There’s a handful of games to go in the Serie A, with both AC Milan and Inter Milan notching wins last weekend the race for the Scudetto looks set to go down to the wire.
Meanwhile, in the relegation zone, things have taken a turn for the worse for Venezia, while Salernitana now look like favorites to survive the drop. Mcebo Mpungose previews the upcoming matches.
Saturday 30 April
15/10 Cagliari | Draw 47/20 | Hellas Verona 7/4 (15:00)
The home side finds itself in the murky waters of relegation, and they have no one to blame but themselves. Cagliari has won one in their last five in a run that has them sitting just three points ahead of Salernitana, who have a game in hand on 18th position. Worryingly they are facing a Verona side that has only lost once in their last five, a run they managed to collect eight points in.
What will concern them more is the fact that Verona doesn’t let in a lot of goals. I’m going with a Double Chance for this one, Verona Win or Draw at 9/20.
9/20 Napoli | Draw 39/10 | Sassuolo 5/1 (15:00)
In just three games, Napoli has lost their grip in the race for the Scudetto. They are now seven points behind log leaders, and with four games to go, it’s become difficult to see them lifting it. Embarrassingly, Napoli dropped three points against Empoli, who had been winless in their last four games before their 3-2 victory. They were beaten by Fiorentina by the same score line.
Fortunately for them, this game presents a chance to break the bad run and return to winning ways with Sassuolo losing their last two. I’m backing a Napoli win, but it may be a little too late in the title race.
31/20 Sampdoria | Draw 22/10 | Genoa 18/10 (18:00)
Sampdoria, like Cagliari, is another side playing with fire as they find themselves dangerously close to the relegation zone after going four games without a win. Genoa will smell blood in the water ahead of this one, having tasted victory against… you guessed it, Cagliari.
Genoa and Sampdoria are separated by five points, with just four games to go every single point counts now. I am backing Both Teams to Score (Yes) at 8/10 in what should be an open game.
38/10 Spezia | Draw 28/10 | Lazio 7/10 (20:45)
The visiting side will come into this one with a bit of confidence having won their last game. Spezia are winless in their last three games and have only managed to win once in the last five. While relatively safe from relegation, it is still mathematically possible for them to get relegated.
Both sides have leaky defenses, so I’m expecting both teams to score but Lazio should win this despite going through a bit of a hiccup in the last week or so. Lazio Win with Both Teams to Score (Yes) at 51/20.
Sunday 1 May
2/9 Juventus | Draw 54/10 | Venezia 11/1 (12:30)
Juve needed a last-minute goal to win against Sassuolo on Monday night in a game that was largely not controlled by the Old Lady both in terms of possession and chances created.
This should be an easier game against relegation-threatened Venezia, who now sits bottom of the table. I’m backing Juve to win both halves at 6/10 in what should be a convincing performance.
7/10 AC Milan | Draw 11/4 | Fiorentina 39/10 (15:00)
AC Milan has a tricky four games left before the season is wrapped up. First, it’s Fiorentina, then Verona, Atalanta, and Sassuolo. Honestly, this is a hellish run compared to Inter (we’ll get there in a few). Fiorentina has had a mixed bag of results on the road, and a shock loss to Salernitana was not surprising.
The only thing that will worry Milan fans is their lack of cutting edge in front of goal with the team winning 1-0 in their last three victories. I’m backing a draw!
16/10 Empoli | Draw 47/20 | Torino 33/20 (15:00)
Empoli snapped a 16-game winless run with an emphatic win over Napoli last time out, cementing their place in the Serie A for another season.
The visiting side is comfortable in the mid-table with not much to worry about except ensuring a strong finish and preparing for the new season. After their last victory, I’m expecting a spirited performance again from the home side. I’m backing a win for Empoli.
44/10 Udinese | Draw 31/10 | Inter Milan 11/20 (18:00)
Inter managed to beat their bitter rivals and title contenders AC Milan 3-0 last week Tuesday in the Coppa Italia and the visit to Udinese will be coupled by the mood to scoop a title. Undefeated in their last 10 on the road before their shock loss to Bologna in midweek, they are the most inform travelling side in the league. I’m expecting an easy win for Inter and for the game totals above 2.5 at 13/10.
4/10 Roma | Draw 37/10 | Bologna 58/10 (20:45)
Despite their bruising defeat to Inter Milan, which further dented their chances of finishing in the top four, Roma still has the Europa league spot to fight for. With Fiorentina facing AC over the weekend, this is their chance to stretch the gap between themselves and the sixth-positioned team.
They face a Bologna side who has not won an away fixture in seven consecutive fixtures. I’m backing a Roma win.
1/4 Atalanta | Draw 52/10 | Salernitana 9/1 (20:45)
Atalanta managed to snap a three-game winless run with a convincing win over basement boys Venezia in the weekend but dropped points on Wednesday night drawing with Torino . They now come up against former relegation strugglers Salernitana who looked destined for the drop until their last three games. Atalanta’s horrible form in 2022 has seen them out of UCL places, but they can still do enough to get into the Europa League.
There could be some value in backing a Salernitana team here, but Atalanta is a side that performs better against a team with a bit of confidence going forward as opposed to ones that drop and sit back. I’m backing a double chance here: Atalanta or Salernitana win at 1/10, but for more value Both Teams to Score (Yes) at 19/20 is an option.
Treble @ 23/1
Roma Win 4/10
Verona Win 7/4
Atalanta/Salernitana Draw 52/10
