OUR man in Italy, Marco Di Cosmo (@scioltz) is back with more weekend Serie A bets.
Juventus v Lazio | Saturday 19:45 | BT Sport 1
After their shocking defeat to Parma last week, Juventus won't be rotating much this week. Lazio are ‘only' 12 points behind the bianconeri and a defeat here could make things a little uncomfortable.
Juve beat Monaco last Tuesday in the Champions League and I happen to think they won’t have a particularly difficult match next week in the return leg in Monaco.
Therefore the focus will be strong on this match, and with Lazio missing key players (most of all defensive rock Stefan de Vrij), I'm confident Juve will be capable to score at least twice in this game.
Sassuolo v Torino | Sunday 11:30 | BT Sport 1
Neither of these sides have loads to play for as their overall aim has been achieved – staying up. It's been another great season for Torino, they sit in 8th in the table and went far in the Europa League.
I'll take them on here though as I can see them resting players. They face neighbours Juventus next week and coach Giampiero Ventura has said beating the champions would be a great ambition of his.
Sassuolo is a difficult place to go to and with a shadow team it'll be tough. The home side have lost just three times at the Mapei Stadium, and two of those defeats came only recently against high-flyers Lazio and Fiorentina. I'm confident they'll avoid defeat here and will back them in the Double Chance market.
Empoli v Parma | Sunday 14:00
Parma produced one of the shock results of the European season last week by beating champions Juventus. A staggering 58 points separate the sides!
Parma lost to Genoa midweek and I can see them slipping up again against Empoli on Sunday. Maurizio Sarri's side have been unlucky this season and a win here would secure safety for another Serie A season. I'm backing them to overpower Parma and take the three points.
Palermo v Genoa | Sunday 14:00
This is another match that should provide goals and entertainment. Genoa are flying this season and they'll be keen to finish above neighbours Sampdoria who are just five points ahead of them.
Palermo have slowed down after a promising first half of the season but you can attribute that to Paulo Dybala’s waning form. These two teams like to attack and aren't the best in defence and when you factor in that neither have much to play for, I think this will be a free scoring and entertaining game with goals aplenty hopefully. It's Over 2.5 Goals for me.
Roma v Atalanta | Sunday 14:00
Roma have the chance to go back above Lazio here but it won't be easy as they're missing some key players. Kostas Monalos, undoubtedly the best defender at the club, is suspended along with Daniele De Rossi.
Atalanta’s coach is one of the most defensive minded men Italian football has ever known and I’m not a great fan of him. I'm pretty sure he'll set his team up to pounce on the counter and make sure Roma don't get access to the spaces they need.
Roma always look like conceding and I can see the neroazzurri scoring especially with the attacking talent they have. I'll back Atalanta +2 on the handicap as although I think Roma may win, they won’t have a soft match and I'd be surprised if they won by more than one goal.
Cagliari v Napoli | Sunday 17:00 | BT Sport 1
Another high scoring match for Napoli after their stunning performance at Wolfsburg on Thursday night? I think so when the opponent is Zdenek Zeman!
Napoli were simply amazing in Germany beating one of the top clubs in the world and scoring four goals in their ground. As I've always said here at WeLoveBetting, when Napoli click they are capable of beating anyone. With Gonzalo Higuain and Marek Hamsik playing better than they have all season we saw that on Thursday night.
Rafa Benitez should rotate here and I can see Cagliari scoring. The Sardi are desperate to get a win to avoid relegation and this is a win or nothing game. That's why I think Zeman’s style will be even more attacking, he'll go hell for leather looking for the three points.
Napoli are so dangerous on the counter attack and have the talent to score from any situation so backing goals is the wisest thing to do here. Over 2.5 looks a solid bet.
Best Bets
Juventus v Lazio – Juventus to score Over 1.5 Goals (23/20 Coral)
Sassuolo v Torino – Sassuolo Double Chance (8/13 Coral)
Empoli v Parma – Empoli to win (8/13 William Hill)
Palermo v Genoa – Over 2.5 Goals (6/5 Betfair)
Roma v Atalanta – Atalanta to score Over 0.5 Goals (10/11 Coral)
Roma v Atalanta – Atalanta +2 (7/10 Betway)
Cagliari v Napoli – Over 2.5 Goals (13/18 888 Sport)
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