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| The 2017/18 Italian Serie A kicks off this weekend and we have lots of value in our preview |
Here we go again! The graceful Italian Serie A kicks off on Saturday evening with none other than the six-time consecutive champions Juventus playing host to Cagliari. And nothing less than a thumping win for the powerhouses will be expected. Napoli, Roma and the new look Milan clubs will be determined to begin their title-challenge with victories but that could prove tricky with all but Inter playing their opening match on home soil. We’ve got 38 rounds of action ahead of us, so let me keep the chit chat to a minimum and get down to business!
Saturday 19 August
2/13 Juventus | 6/1 | Cagliari 17/1 (18:00)
Juventus Stadium will be buzzing with excitement when the Old Lady take on Cagliari in the opening match of the season on Saturday night. The record-breaking champions were unbeaten at home last term with 18 wins and just one draw from 19 games, scoring 48 goals and only conceding nine times. Cagliari, on the other hand, placed 11th on the standings and had a terrible record on the road, suffering 14 losses in 19 matches. Back Juve to make a bright start to the game with the 1st Half Totals – Over 1.5 Goals – market looking quite tasty at 12/10!
57/10 Hellas Verona | 36/10 | Napoli 4/10 (20:45)
The curtain comes down on Saturday evening with newly-promoted Hellas Verona playing host to title-contenders Napoli. The home side made a quick return to the top flight after plying their trade for just a single term in the second division. The Scaligers may have made it back to the big leagues, but they were far from convincing last season with 20 wins from 42 games. Napoli come to town looking to make a statement following another impressive season, but just not good enough to topple the champions. Players, fans and staff will be hoping to go the distance this season with Juventus but only time will tell. Napoli had the best away record in the league last campaign, bagging 13 wins from 19 games and will be determined to pick up where they left off. The away win is tipped at 4/10.
Sunday 20 August
22/10 Atalanta | 24/10 | Roma 23/20 (18:00)
Sunday football returns with eight eye-catching legs in store, starting with last season’s surprise packages, Atalanta, squaring off against the runner-up’s Roma. The home side were excellent on their ground with 12 wins from 19 matches, including a 2-1 victory over their opponents. Roma have made a few new additions to the team but none of them look capable of swinging the league in favour of the Giallorossi. They also sold Antonio Rudiger and Mohamed Salah, while Wojciech Szczesny departed for Juventus. Atalanta are on the up and Roma are tipped to struggle here. Get on the home win at a valuable 22/10!
12/10 Sassuolo | 23/10 | Genoa 9/4 (20:45)
Sassuolo and Genoa will go toe-to-toe at the Mapei Stadium-Citta del Tricolore on Sunday evening. Neither team really impressed last season with Sassuolo finishing the 2016/17 season in 12th place and Genoa in 16th. The latter were also horrendous on their travels with 14 losses from 19 matches, including their last five games on the road. With home advantage, Sassuolo are tipped to come out on top.
3/10 Lazio | 17/4 | Spal 2013 17/2 (20:45)
Next up, Lazio will welcome last season’s Serie B winners Spal 2013 to the Stadio Olimpico. The home side proved tough to beat on their ground last term with 12 wins from 19 games and will look to make an example out of the newcomers. Spal will be hoping to claim a point at the bare minimum but know that it will be easier said than done. They lacked consistency on the road last season and will need to improve on those performances away from home if they are to stand a realistic chance of survival. Goals are expected here so I’d suggest backing the Over 2.5 Goals market at 13/20.
43/20 Bologna | 9/4 | Torino 5/4 (20:45)
Bologna and Torino will be determined of making bright starts to the new campaign after both teams experienced mediocre 2016/17 campaigns. Bologna were below-par on home soil last season, while Torino were underwhelming on the road. Nonetheless, I expect both teams to fancy their chances of claiming maximum points with an open and attacking game on the cards. Both Teams to Score looks a likely result at 8/10.
11/10 Udinese | 22/10 | Chievo 26/10 (20:45)
Udinese and Chievo will lock horns on Sunday evening – two teams that proved unpredictable at times last season. There was also very little between them with just two points separating the sides after 13th and 14th place finishes. A tightly-contested and dull matchup is expected. Neither of these teams are ambitious in the final third while both sides can be stubborn defensively. Get on the Totals – Under 2.5 Goals – market at 13/20.
11/20 Inter Milan | 3/1 | Fiorentina 9/2 (20:45)
Inter Milan and Fiorentina’s clash have all the ingredients to be an absolute cracker. The home side have made a number of signings in the hope of strengthening the team’s chances of UEFA Champions League football next season. They did well in pre-season, winning their last five friendlies, including victories over European powerhouses Bayern Munich and Chelsea. There were 15 goals scored between these sides in last season’s encounters and we might just be in for another goal fest here. If you’re looking for value, get on the Matchbet & Both Teams to Score – Inter and Yes – market at 2/1!
13/20 Sampdoria | 26/10 | Benevento 17/4 (20:45)
The penultimate match of the round will see Sampdoria take on new boys on the block Benevento. La Samp had a bit of a topsy-turvy pre-season – much like the 2016/17 campaign – but will look to get the ground running with a win over the minnows. Benevento advanced to the top-flight after winning the Serie B play-offs. The Wizards battled on the road last season with just five wins from 21 games and that doesn’t look like improving much here. Nonetheless, I think they might just have a trick up their sleeve. I’m expecting them to keep it tight with the Under 2.5 Goals market tipped at 8/10.
17/4 Crotone | 3/1 | AC Milan 6/10 (20:45)
Crotone and AC Milan will round of proceedings on Sunday evening. Football fans and most importantly AC Milan’s beloved supporters are expecting this new look Rossoneri outfit to challenge for the all-important Scudetto or at least a Champions League birth. Crotone just about survived the relegation dogfight last season and will hope not to find themselves in the same predicament come next year May. It won’t be a walk in the park, but AC Milan are tipped to edge the win.
TREBLE @ 7/1
Juventus 1st Half Totals – Over 1.5 Goals 12/10
Sassuolo Win 12/10
Lazio vs Spal Over 2.5 Goals 13/20
Written by Aaron Crowie
