Italian Serie A: Gameweek 24 Preview

Dusan Vlahovic

The Serie A continues, won’t you let me guide you through the upcoming fixtures? In our featured game of the weekend, Inter Milan has continued their unbeaten streak last time out, and now they face fellow title contenders AC Milan, all while the race for Champions League places heats up.

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Saturday 5 February

Roma 7/20
Draw 4/1
Genoa 13/2
(16:00)
AS Roma head into this fixture having collected a full complement of points in their last two fixtures. Jose Mourinho’s men are one of the highest scorers in the league, facing a Genoa team that has the second leakiest defense in Serie A. Genoa has shockingly picked up just one victory this season. Their second win could be coming but I doubt it will be against La Lupa. Back the hosts in this encounter.

Inter Milan 8/10
Draw 11/4
AC Milan 31/10
(19:00)

Fiorentina 27/20
Draw 5/2
Lazio 19/10
(21:45)
Fiorentina host Lazio having just lost a key player in their squad, Serbian striker Dušan Vlahović much to the fans dismay. The top marksman in Serie A has joined the Old Lady and will take his goals with him for the remainder of this season and another 4 years. Vlahovic has scored almost 50% of all league goals scored by Fiorentina, they will miss him against a Lazio team that will be looking to leapfrog them in the race for Europa League place. Over the last five games, their form has been similar with both teams taking a draw last time out. With that said, however, I am tipping Lazio to win this one.

Sunday 6 February

Atalanta 1/4
Draw 52/10
Cagliari 17/2
(13:30)

Atalanta will look to return to winning ways against relegation candidates, Cagliari, who picked up an unexpected point vs Fiorentina in their last game. While Cagliari is desperate for points to escape the relegation zone, Atalanta faces a battle of their own; to play in the Champions League next season. To do that, they will need to distance themselves from Juventus, who are a point behind them in the fifth spot. Atalanta has won five of their previous meetings with Cagliari in the league, I expect them to do the same in this match.

Venezia 48/10
Draw 7/2
Napoli 5/10
(16:00)

Napoli won their last game against relegation candidates Salernitana (4-1), and now face a Venezia side that lost (2-1) to Inter last time out. The hosts have gone nine games without a win, a run that has seen them sit a mere point above the relegation zone. With Napoli breathing down Inter’s neck, they should easily put Venezia to the sword. Back the away team to win.

Sampdoria 37/20
Draw 26/10
Sassuolo 13/10
(16:00)
Sampdoria are on a four-game losing streak going into this matchup against a team that is nine points ahead of them. With only one win from their last five games, Sassuolo enters this one pretty desperate for maximum points. A draw is a possibility, but I back away team to return home with all three points from this match.

Bologna 19/20
Draw 11/4
Empoli 51/20
(16:00)
Both sides will go into this one almost evenly matched, with Bologna on 27 points (13th place) and a game in hand, while Empoli sits on 29 points (12th place). Bologna will look to take advantage of their game in hand. The Greyhounds can’t afford to lose but both teams would be happy to claim a point from the other instead of giving away all three. Because of this, I expect a tight low scoring game and under 2.5 at 5/4.

Udinese 37/20
Draw 9/4
Torino 15/10
(19:00)

The away team has two wins and a draw in their last three games, while the hosts continue to drift further towards the relegation battle. Udinese is winless in their last three games and faces a team high in confidence. In one of those games, they were thrashed by Atalanta (6-2), a loss that cut short their two-game winning streak. I expect them to make this an interesting game being the home team, I back both teams to score @ 8/10.

Juventus 11/20
Draw 32/10
Hellas Verona 44/10
(21:45)

While Juventus have been showing good form of late, currently on a nine-game unbeaten streak in the league, they now face a tough Verona side. In October, Verona managed to beat Juve (2-1) at home, and in their previous game last season they managed to edge a point against them. This isn’t a team the Old Lady currently enjoy playing against, but the recent form may suggest they will be out to get revenge. Juve go into this game with the added firepower with the league’s leading top scorer, Dušan Vlahović joining this January transfer window. I expect the home team to win this exciting encounter.

Salernitana 2/1
Draw 24/10
Spezia 13/10
(21:45)

Basement boys, Selernitana, have a chance to record only their third victory this season. There’s been one brief spark in the last couple of weeks for the home team, one victory in their last five league fixtures where they surprisingly beat Verona (2-1). They face a Spezia team that sits eight points clear from the relegation zone, with much of this gap being built in recent weeks winning four coupled by a single loss in their last five. I expect Spezia to continue with their good run to secure all three points, but Salernitana won’t make it easy.

TREBLE @ 8/1
Roma win 7/20
Lazio win 19/10
Napoli win 5/10
Juventus win 11/20
Written by Mcebo Mpungose