There are just three games to go in what’s been one of the most exciting Serie A seasons in recent history. Bitter rivals AC Milan and Inter both registered wins in their tight race for the Scudetto.
At the other end of the table, Salernitana now looks like the most likely team to survive the drop, at the expense of Cagliari. Mcebo Mpungose previews gameweek 36.
Friday 6 May
1/7 Inter Milan | Draw 7/1 | Empoli (13/1) (18:45)
With Inter playing on Friday night, the initiative has been handed to the Nerazzurri who sit in the second position with 75 points. Winning this game would see Inter leapfrog AC Milan on the first spot, even though this could be for a few hours should their bitter rivals also win this weekend.
Inter have lost once in their last five games, a bruising loss that could, in the end, cost them the title they are defending. Luckily, they face a team that has only won once in the last five games in Empoli, who were thrashed 3-1 by Torino last time out. I’m backing Inter for the win.
33/10 Genoa | Draw 26/10 | Juventus 8/10 (21:00)
While most Juve fans will be sad to see their team sit out of the race for the Scudetto this season, many will be happy with the progress shown by the Old Lady after a dismal 2020/2021 season. Ironically, they are likely to finish with the same points tally but a positive to take is the smaller gap between them and log leaders.
Performances have looked better, too, after the addition of a few players in January. They visit a Genoa side that has been in the relegation zone for months now and its fate seems sealed despite a slight mathematical chance of surviving the drop. The visiting side should easily win this with over 2.5 goals.
Saturday 7 May 2022
5/2 Torino | Draw 5/2 | Napoli 21/20 (15:00)
Napoli visits Torino in what should be one of the fixtures to look forward to this weekend. Torino is in decent form in their last five games having collected two wins and three draws. While they haven’t won many, they’ve made sure to stay unbeaten.
Napoli, on the other hand, has had a year to forget. They’ve dropped the ball once again in the race for the Scudetto as they now sit seven points off log leaders.
They were much closer in December 2021. Despite being the better side, I don’t have full faith Napoli will win this one so I will double chance it. Napoli win or draw.
13/10 Sassuolo | Draw 26/10 | Udinese 37/20 (18:00)
There’s not much between these teams with both of them in fluctuating form in recent weeks.
Sassuolo has been the slightly better side all season but Udinese has won two in their last five, while the home side is on a three-game losing streak. I’m backing both teams to score on 9/20.
9/20 Lazio | Draw 7/2 | Sampdoria 5/1 (20:45)
Lazio is neck and neck with Roma in a skirmish for Europa League qualification. Both teams are on 59 points with Lazio holding a slight goal difference advantage of two goals while Roma dropped points last time out.
Lazio has now won three of their last five games while Sampdoria got themselves a much-needed victory against Genoa to put a buffer between them and the relegation zone. To keep themselves out of any possible trouble with just three games left, they will surely fight tooth and nail for a point against Lazio, who’ll be looking for all three points to get one over Jose Mourinho. I’m backing the first-half draw at 29/20 and a Lazio win on full-time.
Sunday 8 May 2022
5/1 Spezia | Draw 36/10 | Atalanta 9/20 (12:30)
This should be an interesting early kick-off fixture between Spezia and Atalanta. Unlike Sampdoria, the home side failed to win last weekend and lost a chance to ensure they survive the drop. They still have a chance though to occupy 16th position with a seven-point gap between them and the 18th-positioned team (who have a game in hand).
They host an Atalanta side that, much like Napoli, has had a year to forget. Atalanta went from being a strong contender for the UCL places to scraping to get into the Europa Conference. Tough one to call so I will be backing both teams to score at 7/10
2/1 Venezia | Draw 47/20 | Bologna 27/20 (15:00)
Judging by recent form, Bologna is probably one of the teams Venezia will be dreading to come against, although they will probably feel like they could get something from the game.
Bologna is the only team besides table-topping AC Milan to go the last five games without a loss. Their run has accumulated fewer points though with only two victories in between three draws. Still, this means Bologna isn’t an easy team to beat. If you’re going to have a punt, Bologna is the team to select.
27/20 Salernitana | Draw 23/10 | Cagliari 39/20 (18:00)
Game of the weekend? Seriously if you’re into high-stakes games and high-intensity football that feels like a street brawl, this should be the game you watch.
Salernitana has been smashing everything in front of them to go unbeaten in their last four games, collecting three wins in a row and a draw last time out to move up to 18th position, giving themselves a chance to survive the drop having occupied 20th position the longest this season. They come up against 17th-positioned Cagliari who has only won once in their last five games. I’m backing a 1-0 home victory for Salernitana.
31/10 Hellas Verona | Draw 28/10 | AC Milan 8/10 (AC Milan)
Most Inter fans will stay up to watch this game supporting Verona! If Inter is to stay at the top of the table (should they win) they will need Verona to do them a favor by either beating or drawing with AC Milan. If there’s any team that can be trusted with an upset of this nature, it is Verona, a team that has won nine games at home this season, including an impressive win against Juventus in October.
Milan isn’t shabby away from either having collected 12 wins this season and was able to beat Verona back in October. A tough call but the Rossoneri haven’t won the league since the 2010/2011 season, they won’t be keen on any slip-ups. AC Milan should win but with less than 2.5 goals.
Monday 9 May
29/20 Fiorentina | Draw 23/10 | Roma 37/20 (20:45)
Wrapping up gameweek 36, Fiorentina takes on Roma whom they’ll be seeking to derail in their race to qualify for Europa League places. The home side is on a three-game losing streak while Roma has also failed to register a win in their last three games even though two of those were draws. Jose Mourinho will be desperate for a win here seeing as his side has invested more in the transfer market in the hopes of returning to the premier competition in Europe.
While that goal is no longer attainable this season, Europa League should be enough to satisfy Roma bosses for at least another season. Both these teams are in unpredictable form but there’s some value in backing a Fiorentina win or draw. Whenever Roma is under pressure, they seem to not cope with it this season.
TREBLE @ 9/1
Salernitana Win 27/20
AC Milan Win 8/10
Fiorentina Win 29/20
