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| The title could be decided this weekend if Juventus win and Roma fail to claim maximum points! |
It may have seemed like an average week of punting with yours truly finding five winners from 10 fixtures but those five picks offered more than enough value to make a profit in round 34. Juventus and Roma dropped points last time out but that doesn’t change much in the run-in for the all-important Scudetto. Let’s take a look out at what’s worth a dabble this weekend.
Saturday 6 May
1/10 Napoli | Draw 8/1 | Cagliari (18:00)
Napoli claimed a valuable three points in gameweek 34 with a vital and hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Inter Milan. That victory added to an unbeaten run of eight matches, which includes six wins and two draws. Cagliari is next up to at least try keep the title-chasers at bay. The away side have struggled on the road with just 12 losses from 17 games, scoring 14 goals and conceding 33 times. The straight win on Napoli offers little value at 1/10, so I would suggest getting on the Home to Win Both Halves market at 15/20.
5/10 Juventus | 36/10 | Torino 9/2 (20:45)
With Juve just a few points away from making it six league titles on the trot, they will do all they can to make sure they collect maximum points until the job is complete. A 2-2 draw at Atalanta last time out might have extended their wait for the title by another week but the Old Lady will return to their fortress where they have won all 17 of their home games. It’s derby day at the Juventus Stadium with Torino looking to be the first team to take points off the Old Lady when playing on their ground this season. Torino are unbeaten in their last six games but four of those ended in a draw. The home win is too good a bet to pass up this week.
Sunday 7 May
33/10 Udinese | 26/10 | Atalanta 15/20 (12:30)
Udinese and Atalanta will kick-start Sunday with what looks to be an eye-catching contest. The home side were absolutely dismal last time out, going down 4-0 at Bologna, making it back-to-back defeats on their travels. Atalanta stretched their undefeated run to six matches with a well-deserved 2-2 draw against Roma. Udinese do, however, have a great record against their opponents, winning the last three meetings on home soil against them, as well as the reverse tie 3-1. And their last seven league matches have produced Over 2.5 Goals, so it would be wise to follow that trend at 7/10.
7/10 Empoli | 11/4 | Bologna 38/10 (15:00)
Empoli’s two-match winning streak came to an end last time out with a disappointing 3-1 defeat at home to Sassuolo. Bologna come into this one on a high after savagely beating Udinese 4-0 at the Dacia Arena last Sunday. The home side need to be much more disciplined after last week’s horrid display and looking at Bologna’s poor record on the road, it’s very likely Empoli can do just that. The last five meetings between the sides at the Stadio Carlo Castellani have seen Under 2.5 Goals – at 19/20 it’s certainly worth a shout.
2/9 Lazio | 57/10 | Sampdoria 19/2 (15:00)
Lazio claimed bragging rights last time out with an emphatic 3-1 victory over local rivals Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, making it back-to-back wins. They have won three of their last four matches at home and will look to build on that. Sampdoria earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Torino last Saturday, extending their winless run to four matches. Lazio won the corresponding fixture 2-1 and are tipped to pull off the double.
39/20 Sassuolo | 26/10 | Fiorentina 12/10 (15:00)
Sassuolo are unbeaten in their last four matches with two wins and two draws after thrashing Empoli 3-1 in front of their own fans last time out. Fiorentina were disappointing last time out, suffering a 2-0 defeat at Palermo. Five of the last six meetings have seen both sides find the back of the net. A cagey affair is expected, along with an end-to-end game of football. The 1st Half – Both Teams To Score – Yes – market looks well worth a punt at 21/10.
38/10 Genoa | 29/10 | Inter Milan 13/20 (15:00)
Genoa have been dismal in recent weeks with six losses from their last seven matches. They are without a win on home soil in their last nine matches, including six defeats. Inter Milan are winless in their last six matches with four losses. I would have usually jumped on that Inter win but their form just doesn’t bode well. On the other hand, with both sides battling to win matches, the Totals market could be worth looking into. Six of the last eight meetings have seen Under 2.5 Goals produced between the sides – at 14/10, it’s certainly worth a strike!
6/10 Chievo | 31/10 | Palermo 4/1 (15:00)
Chievo and Palermo will square off in the penultimate match of the round. The home team returned to winning ways last time out with a 2-1 victory at Genoa, ending a run of five consecutive defeats, scoring five goals and conceding 15 times. Palermo are fighting for their lives and can’t afford to slip up. An impressive 2-0 home win over Fiorentina last time out gave them the slightest chance of survival. I’m expected a dicey start to the game but more of an opened encounter in the second stanza. Get on the Highest Scoring Half (2nd) at even money.
43/20 AC Milan | 26/10 | Roma 11/10 (20:45)
Last but not least AC Milan will welcome Roma to the San Siro Stadium in the blockbuster Serie A match of the week. The hosts are winless in three games, including a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Crotone last weekend. Roma can’t afford to drop points here with Juventus just a few points away from claiming yet another Scudetto. After Roma’s 3-1 defeat to Lazio last time out, their confidence will be a little low, but they must show courage and strength to keep fighting. The Double Chance and Both Teams to Score market looks appealing with the Away-Draw/Yes looking promising at 17/20.
TREBLE @ 53/10
Napoli to Win Both Halves 15/20
Juventus Win 5/10
Genoa v Inter Milan – Under 2.5 Goals 14/10
Written by Aaron Crowie
