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Last weekend the Serie A produced fireworks, with 7 of the 10 matches ending with over 2.5 goals. |
Last weekend the Italian Serie A produced plenty of goals, with seven of the 10 matches ending with over 2.5 goals. If you had a punt on that market you would have been smiling walking into work on Monday morning. As for results, the teams that find themselves placed in the top seven on the standing all claimed maximum points.
It’s been a tightly contested campaign but Juventus have just been a class above the rest. But let me not talk like it’s all said and done. There are still 13 rounds of fixtures to go and as we know, in football anything is possible.
Saturday 25 February
11/20 Napoli | Draw 32/10 | Atalanta 9/2 (19:00)
Napoli and Atalanta will open proceedings on Saturday evening at the Stadio San Paolo. The hosts are unbeaten in their last 14 league games, including a 3-1 victory at Chievo last time out. They have been strong at home with nine wins from 13 matches and are deserved favourites to win here. High-flying Atalanta have been in top form in recent weeks, unbeaten in their last five matches, including three victories on the spin. However, they are winless away to Napoli in the last five meetings with four defeats and should go down. The home win is tipped.
1/7 Juventus | 6/1 | Empoli 17/1 (21:45)
Defending champions, Juventus, kept their immaculate home record in check last Friday with a 4-1 thumping win over Palermo. The victory made it 13 home wins on the trot, edging the Old Lady one step closer to a sixth consecutive Scudetto. Relegation-threatened Empoli are without a win in their last four league games with three losses, including back-to-back defeats. They have travelled poorly with just one victory from 12 matches, scoring six goals and conceding seven times. Get on the Half-time/Full-time Double at 5/10.
Sunday 26 February
39/20 Palermo | 22/10 | Sampdoria 14/10 (13:30)
Relegation-bound Palermo have been terrible in recent weeks with five losses from their last seven matches, including back-to-back defeats. They have been horrendous on their ground with 10 losses from 12 games. Sampdoria are undefeated in their last four matches with three wins, including a goalless home draw against Cagliari last time out. A tightly contested affair is on the cards with Both Teams to Score looking the safest option at 8/10.
9/20 Lazio | 34/10 | Udinese 57/10 (16:00)
Lazio will take on Udinese on Sunday afternoon. The Biancocelesti have been strong at home with eight wins from 13 games and are coming off a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Empoli. Udinese have been dreadful with five losses from their last seven matches, including two defeats on the bounce. The reverse tie ended 3-0 in favour of Lazio and judging by the form of both teams, they look set to claim the double. The home win should be backed.
2/1 Sassuolo | 23/10 | AC Milan 5/4 (16:00)
Sassuolo have been impressive in recent weeks with four wins from their last six games. Funny enough, they have lost their last three home games in all competitions and next up they play host to Italian giants, AC Milan. The Rossoneri bounced back to winning ways on Sunday evening with a hard-earned 2-1 victory at the San Siro against Fiorentina. There have been some high-scoring affairs between these sides with the last eight meetings producing a total of 33 goals at an average of 4.1 per game. It’s difficult to decide between the sides with the home team usually prevailing as the winner of this contest. I’m going to look for a bit of value here and the Additional Totals – Over 3.5 Goals – market catches my eye at a whopping 39/20.
8/10 Chievo | 26/10 | Pescara 32/10 (16:00)
Chievo will look to return to winning ways after suffering a 3-1 defeat on home soil against Napoli. The Gialloblu have, however, lacked consistency and a winning mentality. Basement-dwellers Pescara pulled off the win of the round last time out with a surprising 5-0 home win over Genoa. Chievo won the corresponding fixture 2-0, so revenge and a chance to mount a comeback in the hope of clawing their way out the relegation zone will be on the minds of the Pescara players. Another tough one to call but looking at the head-to-head stats, nine of the last 10 meetings have seen Under 2.5 Goals, so I will be following that pattern and I suggest you do the same at 11/10.
21/20 Genoa | 9/4 | Bologna 26/10 (16:00)
Genoa have been in a bit of a slump as they are without a win in their last 10 matches in all competitions, including a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of relegation-bound Pescara. Bologna are winless in their last five games, scoring just three goals and conceding 13 times. Genoa looked down and out of it last weekend, and as such, I will be backing Bologna to get a result here. The away Win/Draw Double Chance is tipped at 7/10.
16/10 Crotone | 22/10 | Cagliari 17/10 (16:00)
Relegation-candidates Crotone have been terrible in recent weeks with four consecutive losses. However, the last three defeats came at the hands of Juventus (2-0), Roma (2-0) and Atalanta (1-0) – three teams in top form. Cagliari are without a win in their last five matches. They have struggled on the road with 10 losses from 13 games, scoring eight goals and conceding 28 times. The last seven meetings between the sides have seen Over 2.5 Goals, while the home team usually claims the win. Get on the Matchbet & Totals – Take Home & Over 2.5 Goals at 47/20.
31/20 Inter Milan | 47/20 | Roma 33/20 (21:45)
Inter Milan and Roma will lock horns in what is undoubtedly the Serie A match of the weekend. The Nerazzurri have been brilliant with nine wins from their last 10 matches and have been excellent on their turf with nine wins from 12 games, scoring 27 goals and conceding just nine times. Roma have also been in brilliant form with 10 wins from their last 11 matches in all competitions. A cagey affair is expected, with the sides tipped to cancel each other out.
Monday 27 February
19/20 Fiorentina | 51/20 | Torino 26/10 (21:45)
Fiorentina remain unbeaten on their ground with six wins and six draws from 12 games. The Viola are also undefeated on home soil against Torino in the last 12 league meetings with eight wins and four draws from 12 matches. Torino have managed just two wins from 13 travels and have battled to maintain winning form. With home advantage, Fiorentina are tipped to bag all three points.
DOUBLE @ 6/1
Chievo vs Pescara Over 2.5 Goals 11/10
Crotone Win + Over 2.5 Goals 47/20
Written by Aaron Crowie