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| The 38-game marathon to be crowned Serie A champions has been entertaining with Inter at the summit |
The 38-game marathon to be crowned Serie A champions has been entertaining with Inter Milan at the summit following Juventus’ 1-0 win over Napoli last time out. Round 16 offers another matchday filled with entertaining football, heated clashes, dodgy decisions and cracking goals. Let’s get to it!
Saturday 9 December
16/10 Cagliari | Draw 49/20 | Sampdoria 16/10 (19:00)
Cagliari ground out a hard-earned 1-1 draw away to Bologna and return to their ground where they have been below-par. Sampdoria have been poor of late with back-to-back defeats, scoring just once and conceding five times. La Samp have lost three of their last four travels and will be desperate to turn that form on its head. The last four meetings between the sides at Stadio Sant’Elia have seen an average of 3.75 goals per game.The Over 2.5 Goals market is tipped at 13/20.
7/10 Juventus | 28/10 | Inter Milan 39/10 (21:45)
Juventus and Inter Milan will square off in what is undoubtedly the biggest match of the week with top spot up for grabs. The Old Lady ended Napoli’s unbeaten streak last weekend with a 1-0 victory away from home, while Inter Milan ran riot at the San Siro Stadium, hammering Chievo 5-0. The main objective for both sides coming into this clash will be not to lose the match so I’m expecting to see a tightly contested, cagey affair. The Totals – Under 2.5 Goals – market should be backed at 9/10!
Sunday 10 December
3/10 Napoli | 9/2 | Fiorentina 7/1 (16:00)
Napoli would have been disappointed to have suffered their first defeat last time out at the hands of reigning champions Juventus. However, they are now just one point off top spot and with Juventus and Napoli locking horns on Saturday evening, the Azzurri will know that they might be able to reclaim pole position. Napoli have been brilliant at home with five wins from seven games, scoring 17 goals and conceding just four times. Fiorentina come into this match off the back of a 3-0 home win against Sassuolo but their away form leaves a lot to be desired with just two wins from eight games. Napoli are likely to come out firing on all cylinders and I’m backing them on the Half-time/Full-time win at 8/10.
11/10 Spal | 23/10 | Hellas Verona 26/10 (16:00)
Newly-promoted Spal 2013 are placed in the bottom-three and have lost their last two matches but will know that a win will see them climb out of the relegation zone. Their opponents, Hellas Verona, also find themselves in the danger zone, which makes this clash all the more exciting! The travelling side have lost 10 of their 15 games this season and they can’t afford to keep dropping points like that. Nonetheless, with home advantage Spal 2013 are tipped to pick up the all-important win.
9/20 Udinese | 33/10 | Benevento 57/10 (16:00)
Udinese were brilliant last time out as they thrashed Crotone 3-0 away from home. Bottom-placed Benevento earned their first point of the season last weekend after goalkeeper, Alberto Brignoli, netted a 95th minute equaliser against AC Milan. However, on the road they have been disastrous with seven defeats from seven games, scoring just three times and conceding 16 goals. Udinese are tipped on the (-1) Handicap at 23/20.
17/20 Sassuolo | 5/2 | Crotone 34/10 (19:00)
Sassuolo have been in terrible form with five losses from their last six matches and are winless in their last seven home games. Crotone have been dismal with three consecutive losses and have suffered five defeats from seven travels this term. With both teams struggling to find the back of the net, a low-scoring matchup looks likely. The Totals – Under 2.5 Goals – is tipped at 7/10.
11/20 AC Milan | 3/1 | Bologna 52/10 (21:45)
Gennaro Gattuso would have been furious last weekend after his team conceded a last-minute equalizer against the league’s worst performing team this season. The Rossoneri have been unpredictable to say the least but they return to the San Siro this Sunday, where they should do enough to brush aside Bologna. The latter are unbeaten in their last three matches but were disappointing last time out, playing to a 1-1 home draw against Cagliari. With home advantage, AC Milan are tipped to get up for the win.
Monday 11 December
2/1 Genoa | 23/10 | Atalanta 27/20 (20:00)
Genoa have been impressive in recent weeks as they are unbeaten in their last three matches with two wins, including a 1-0 win at Hellas Verona last time out. Atalanta have been inconsistent this season with five wins, five draws and five defeats from 15 games. Genoa are without a win in their last seven home games, while Atalanta are winless in their last seven travels. However, recent meetings between these sides have seen goals galore. Get on the Totals – Over 2.5 Goals – at even money.
5/10 Lazio | 37/10 | Torino 47/10 (22:00)
Lazio returned to winning ways last time out with an impressive 2-1 victory at Sampdoria. Torino have been poor this season with just four wins from 15 matches and that doesn’t look likely to improve here. Lazio have been excellent with 10 wins from 14 matches and will be determined to maintain that form. Back the home team to claim maximum points.
Wednesday 13 December
26/10 Sampdoria | 47/20 | Roma 21/20 (21:45)
Let’s keep this catch-up game short and sweet. Sampdoria have been outstanding at home this season with six wins from seven matches. Roma are unbeaten in their last 13 travels with 12 wins. At the time of writing, Sampdoria have lost consecutive matches and might be lacking a bit of confidence. Roma are tipped for the win.
TREBLE @ 4/1
Udinese (-1) Handicap 23/20
AC Milan Win 11/20
Lazio Win 5/10
Written by Aaron Crowie
