Serie A Tips | 17th September 2016

OUR man in Rome Marco Di Cosmo (@scioltz) returns to WLB for the new season with his best bets for Saturday's matches.

Lazio v Pescara | Saturday 17.00

Pescara are one of the most interesting teams in the relegation fight this year; a team mainly composed by young players from the top club youth teams, playing a sparkling style following their coach’s expressive tactical beliefs.

They’ve held Napoli to a draw in the opening match and only lost to Inter in injury time after wasting several chances to get their second goal when they were 1-0 up and in total control.

I do not think that Lazio will have a safe afternoon on their home soil. The Biancocelesti are obviously superior to Pescara, but I see a lot of weaknesses in them.

Last term the Romans shipped 52 goals in 38 matches, a trend that does not seems different this year where their defence have already conceded five goals in three games.

I think goals could be the right angle for this match, so I am backing Both Teams To Score at 13/12 (188BET) significantly higher odds than the home win.

Napoli v Bologna | Saturday 19.45 | BT Sport 2

Napoli finished just eight points behind Juventus last season and have been the most competitive team outside of the Old Lady in recent Serie A seasons.

A player like Gonzalo Higuain seems irreplaceable today, but coach Maurizio Sarri is trying to find a new star with the Polish international Arkadiusz Milik and more quality options alongside him.

The new approach is paying dividends as Napoli have churned out three consecutive wins, including the away match at Dynamo Kiev, to give the Partenopei a great start to 2016/17.

Bologna have lost something from last season, having sold Emanuele Giaccherini and Amadou Diawara, both to Napoli. With their main striker Mattia Destro ruled out for the match, I expect them to struggle and despite having enough quality maybe to find the net, I cannot see them standing up to Napoli’s excellent offense.

The Azzurri have a tremendous record at the San Paolo: they haven’t lost here since May 2015, and they registered the best home record in the whole 2015-16 season.

Last year this match finished 6-0 to Napoli, so I am happier to back them to win with Over 2.5 goals scored in the match – this bet would have been a winner in last seven matches played at the San Paolo. It’s 4/5.