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The Italian Serie A resumes this weekend as Juventus lead the standings by four points. |
With 19 rounds of Serie A football to keep us entertained and hopefully make us a bit of cash, it’s always good to sum up the campaign, starting with the table-toppers. Juventus have been unstoppable season after season since the Juventus Stadium opened in September 2011 and this season is proving to be no different. Roma and Napoli remain hot on their heels but I got a feeling that will be as far as it goes. Juve are just a class above the rest but that won’t stop the title-chasers from mounting a challenge, so the Old Lady will need to remain sharp and focused till the very end.
Saturday 14 January
39/20 Crotone | Draw 21/10 | Bologna 15/10 (19:00)
Crotone and Bologna will get Gameweek 20 underway on Saturday evening. The hosts have been poor in recent matches with five losses from their last seven games. Their opponents, Bologna, have managed just one win from nine travels and should struggle here as well. Crotone are fighting a relegation battle and from here on out will need every point they can get. With home advantage I think they will do just that. The draw is on the cards.
9/20 Inter Milan | 33/10 | Chievo 6/1 (21:45)
Next up, Inter Milan will welcome Chievo to the iconic San Siro Stadium. The Milan-based club have been in top form with six wins from their last eight matches, including four on the spin, scoring eight goals and conceding just once. Chievo have been poor of late with back-to-back losses and are without a victory away to Inter in the last 13 meetings, suffering nine defeats. The home win is a banker bet.
Sunday 15 January
16/10 Cagliari | 23/10 | Genoa 33/20 (13:30)
Cagliari and Genoa will go toe-to-toe in a lunch time kick-off on Sunday. The Rossoblu have been poor in recent matches with three losses from their last four games but their home record of six wins from nine encounters leaves some food for thought. Genoa have been dismal with four defeats from their last five matches, including three losses on the trot. Cagliari have won three of the last four meetings against Genoa at the Stadio Sant’Elia and are tipped to build on that at a valuable 16/10.
19/20 Lazio | 49/20 | Atalanta 29/10 (16:00)
Lazio will play host to Atalanta on Sunday afternoon. The home side have been excellent with five wins from their last seven games and have won seven of their 10 matches at the Stadio Olimpic this season. Atalanta have been impressive with back-to-back victories and have been fairly decent on the road with five wins from 10 games. However, Lazio have won nine of the last 11 meetings at home against Atalanta and are tipped to make home advantage count.
15/20 Sampdoria | 51/20 | Empoli 39/10 (16:00)
Sampdoria have been poor in recent matches with three losses from their last four games but they have been strong at home with five wins from nine encounters. Empoli have travelled terribly with just one victory from nine games, scoring only five goals. Sampdoria are unbeaten against Empoli in the last seven meetings with four victories, including a 1-0 win in the reverse tie. The home win should be backed.
15/20 Sassuolo | 26/10 | Palermo 39/10 (16:00)
This will be one of the least entertaining matches of the weekend. Both teams have been in horrendous form with Sassuolo suffering three losses from their last four matches, while relegation-threatened Palermo have lost six of their last eight games. Palermo will be more under pressure to claim the win and in their last two visits to Sassuolo they have earned to hard-fought stalemates. Back the away side on the Win/Draw Double Chance at even money.
1/6 Napoli | 13/2 | Pescara 14/1 (16:00)
This should be a walk in the park for Napoli, who are unbeaten in their last eight matches with five victories. Bottom-of-the-log Pescara have been dreadful with one measly win from 18 games, including a winless run of 10 losses and three draws from their last 13 matches. Gli Azzurri will be determined to stay in touching distance of Juventus and Roma, and to do so, they must win the so-called simple games such as these. Back Napoli to Win To Nil at 8/10.
3/1 Udinese | 26/10 | Roma 17/20 (16:00)
Udinese – aiming to claw their way into the top 10 – take on Roma, who will be eager to maintain their terrific form. The home side have been below-par on their turf with four wins from 10 games but the Giallorossi have been just as poor on their travels. Roma have won the last seven meetings against Udinese and have been in much better form in recent weeks, winning six of their last eight games. The away win is tipped.
7/2 Fiorentina | 51/20 | Juventus 8/10 (16:00)
Fiorentina will put their unbeaten home record to the test when they welcome Juventus to Stadio Artemio Franchi in Sunday’s final Serie A encounter. The Viola have won four and drawn five of their nine home games, while Juve have won 15 of their overall 18 matches, including four on the spin. Juventus have won the last five meetings against Fiorentina and I’m tipping them to put an end to the Viola’s unbeaten home record. Back the Old Lady to secure maximum points.
Monday 16 January
27/20 Torino | 23/10 | AC Milan 2/1 (21:45)
Monday night football pits Torino up against AC Milan. The home side have been excellent on their turf with six wins from nine matches but have lacked consistency. AC Milan have been decent on the road but will need to be better than average to come away with all three points. The Rossoneri are just two points off the UEFA Champions League places and will be determined to keep the pressure on the teams above them. Milan are unbeaten in the last 18 meetings against Torino and are well worth a punt at 2/1; get on!
TREBLE @ 57/10
Inter Milan Win 9/20
Cagliari Win 16/10
Napoli Win-To-Nil 8/10
Written by Aaron Crowie