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Saturday, 22 March 2008

Weekend Serie A Betting








Atalanta v Catania
In theory, this should be a shoe in for Atalanta. After a really strong start to the season, they have stuttered in recent weeks, but these results were on the road. They still managed a 4 - 1 thumping of Empoli at home and the same resuly against Sampdoria a few weeks earlier. Catania are woeful on the road and have yet to win away from home.
PREDICTION: Atalanta win.





Fiorentina v Lazio
Lazio had a few indifferent weeks at the beginning of the year. A series of toothless performances resulting in a few losses and a tame draw against Torino. Recent weeks have seen their fortunes turn, especially after the derby midweek. Incidently, Lazio have won their last 5 home games on the trot which is worth noting for next weeks game against Inter. On the road Lazio are less than impressive with 4 draws and 2 losses since the start of the year. Fiorentina are especially strong at the Artemio Franchi (their only home loss came against Milan) and following a woeful game against Napoli, they should be looking to bounce back at home. The 4th spot is far from consolidated, and a slender 4 points lead over milan could be extended today.
PREDICTION: very tight, La Viola should win, but i think a DRAW might be the wiser choice.

Inter v Juventus
Todays late kick off, and the Derby d'Italia should be a scorcher. I will try to let my love of the Bianconeri take the back burner for a moment. To be honest, Juve looked sh ite at Empoli in midweek -Just when they were starting to build a little momentum as well ! Inter are out of the CL, drew against Genoa, Had ANOTHER sending off midweek and the dressing room is still a fractous place by all accounts. Inter will look to consolidate lo scudetto this week but Juve love to stall their interdetti at every opportunity. The three fixtures between Inter and Juventus this season have seen 11 goals (including the coppa games) so methinks this will either be a goalfest, or a slender 1-1.
PREDICTION: Would say Juve look a decent proposition at the price. Inter have stalled on more than one occasion this season - would also look at the red card market and also overs.

Palermo v Genoa
Palermo are really suffering at the moment. The president ( a loon) has repeatedly undermined both coach and players this season. Amauri, Palermo's most lively player, has looked a different man in recent performances. 2 losses and 2 draws in recent weeks for the Palermitani, but this game should see a turn around. Despite a large portion of the Palermo squad looking set to jump ship in the summer, Palermo are reasonably solid at home. Genoa love to cause an upset and an away win at Udinese and a draw with Inter in recent weeks shows how resiliant they can be. Marco Borriello is still just cannoneire and simply can't stop scoring at the moment, but most importantly, Palermo have not lost at home to Genoa in over a decade (including serie B results) PREDICTION: Palermo to win and win comfortably.

Reggina v Napoli
Ahhh, how i love Napoli, these bu gg ers know how to score. Their last 0 - 0 game came no fewer than 6 months ago. They play beautiful attacking football and have some really decent talents in their side. Reggina have slipped into the relegation zone, and need points ASAP. Their recent decline in home form has momentarily been turned around thanks to a controversial win against Juve, a draw against Palermo, and a morale boosting win against Siena. They look a more hardened side with their serie A fate hanging by a thread, but i still think Napoli will cause an upset today.
PREDICTION Would lay the 0 - 0 if you can afford it, and back the overs. Would also look towards the DRAW and an AWAY win as possible outcomes





Roma v Empoli
Not a great deal to say here. Roma might be one for the accas, but would not be touching them at the 1.26 on offer. Yes they should win after a shock result against city rivals lazio in midweek, and with Empoli showing nothing of merit in their midweek draw, Roma looks solid. But with Inter clearing away by 7 points at the top of the Serie A table, a shock result is never far away when morale is low.

Sampdoria v Cagliari
How i love Sampdoria (unless they are playing against Juve!) - They are similar to Napoli in their attacking style - Love to get forward and love to score goals. They played a cracking game against the old men of milan midweek winning 2-1 and importantly undefeated at home since the 0 - 5 loss against milan way back at the end of october. Little bufolino (cassano) is still absent, but more worrying is the resurgant Cagliari . They have won 4 and lost 3 (all on the road) as they look to consolidate serie A survival. Sampdoria's home form here and Cagliaris ability to score on the road looks the key here.
PREDICTION - would back Sampdoria, and overs, would also factor in at least one goal for cagliari.

Torino v Milan
Don't you just hate Milan ??? Used to be a side you could admire, even if your team was playing against them. They have little of that spark left these days. Strikers looks anonymous with the exceptions being youn Pato and Paloschi. Midfield looks uncreative often leaving Kaka to carry them single handedly. Unsurprisingly, i hate Torino even more, but they know how to play. Serie A surivial looks consolidated for Torino, but they can by no means be complacent. Milan on the other hand, are looking likely to miss out on a CL spot altogether. La Viola have a 4 point lead against their rivals, and with their tricky game against Lazio, Milan may still stand a chance. Todays game is a must win, make no bones about it. Torino are not a push over at home, and despite my reluctance to back Milan in recent weeks (have opted to lay them in at least 5 of their recent game),
PREDICTION: I think milan are a half way decent price today at 1.96.

Udinese v Livorno
Another team i simply love to back, Udinese are another side that love to score. Livorno are another of the strugglers in Serie A. They have one home win to their name in the last 11 games, having lost the other 6 and drawn 4. Udinese will see this as a chance to maintain a push for CL football. Just 6 points behind Fiorentina, they need to keep the pressure on, despite being behind both Samp and Milan. Udinese were great midweek hanging on to 3 points away at Torino. They are woeful in defence at times, but Livorno have little going for them away from home.
PREDICTION: Would back Udinese in this game with some conifdence.