Our football expert previews round 22 of the Italian Serie A which resumes on Saturday the 2nd of February 2019.
With an 11-point lead at the summit of the Serie A standings, runaway leaders Juventus look set to retain the title as the Serie A champions. With Cristiano Ronaldo on board at the Old Lady, they have been a different beast! The rest are just fighting for scraps at this point.
Saturday 2 February
Empoli 19/20 | Draw 5/2 | Chievo 29/10
Saturday’s Serie A action gets underway with an early relegation contest between Empoli and Chievo. The hosts are winless in their last six matches, including five defeats, while Chievo are yet to win a game on the road.
The reverse tie ended goalless and I’m not expecting too many goals to be scored here. The Totals – Under 2.5 Goals – market is tipped at 17/20.
Napoli 4/10 | Draw 39/10 | Sampdoria 13/2
Napoli remain unbeaten at home with nine wins and two draws from 11 games, scoring 25 goals and conceding just seven times. Sampdoria are coming off an impressive 4-0 win at home against Udinese which would have given the team a confidence boost ahead of Saturday’s clash with Napoli.
Revenge will also be another factor to consider after La Samp smashed the Azzurri 4-0 in the corresponding fixture. And that’s just what I’m backing. Napoli on the Matchbet & Both Teams to Score offers plenty of value at 16/10.
Juventus 2/11 | Draw 57/10 | Parma 14/1
Defending champions Juventus are the only team in the league yet to taste defeat with 19 wins from 21 matches. Parma have won their last two games on the road but were humiliated last time out after going two goals up against SPAL only to ship three and lose the game 3-2 at home.
The Old Lady will most likely just add to their humiliation. I can’t see anything less than a home victory. Back Juventus to win both halves at 23/20.
Sunday 3 February
SPAL 26/10 | Draw 21/10 | Torino 23/20
SPAL’s 3-2 come-from-behind victory at Parma last weekend showed guts, determination and heart. That win saw them overturn a 12-game winless streak. Torino were simply excellent as well after edging Inter Milan 1-0 with a brilliant display of tactical and organised football.
Both sides are on the up and will be looking to build on last weekend’s respective heroics. Get on Both Teams to Score – Yes – at 11/10.
Genoa 15/10 | Draw 43/20 | Sassuolo 39/20
Genoa and Sassuolo come into this contest on the back of impressive victories with the former winning 3-1 at Empoli, while the latter hammered Cagliari 3-0 at home. Genoa have been inconsistent at home, while Sassuolo have struggled to maintain winning form.
A cagey affair looks very much likely, along with a lack of goalscoring opportunities. Five of the last six meetings have produced Under 2.5 Goals so I suggest you follow the trend at 7/10.
Udinese 47/20 | Draw 43/20 | Fiorentina 5/4
Udinese have been poor of late with back-to-back losses, conceding six goals and finding the back of the net just once. Fiorentina ousted Chievo 4-3 in an entertaining seven-goal thriller last weekend and will look to add to that here.
The Viola have won the last four meetings against Udinese, scoring eight goals and conceding only once. The away win is on the cards.
Inter Milan 1/4 | Draw 9/2 | Bologna 10/1
Inter Milan’s run of five games without a defeat came to an end last weekend as they suffered a 1-0 loss at Torino. Bologna remain winless on their travels, scoring nine goals and conceding 19 times in the process.
I’m expecting the hosts to come back strong this week. Back the Nerazzurri on the (-1) Handicap at 15/20.
Roma 12/10 | Draw 5/2 | AC Milan 43/20
Roma were held to a 3-3 draw at Atalanta last time out but return to the Stadio Olimpico where they have won three on the spin. However, for all of their great attacking football, the Giallorossi have struggled defensively.
AC Milan are unbeaten in their last four matches, including a goalless draw against Napoli last time out. They have looked solid at the back and I’m backing them on the Win/Draw Double Chance against Roma at 7/10.
Monday 4 February
Frosinone 6/1 | Draw 36/10 | Lazio 4/10
Frosinone surprised all last weekend after thumping Bologna 4-0 away from home, ending a run of 10 matches. Lazio, on the other hand, have lost back-to-back games but against the top two clubs respectively (Juventus and Napoli).
The hosts will have a new-found confidence of swagger about themselves and should find the back of the net. Lazio will be desperate to get back to winning ways and should at least get on the score sheet as well. Both Teams to Score – Yes – is tipped at 13/20.
Cagliari 38/10 | Draw 29/10 | Atalanta 7/10
Last but not least, a wounded Cagliari side will take on free-scoring Atalanta on Monday night. The hosts were hammered 3-0 at Sassuolo last weekend, while Atalanta have won back-to-back travels, scoring 11 goals.
La Dea have won four of the last five meetings against Cagliari and look likely to add to that. Take Atalanta to win.
TREBLE TIPPED @ 7/1
Juventus to Win Both Halves 23/20
SPAL vs Torino BTTS 11/10
Inter Milan (-1) Handicap 15/20
