There was once again another twist in the tale as far as the title race for the Italian Serie A is concerned. AC Milan lost to Spezia, surrendering their spot at the top of the table to their crosstown rivals, Inter Milan, who they face this weekend in one of the fiercest rivalries in world football.
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Juventus also lost this past weekend to lose further ground on the leading pack as the Milan clubs look to pull clear of the ever-present champions. Elsewhere, Napoli and Atalanta will be looking to break into the top four this weekend as the pair face each other in another one of the highlight fixtures of the round. Let’s get straight to it!
Friday 19 February
Fiorentina 9/10
Draw 23/10
Spezia 3/1 (19:30)
Fiorentina welcome Spezia in this lower table clash. The hosts are winless in their last three games, losing their last two. They face a Spezia team who are on the up after defeating title contender’s AC Milan in their last encounter. The last meeting between these sides in the league resulted in a 2-2 draw and goals look to be promised again here, with the hosts wanting to use their home ground to their advantage and with the away team wanting to keep their winning streak alive. Both Teams to Score at 9/10 is the selection.
Cagliari 17/10
Draw 23/10
Torino 15/10 (21:45)
Its’s a relegation battle as Cagliari who are 18th on the table welcome Torino who are 17th. The hosts last won a game on 25 November 2020. Since then, they have played 15 matches, losing 10 of them. They face a Torino side who have drawn their last five matches. With Cagliari not knowing when they might win again, the away team do look good value here at 15/10.
Saturday 20 February
Lazio 6/10
Draw 24/10
Sampdoria 37/10 (16:00)
The hosts were not disgraced in their last encounter against the now log leaders Inter Milan, going down 3-1. Prior to that, they won their last two on the bounce. They face a team who are 10 points behind them on the table in the form of Sampdoria who got back to winning ways in their last encounter beating Fiorentina. With Lazio being at home, they should be too strong here.
Genoa 17/10
Draw 2/1
Hellas Verona 17/10 (19:00)
It’s a midtable clash as ninth place Genoa host eleventh place Hellas Verona. The hosts are undefeated in their last five games and look like they should be able to keep that run alive here. They face a Hellas Verona side who got back to winning ways against second from bottom Parma last time out. The home team are in a good run of form and the 17/10 looks good value here, back the hosts.
Sassuolo 13/10
Draw 23/10
Bologna 2/1 (21:45)
Sassuolo host Bologna in this midtable encounter, they come into this after a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Crotone. The away side only managed a draw against Benevento in their last clash. This looks like another tricky encounter to call with both teams being so inconsistent. I’m tipping the draw at 23/10.
Sunday 21 February
Parma 26/10
Draw 22/10
Udinese 11/10 (13:30)
The hosts, Parma, have lost their last five games on the bounce and are without a win since 30 November. They face an Udinese side who lost to a strong Roma outfit last time out, prior to that they did manage to win two on the bounce. With Parma in such dismal form, I will be climbing onto the away team here.
AC Milan 5/2
Draw 5/2
Inter Milan 1/1 (16:00)
The clash of the weekend is the Milan derby. These arch rivals go toe to toe here with prize of the top of the table in-sight. AC Milan relinquished their top spot last time out when losing 2-0 to Spezia, while Inter brushed aside Lazio 3-1 in their last encounter to go top. With so much to play for, it does promise to be a tactical encounter and the first half should be a cagey affair. I’m tipping the halftime draw at 12/10.
Atalanta 9/10
Draw 27/10
Napoli 27/10 (19:00)
Fifth-placed Atalanta host sixth-placed Napoli in what looks to be a battle for the European places. The hosts won their last two on the bounce and face a Napoli side who beat reigning champions Juventus in their last clash. This promises to be a tightly-contested encounter but with Napoli wanting revenge after their Coppa Italia exit by the hands of Atalanta recently, they should just want this more. I’m tipping the away side.
Benevento 42/10
Draw 27/10
Roma 5/10 (21:45)
Benevento, who are without a win in their last five games, face a Roma side who got back to winning ways in their last encounter, winning 3-0 to Udinese at home. With Roma looking to continue their summit up the table, they should be added to all multiples.
Monday 22 February
Juventus 2/10
Draw 62/10
Crotone 14/1 (21:45)
Reigning champions Juventus host bottom-of-the-table Crotone. With Crotone only managing to accumulate two points away from home all season, this really should be an easy day out at the office for Cristiano Ronaldo and company. I’m tipping Juventus on the -2 Handicap at 12/10.
TREBLE @15/2
Udinese Win 11/10
Roma Win 5/10
Genoa Win 17/10
Written by Venal Naidu.
