and I don’t see them losing here.
That is why I like to side with them in the Double Chance market at 4/7 (Ladbrokes).
Genoa v Cesena | Sunday 14.00
OK, Genoa should win here without any real concerns. But…
I’ve always said Cesena would have been relegated at the end of the season, despite always trying to find a betting angle in their favour. That is pretty much because believe they are a Serie B side, despite putting in a few standout performances, such as the home games against Juventus and Lazio.
I’m afraid they will lose another here but instead of playing a short odds-on home win, I like to back the visitors simply to score a goal. Genoa have conceded 17 goals in 16 home matches despite keeping a clean sheet in their last two home games.
We can back Cesena to score Over 0.5 Goals at 3/4 with Betway.
Lazio v Chievo | Sunday 14.00
Despite losing at Juventus Stadium, Lazio are in tremendous form and they are challenging Roma for second spot. They have a number of absentees and this could be costly for them, but when playing a safe match against Chievo things get easier for them.
With a big number of unavailable players it is possible for Lazio to leak a goal, but I reckon their bigger quality will be enough to prevail over Chievo. With Felipe Anderson, Antonio Candreva and Miro Klose available they should not have problems scoring.
The home win and Over 2.5 Goals is 11/10 with Betfair.
Torino v Juventus | Sunday 14.00 | ESPN
Juventus’ Champions League match in Monte Carlo was more difficult than expected for the Old Lady. The home side played a tight match and Juve had to fight until right to the end just to reach the semi-finals.
Torino have had one of the best seasons of their recent history, being only recently eliminated from the Europa League and still sitting comfortably in the top-half.
However, the hosts are still looking to win a derby fixture against their bitter rivals. Remember how miserable their loss was at Juve earlier this season? A last-minute free-kick from Andrea Pirlo proved decisive.
Well the Old Lady should rotate a few players from their midweek match and one of those could be Carlos Tevez, Juve’s main offensive source. With that in mind, I reckon Torino can get something here and I’ll back them in the Double Chance market (13/20 Betway) and to score a goal with Over 0.5 Goals at 13/15 with 888 Sport.
Hellas Verona v Sassuolo | Sunday 14.00
These two teams have the same points, while having different trends in the season, with Verona only recently confirming their Serie A status for another year, and Sassuolo who are clearly relaxing after a superb run in the first half of the season.
The two teams like goals though, as you can see from Verona’s record of 54 goals conceded (the third worst in Serie A), and Sassuolo’s offensive style of play. Having no particular worries, I think the teams will play an open match and goals should be on the agenda.
Over 2.5 Goals is 10/11 with William Hill.
Best Bets
Udinese v AC Milan – Udinese double chance (3/5 Bet365)
Inter Milan v Roma – Both Teams To Score (10/11 SkyBet)
Atalanta v Empoli – Empoli double chance (4/7 Ladbrokes)
Genoa v Cesena – Cesena to score Over 0.5 Goals (3/4 Betway)
Lazio v Chievo – Lazio to win and Over 2.5 Goals (11/10 Betfair)
Torino v Juventus – Torino to score Over 0.5 Goals (13/20 Betway)
Torino v Juventus – Torino double chance (13/15 888 Sport)
Hellas Verona v Sassuolo – Over 2.5 Goals (10/11 William Hill)
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