WITH a double-header from Italy to come on Monday evening, we got Mark O’Haire (@MarkOHaire) to explore the best bets available.
Empoli v Torino | Monday 18.00 | BT Sport 2
Eight points from their last four games has lifted Empoli away from the immediate relegation places in Serie A and Maurizio Sarri’s men can continue their upturn in form by avoiding defeat tonight.
The hosts can be backed at 13/16 with BetVictor from a 0 start on the Asian Handicap market – the equivalent to a bet on the Draw No Bet, only at a better price. With this selection, we’ll get our money back if the Blues draw but receive a full payout if they take maximum points.
Empoli were mightily impressive when taking a 2-0 lead at Napoli in their last outing before Rafa Benitez’s team fought back to a claim a draw whilst Lazio and Genoa have both been dispatched at Stadio Carlo Castellani in recent weeks.
Torino have taken just two points from a possible 15 – their worst spell of form since November 2013 and have lost their last four on the road, leaking on average two goals-per-game.
To make matters worse, Giampiero Ventura’s visitors have D1-L5 in their league fixtures in matches immediately after Europa League action. The Bulls should be opposed again on Monday night.
Chiveo v Inter Milan | Monday 20.00 | BT Sport 1
Roberto Mancini’s the new man in charge at Inter and despite an improvement in performance level, the former European champions have been unable to claim three points from any of his three games in charge.
Having been held by city rivals Milan, Inter were beaten by Roma before last weekend’s damaging home defeat to Udinese. That makes it just two league victories since mid-September and both came courtesy of penalties.
In fact, the Nerazzurri have won just four of their 14 Serie A matches and are closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League qualifying places.
Mancini’s men were on Europa League duty in Kazakhstan on Thursday night and look far too short to consider on Monday night for a trip to Chievo with some firms making the away win odds-on.
Instead, Coral have made Chievo 17/20 in the Double Chance market and at those odds, punters should get stuck into the Flying Donkeys who’ve looked a different animal since Rolando Maran’s taken over the reigns.
The hosts are unbeaten in five and have kept three clean sheets during that resurgence. On Monday night they were head-and-shoulders the better team against Cagliari on the road, rewarded with a 2-0 win and in their last home game they held high-flying Lazio.
Chievo are traditionally an unfashionable and unfancied Italian side and I’m certain that punters will be seduced by the allure of backing Inter on Monday night but don’t do it. They’re just not worth it. Invest your faith in the Flying Donkeys.
Best Bets
Empoli v Torino – Empoli 0 Asian Handicap (13/16 BetVictor)
Chievo v Inter Milan – Chievo double chance (17/20 Coral)
