It’s not as easy as it use to be to pick a winner in the Serie A. Last week my wallet took a beating and I refuse to put my pride in my pocket. Gameweek 9 approaches and I vow to make amends for my slip up with some valuable picks. Despite Fiorentina’s 2-1 defeat at Napoli, they remain at the top of the table by just a single point, while Inter Milan and Roma are breathing down their neck with 17 points apiece in second and third place respectively. The Former settled for a goalless draw at home, whilst Roma ousted Empoli 3-1. Lazio showed their lack of consistency as they fell to a 2-1 loss at Sassuolo. Elsewhere, Hellas Verona remains the only team in the league yet to claim a victory as they slipped into the relegation zone with a 1-1 home draw against Udinese.
Saturday 24th October
14/10 Empoli | 22/10 Draw | Genoa 2/1 (15:00)
Empoli will look to return to winning ways after their 3-1 loss at Roma. They have lost three of their last four matches and have managed just one win from four home games. Genoa are unbeaten in their last three matches after a hard fought 3-2 win on their turf against Chievo. Their away record, however, has been atrocious, scoring just once and conceding five times with a winless record. Nevertheless, they have looked impressive in recent weeks and look well worth a punt at 2/1.
5/4 Carpi | 21/10 | Bologna 24/10 (18:00)
New boys Carpi are off the back of a 3-0 thrashing away to Atalanta and come into this encounter with the worst defensive record in the league, conceding 19 goals in eight league matches. However, bottom-dwellers Bologna haven’t been any better with seven defeats from eight games, scoring a measly four goals, while shipping 13. Both teams have struggled to score goals this term and in this bottom-of-the-log clash, it would be wise to back Under 2.5 Goals at 5/10.
27/10 Palermo | 24/10 | Inter Milan 21/20 (20:45)
Palermo ended a four match losing streak with a 1-0 win away to Bologna last time out, but face a tougher task when they host third-placed Inter Milan who will be pumped up, looking to keep the pressure on the teams above them. Inter along with table-toppers Fiorentina, posses the best defensive records in the league, conceding just six goals in eight games. However, Palermo do have enough firepower to get on the scoresheet, but then again, so do Inter.Take Both Teams To Score at 15/20.
Sunday 25th October
21/20 Sampdoria | 24/10 | Hellas Verona 26/10 (13:30)
Sampdoria are coming off a disappointing 2-0 defeat away to minnows Frosinone. They have now managed just one win from their last five matches. However, la Samp return to their fortress where they remain unscathed with three wins from four games. Verona come to town, winless in the Serie A in their last 10 matches; with their last victory dating back to May this year. They have been dismal on the road, scoring just two goals in four games. Sampdoria have lost just once against Verona in the last 12 meetings, making the home win all the more worth a punt.
8/10 AC Milan | 26/10 | Sassuolo 7/2 (16:00)
AC Milan faced a difficult trip to Torino on Saturday night, a side that hadn’t dropped points at home prior to this match, but the Rossoneri responded to their humiliating 4-0 defeat to Napoli prior to the international break with an improved performance in the 1-1 draw. Much has been said over the past two weeks regarding the club’s hierarchy, Sinisa Mihajlovic’s position as coach and the players. With Milan seemingly in yet another crisis after losing four of their first seven games this season, Saturday’s game could have been a crucial turning point. Their opponents, Sassuolo, impressed as well, as they defeated Lazio 2-1 on Sunday to end the Rome club’s three-match winning run in Serie A. However, they managed just five wins from 19 travels last term and should struggle here.Milan are tipped to get the win with Both Teams To Score at 27/10.
7/20 Juventus | 39/10 | Atalanta 77/10 (16:00)
Juventus – who have won the last four league titles – are nine points off top spot, having only won two of their first eight games, playing to a goalless draw at Inter Milan last time out. Something has got to change soon if the champions are to successfully defend their title. Atalanta are up next to have a go at last season’s Champions League finalists and they come around in a bit of form as well. With three wins from their last four games, they are showing plenty of promise ahead of the clash. However, Juve have won the last 10 meetings on the trot against Atalanta, and seven of those head-to-heads have seen over 2.5 goals. So Juventus win + Over 2.5 Goals will get you 19/20.
15/20 Udinese | 27/10 | Frosinone 37/10 (16:00)
Udinese substitute Cyril Thereau scored with an equaliser six minutes from time to deny hosts Hellas Verona their first Serie A win of the campaign on Sunday, stretching their unbeaten run to three matches. Frosinone picked up a consecutive home win with a 2-0 win over Sampdoria. However, their away form has been dreadful, losing three of their four travels, scoring just once and conceding six times. The home win is tipped.
15/10 Fiorentina | 9/4 | Roma 18/10 (19:00)
Fiorentina’s five match winning run came to an end last Sunday as Napoli edged the Viola 2-1 at home. They return to home soil, where they have been impeccable, with four wins from four games, scoring eight goals and conceding none. Second-placed Roma will look to leapfrog their opponents with a victory and come to town in just the form to do so. They have won three matches on the spin, scoring an impressive 12 goals.Very little separates the sides at the moment, which points to a score draw as both teams have been firing goals at will.
1/1 Lazio | 24/10 | Torino 28/10 (19:00)
Lazio face Torino looking to put their 2-1 defeat at Sassuolo behind them and what better place to do so than in front of their own fans. They have been clinical on their turf, winning all four home games, scoring eight goals and conceding just once. Torino’s 100% winning home record came to an end last Saturday with AC Milan holding them to a 1-1 draw. Just one victory from their last four matches, and their away form reads the same. Lazio have won the last three meetings against them and are tipped to build on that.
38/10 Chievo | 26/10 | Napoli 15/20 (21:45)
Chievo’s winless run continued last time out with a 3-2 defeat away to Genoa. Their home form has been fairly decent, winning two of their four matches, scoring six goals and conceding only twice. Napoli have been in fine form, unbeaten since their opening day defeat, including three wins on the bounce. Chievo will do everything in their power to stop this rampant Napoli side but it’s difficult to see that happening. The away win is tipped.
Serie A Picks
Genoa WIN 2/1
Carpi UNDER 2.5 GOALS 5/10
Palermo BTTS 15/20
Sampdoria WIN 21/20
AC Milan WIN+BTTS 27/10
Juventus WIN+OVER 2.5 GOALS 19/20
Udinese WIN 15/20
Fiorentina DRAW+BTTS 29/10
Lazio WIN 1/1
Napoli WIN 15/20
Written by Aaron Crowie for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
