With just one point separating the log leaders and the two closest teams, we head into another interesting weekend of Serie A!
Saturday 12 February
13/20 Lazio | Draw 3/1 | Bologna 39/10 (16:00)
A Bologna team, winless in their last four games visits an in-form Lazio that has picked up seven points in their last three games. Lazio won convincingly against Fiorentina last weekend and will look to continue their good form in their quest to return to Champions League football. With six points between them and Juventus in fourth spot, I expect Maurizio Sarri’s men to go all out for a win in this one. Back the home team in everything.
18/10 Napoli | Draw 24/10 | Inter Milan 29/20 (19:00)
The pressure is fully on Inter Milan in this encounter after their last result; a 2-1 loss to bitter rivals AC Milan, who are also just a point behind them. With this victory, Milan put a stop to Inter’s 14 match unbeaten run in the league highlighting that the chasing pack hasn’t been too shabby themselves this year. Napoli host Inter on the back of four consecutive wins in the league, scoring nine goals in just as many games. Inter will need to quickly shake off their loss to be ready for yet another crucial clash. It’s going to be a tight game, but I see both teams to score (yes) at 6/10 being the call.
9/20 Torino | Draw 34/10 | Venezia 54/10 (21:45)
Torino lost 2-0 away to Udinese last time out. A result that has left them seven points adrift off the Europa League Conference League spot. They face a Venezia team desperate for points as their last loss dropped them to the 18th position, which means relegation. Venezia are winless in the last 10 games with their last win coming in November. I still see Venezia coming away with something in this game, I am tipping a draw.
Sunday 13 February
4/10 AC Milan | Draw 39/10 | Sampdoria 6/1 (13:30)
AC Milan goes into this one on the back of a major confidence-boosting win over their rivals Inter on the enemy territory in which Olivier Giroud showed the world his brilliance yet again. Having lost the Scudetto to Inter last season by a staggering 12 points, every game between now and the end of the season will be treated like a ‘cup final’ by the Rossoneri, who are on a run of six games unbeaten.
On the flipside, Sampdoria put an end to a six-game winless run in a convincing 4-0 victory over Sassuolo that moved them five points clear of the relegation zone. This will raise the players’ spirits, but I don’t see them causing an upset. I’m expecting a Milan win.
9/10 Empoli | Draw 28/10 | Cagliari 11/4 (16:00)
Cagliari will head into this one licking their lips with Empoli failing to register a win in their last eight league games. While they sit just two points ahead of 18th positioned Venezia, Cagliari has been on a decent run collecting 10 much-needed points in their last five. In their last fixture, they got the better of Atalanta. I see Cagliari continuing with this form, so back the away team to win this one.
17/20 Hellas Verona | Draw 26/10 | Udinese 31/10 (16:00)
An interesting mid-table clash between two teams who will probably feel they could be doing better this season. Verona’s form has fluctuated throughout the campaign and has continued doing so in their last five fixtures with three wins and two losses.
In fact, this season Verona has an equal number of wins and losses (9), with six draws. Udinese is almost similar; the main difference is they have drawn nine games and won only six. Back both teams to score (yes) at 8/10.
8/10 Genoa | Draw 26/10 | Salernitana 7/2 (16:00)
Relegation battle! The bottom two meet each other in this interesting matchup. While Genoa has one win in 24 games, they sit above Salernitana with only three points. The team has the highest number of draws with 11 all season. While Salernitana has managed to get three victories, they have lost 17 times and are clear favourites to be relegated. I see the home team claiming their second win in this one.
9/4 Sassuolo | Draw 26/10 | Roma 11/10 (19:00)
Sassuolo clash with Jose Mourinho’s team at the back of an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Sampdoria. They have just one victory in the last five league games. Roma on the other hand is still looking for some consistency with two wins and two losses in just as many fixtures. They’ll look to get back to winning ways in this game, but it won’t be an easy one. Back the away team to edge the victory.
17/10 Atalanta | 9/4 | Juventus 16/10 (21:45)
Juventus overtook Atalanta in the log standings last weekend to sneak into the top four of the Italian Serie A. Now, the pair face off in one of the biggest blockbusters taking place this weekend. The hosts are winless in their last three encounters and have won just once in their last six. It was debut delight for two of Juventus’ latest recruits with Dusan Vlahovic and Denis Zakaria both netting in the Old Lady’s 2-0 victory over Hellas Verona. With momentum on their side, my money is on the visitors.
Sunday 14 February
28/10 Spezia | 26/10 | Fiorentina 9/10 (21:45)
Spezia has been ultra-impressive of late and has racked up several positive results. The hosts are unbeaten in their last four ties, winning three in a row before being held to a draw by Salernitana last weekend. Fiorentina seems to have lost its spark since the departure of Vlahovic to Juventus. They’ve won just once in their last six encounters and suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat against Lazio on home soil last weekend. The Home/Draw Double Chance looks appealing at 8/10.
Quad at 11/1
Lazio win 13/20
AC Milan win 4/10
Roma win 11/10
Juventus 16/10
