The international break is finally over, and regular service resumes in the top leagues across Europe including, of course, the Italian Serie A. The 4-0 defeat suffered by AC Milan at the hands of Napoli will be a memory the Rossoneri faithful will want to put behind them. Across town, Inter Milan dropped more points, playing out a 1-1 draw at Sampdoria, whilst Fiorentina continued to impress as they thrashed Atalanta 3-0 to remain at the summit of the table. Elsewhere, Juventus registered only their second win of the season, ousting Bologna 3-1. Hellas Verona remain the only winless team in the league and city-rivals Lazio and Roma claimed wins over Frosinone and Palermo respectively to stay on the heels of the log leaders.
Saturday 17th October
Roma 4/10 | Draw 38/10 | Empoli 67/10
We kick-start the weekend with Roma welcoming a visit from Empoli. The Giallorossi put Palermo to the guillotine last time out with a 4-2 victory, including a brace by Ivorian starlet Gervinho. Roma have scored the most goals in the league (17) but have managed to keep just one clean sheet in the process. Empoli are off the back of a hard fought 1-0 victory at home against Sassuolo but know a win or draw against Roma at Stadio Olimpico will be an even tougher task. Empoli managed a 1-1 draw here on two occasions last season; in the Serie A as well as the Coppa Italia. However, it’s highly doubtful they will get a result for the third consecutive meeting.The home win is the way to go.
Torino 14/10 | Draw 9/4 | AC Milan 2/1
Torino fell to their second straight defeat on the road last time out, going down 2-1 away to newly promoted Carpi. However, they return to their fortress, where they have a 100% win record, scoring seven goals and conceding just twice. AC Milan come to town looking to put their humiliating 4-0 home defeat against Napoli behind them. It was a consecutive defeat suffered by Milan as they failed to score in either match. However, they are unbeaten against their opponents in the last 15 meetings and the international break could just be what the team needed to bounce back.So I suggest taking Milan on the Win/Draw Double Chance at 11/20.
Sunday 18th October
Bologna 16/10 | Draw 22/10 | Palermo 7/4
Bottom-of-the-log Bologna have been disastrous with six defeats from seven matches, scoring a measly four goals and conceding 12 times. However, Palermo are next up and they come around in terrible form, losing their last four matches on the trot. They have lost two of their three travels, whilst Bologna have been just as poor on their turf. Very little separates the sides at the moment and a draw looks the likely outcome.
Atalanta 8/10 | Draw 5/2 | Carpi 37/10
Atalanta had defender Gabriel Paletta sent off for a red card in the fifth minute as they were hammered 3-0 away to Fiorentina, ending an unbeaten run of five matches. Newcomers Carpi would have been disappointed with the timing of the international break, killing any momentum they had built while registering their first ever Serie A victory with a 2-1 home win against Torino. Although Carpi have the worst defensive record in the league, Atalanta had the fourth lowest scoring record in the league last season. While Atalanta will be looking to return to winning ways, Carpi will be hoping to cause another upset here. At even money, Both Teams To Score is well worth a punt.
Frosinone 2/1 | Draw 9/4 | Sampdoria 27/20
After seven games, newly-promoted Frosinone find themselves second from bottom of the log with a disappointing five losses, scoring only four goals and conceding 10 times. Sampdoria are next up to have a go at the new boys. They have failed to record a win on the road thus far and won’t get much better chances than this. Sampdoria earned a well-deserved 1-1 draw at home against Roma last time out and will be eager to get back to victory days here. Go with the away win at 27/20.
Genoa 21/20 | Draw 9/4 | Chievo 28/10
Diego Perotti’s 76th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot secured Genoa their first away point of the season at Udinese in gameweek 7. They return to home soil where they claimed a 1-0 win over AC Milan last time around. However, Chievo have won four of the last five meetings away to Genoa and will be looking to build on that record at the weekend. They are unbeaten on the road thus far with one win and two draws from three games. You can back Chievo at a valuable 28/10.
Hellas Verona 5/4 | Draw 23/10 | Udinese 22/10
A 1-1 draw away to Chievo stretched Hellas Verona’s winless run in the Serie A to nine matches; with their last victory dating back to May this year. Udinese will be looking to take advantage of their vulnerabilities but their lack of consistency leaves a lot to be desired. Verona will be going all out for the victory to be the last team in the league to get off the winning mark. However, Udinese have shown great promise away from home, winning two of their three travels, making Both Teams To Score the best bet at 8/10.
Napoli 15/20 | Draw 28/10 | Fiorentina 36/10
One of two big matches in the Serie A this weekend sees Napoli lock horns with log-leaders Fiorentina. Napoli made a poor start to the new campaign, but came alive last month, slaying the likes of Lazio (5-0), Juventus (2-1) and then beginning the month of October with a bang, by thrashing AC Milan 4-0 at the San Siro. Table-toppers Fiorentina are the leagues in-form team with five wins on the spin, scoring an impressive 12 goals and conceding only once. However, their head-to head record against Napoli is poor, losing the last three meetings. With that being said, Fiorentina’s form can’t go unnoticed and with both teams playing tremendous football and netting goals at will, a score draw is predicted at 36/10.
Sassuolo 9/4 | Draw 23/10 | Lazio 12/10
Sassuolo get back to Serie A action after suffering a 1-0 defeat away to Empoli last time out. They have now managed just one win from their last five games. Lazio have started the new campaign just as they ended it last season – like a house on fire. They have won five of their seven matches, including three on the trot. La Aquile (The Eagles) are only three points off top spot and will surely be looking to keep the pressure on Fiorentina and Inter Milan who are the only teams above them. They have won the last three head-to-heads against Sassuolo, scoring three goals in each of those meetings. The away win should be backed.
Inter Milan 7/4 | Draw 22/10 | Juventus 31/20
This weekend’s blockbuster pits Inter Milan against champions Juventus. Second place Inter started the season in terrific form with five straight victories, before Fiorentina whipped them 4-1 in front of their own fans and then earning a commendable 1-1 draw at Sampdoria. Juve on the other hand look a shadow of the team that claimed a fourth consecutive Scudetto last season. However, they managed their second win of the season last time out with a 3-1 home victory against Bologna. They are unbeaten against Inter Milan away from home in the last five meetings and all their focus now will be trying to get back to their very best.Form is temporary, class is permanent, back the Old Lady to reign supreme.
Serie A Picks
Roma WIN4/10
AC Milan WIN/DRAW 11/20
Bologna DRAW22/10
Atalanta BTTS1/1
Sampdoria WIN27/20
Chievo WIN28/10
Hellas Verona BTTS8/10
Napoli DRAW + BTTS 36/10
Lazio WIN12/10
Juventus WIN31/20
Written by Aaron Crowie for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
