The final weekend of football in most top football leagues we’ve been dreading is upon us. The Serie A 2021/2022 season has been the best we’ve had probably in the last decade. AC Milan winning would probably be the most satisfying for most football fans who know the history of this great club. Their bitter rivals, Inter, could still ruin the romantic finish and defend their title instead. Lower in the table, things have gone down to the wire too with two teams in the bottom still having a chance to escape the drop on the final day of the season. Mcebo Mpungose previews.
Friday 20 May
Torino 49/20
Draw 51/20
Roma 21/20
(20:45)
Roma had ample chances to win their last game, which ended as a draw against relegated Venezia. Still, the point earned was enough to keep them in position six since Fiorentina lost. A win against tenth positioned Torino will ensure Jose Mourinho’s team doesn’t miss out on the Europa League. Still, this won’t be a big improvement from last season. What would make it a better season is Roma winning the Conference League with the final game on the horizon against Feyenoord. Roma will surely have one eye on that game, fortunately for them, this game is on a Sunday night.
Torino isn’t exactly the easiest of teams to play in Serie A. They’ve only lost once in their last five games, picking up three wins and one draw.
I’m backing a double chance here, Roma win or draw.
Saturday 21 May
Genoa 27/20
Draw 49/20
Bologna 19/10
(17:15)
Relegation-threatened Genoa has one last chance to try to escape the drop, even though their fate isn’t in their hands only now. With a win against 13th-positioned Bologna, Genoa would achieve a total of 31 points, leapfrogging Salernitana in 17th position. To keep that spot though, they will rely on Udinese denying Salernitana even a single point in their game on Sunday. Fortunately for Genoa, they host a side that hasn’t won their last three games and has only managed a single win in their last five games. I’m backing a Genoa win.
Fiorentina 1/1
Draw 26/10
Juventus 26/10
(20:45)
Fiorentina was smacked 4-1 by Sampdoria on Monday night and will be looking to avert another loss against Juventus with the Conference League position still available to them and Atalanta. Fiorentina has had a much better season compared to last season where they finished in position 13 with 40 points. There is also still a chance of qualifying for the Europa League should Roma drop points in their final game.
They face a Juventus side that has regressed, despite letting go of their ‘problem’ (Cristiano Ronaldo). Nonetheless, The Old Lady will be happy to be playing Champions League football again next season.
Back both teams to score at 11/20 is tipped in what should be an exciting open game.
Lazio 13/20
Draw 31/10
Hellas Verona 38/10
(20:45)
There’s not much to fight for on this one except finishing strong. Verona hasn’t improved much from last season and the season before, finishing in positions 9 and 10, they currently occupy 9th position again. Next season their fans could want to see more from this team. The same can be said about Lazio, they haven’t shown much improvement compared to last season and will return to the Europa League for the second season in a row. Despite losing their last game, I’m backing a Lazio win.
Atalanta 2/9
Draw 58/10
Empoli 9/1
(20:45)
Having finished third last season, Atalanta will be disappointed by how things have turned out this season. They currently occupy position 8, but they still have a chance of qualifying for the Europa League or the Conference League should the teams above them lose or draw. Atalanta has two wins in their last five games. Empoli has one win in their last five and will be looking for a strong finish having survived the drop in their first season back in the Serie A having been relegated in 2016/2017.
I’m backing Atalanta to score over 2.5 goals in this game.
Sunday 22 May
Spezia 42/10
Draw 36/10
Napoli 5/10
(12:30)
Despite winning just one game in their last five games, Spezia has done enough to stay in the Serie A for another season, something worth celebrating for their fans. They’ll head into this one with optimism for the next campaign and will look to entertain their fans one last time before players head for a break. Napoli, on the other hand, will be left to ponder what could have been having fallen short in the title race again. I’m backing a first-half draw and a win for Napoli at full-time.
Inter Milan 1/8
Draw 8/1
Sampdoria 17/1
(18:00)
Defending champions Inter take on Sampdoria in what should be a nail-biting conclusion to the Serie A season with AC Milan playing at the same time. Like Napoli, honestly, Inter has only themselves to blame for falling behind AC in the title race with losses against teams like Sassuolo and Bologna in this campaign. Having won four out of their last five games, they’ll go into this one with good momentum against a team that managed to score four goals in its last game. Sampdoria has been a lot calmer since securing another season in the Serie A, collecting two wins and a draw in their last five games. I’m backing an Inter Win and goals total of over 3.5.
Sassuolo 5/1
Draw 39/10
AC Milan
(18:00)
The worst thing for both Milan sides would have been to face relegation-threatened teams in their last games. That would have made their fixtures much trickier. AC Milan visits a Sassuolo side that is sitting comfortably on position 11, with not much to play for. Milan just needs to avoid defeat here to secure their first league title in 11 years. However, Sassuolo has proven they are no pushovers this season and can certainly pull one over Milan. AC will approach this game with a hint of caution. I’m backing a 1 nil victory for AC.
Venezia 37/10
Draw 29/10
Cagliari 13/20
(21:00)
While the home side is already relegated, Cagliari still has a chance of surviving the drop if they get maximum points in this fixture. A superior goal difference compared to 17th-positioned Salernitana means three points is the mandate here for Cagliari. Venezia had a very late attempt to survive the drop, collecting four points in their last two games, but others above them took points too. The game will most definitely be a cagey one. I’m backing both teams to score.
Salernitana 7/10
Draw 3/1
Udinese 7/2
(21:00)
This game kicks off at the same time as the Cagliari one. Salernitana needs maximum points as well to ensure they survive the drop, with Cagliari breathing down their necks.
If Salernitana stays in the Serie A, I have no doubt it will be one of the best relegation escapes we’ve seen in recent years having occupied the bottom three for most of this season. Udinese will go in to stop a three-game winless run.
I’m backing a Salernitana win.
TREBLE @ 33/10
Salernitana Win 7/10
Lazio Win 13/20
Fiorentina vs Juventus BTTS 11/20
Written by Mcebo Mpungose