The international break can sometimes be a blessing or a curse. A star player may get injured and a team could take a dip in form. But when you are four-time consecutive Serie A champions like Juventus, and lose your first two league matches for the first time in club history, a break like that could be just what the doctor ordered.
The Serie A returns this weekend with a titanic clash in the Milan derby, whilst new boys Carpi, Frosinone and Bologna will be looking to pick up their first points of the new campaign. It was a good week on the betting front for yours truly last time out, picking seven out of ten winners. So it’s best you follow me once more while I remain in red-hot form.
Saturday 12 September
Frosinone 13/2
Draw 7/2
Roma 9/20
We kick things off at newly promoted Frosinone who have begun their first ever spell in the top flight with back-to-back defeats. A goal in each half was enough for Atalanta to take all three points against Frosinone, who failed to create many scoring opportunities. Frosinone’s mood, however, is just going to get gloomier as a meeting with high-flyers Roma is next up. Giallorossi handed Juventus, the champions, their second successive Serie A defeat when second-half goals by Miralem Pjanic and Edin Dzeko earned a well-deserved 2-1 victory in the capital. Last season’s runners-up Roma will be confident going into this fixture and I think they’ve got plenty of goals in them. The Away Team To Score In Both Halves is the tip at 5/4.
Fiorentina 13/20
Draw 28/10
Genoa 4/1
After an impressive start to the new season – ousting AC Milan 2-0 on home soil – Fiorentina then fell to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Torino last time out. However, Genoa have been just as inconsistent as their opponents, losing their opening match 1-0 away to Palermo but coming back strong before the international break, breezing to a 2-0 victory at home against Verona. Fiorentina have an impressive record against Genoa – unbeaten in the last eleven meetings. However, the last three meetings have ended in draws, and judging by the current form of the two sides another stalemate looks a likely outcome. So to be on the safe side, take Both Teams To Score at 8/10.
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Juventus 4/10
Draw 7/2
Chievo 72/10
It has been a nightmare of a start to the Serie A for champions Juventus. Back-to-back defeats against Udinese (1-0) and Roma (2-1) have seen the Italian giants make the worst start to the league in the club’s history. The log leaders come to town, and of all teams, it’s last term’s fourteenth-place finishers, Chievo! They have made a brilliant start to the new campaign with back-to-back victories, triumphing 3-1 at Empoli before embarrassing Champions League hopefuls Lazio 4-0 at home. However, Chievo know that the Old Lady is the toughest opponent in the league and any positive result against the title holders will do – especially away from home. With that being said, form is temporary and class is permanent, so back Juventus to return to winning ways.
Sunday 13 September
Hellas Verona 19/10
Draw 23/10
Torino 14/10
Hellas Verona welcome the in-form Torino to Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, where they got a well-deserved 1-1 draw with Roma in the opening match of the season. However, gameweek two saw them slip to a 2-0 defeat away to Genoa, making Verona vulnerable at present. Torino have started the campaign with consecutive victories against Frosinone (2-1) and Fiorentina (3-1). Quagliarella Fabio and Baselli Daniele have been outstanding for the club, bagging two goals each, and Verona will have their hands full here. Torino have won the last four meetings away to their opponents and are tipped to add to that.
Sassuolo 11/10
Draw 23/10
Atalanta 26/10
Two wins in two weeks, Sassuolo is another team to start the season on a high. Before edging Bologna 1-0 away from home last time out, Sassuolo managed an impressive 2-1 win at home against Napoli. It’s Atalanta up next and they come to town off the back of a 2-0 home win against Frosinone. Prior to that win, they fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Inter Milan. This one could go down to the nail but I’m backing Sassuolo to capitalise on home advantage once more.
Lazio 13/20
Draw 11/4
Udinese 42/10
Lazio will meet Udinese on Sunday evening, looking to put their humiliating and disappointing 4-0 defeat away to Chievo last time out behind them. Udinese have scored just one goal and have conceded only once. A 1-0 victory away to champions Juventus in their opening game and then a 1-0 defeat on their turf followed against Palermo. Lazio will be glad to return to their ground where they edged Bologna 2-1 in their opening game of the season. However, with both sides struggling to find the back of the net I reckon a draw will be the result.
Sampdoria 8/10
Draw 26/10
Bologna 34/10
Sampdoria have made quite a decent start to the Serie A. A 5-2 victory over Carpi in their opening game and earning a hard fought 2-2 draw at Napoli last time out isn’t too bad at all. Eder Martins is the top scorer in the Serie A with four goals and Bologna will need to keep the in-form striker at bay. Bologna have been terrible with two defeats in a row. A 2-1 defeat away to Lazio was followed by a 1-0 loss at home against Sassuolo. The newcomers will be desperate for a win or at least a draw here but it’s just difficult to see that happening at Sampdoria. The home win is tipped.
Palermo 11/20
Draw 31/10
Carpi 52/10
Palermo are the only team in the league yet to concede a goal. They have won both of their matches 1-0 against Genoa and then Udinese. Newcomers Carpi have been dismal with back-to-back defeats, going down 5-2 in their opening match away to Sampdoria and then falling to a 2-1 loss at home against Inter Milan. They need to give a better showing here if they are to get anything out of this game. However, Palermo should be too strong for their opponents at home.
Empoli 34/10
Draw 27/10
Napoli 8/10
Another team that have lost both of their matches is Empoli. Their opening match ended in a 3-1 home defeat against Chievo and they then went down 2-1 away to AC Milan. Napoli comes to town in search of their first three points after a disappointingly slow start to the new campaign. They fell to a 2-1 defeat in their opening match at Sassuolo and then Sampdoria held them to a 2-2 draw just before the international break. Napoli are bound to get their maiden victory and they are tipped to do so this weekend.
Inter Milan 12/10
Draw 9/4
AC Milan 24/10
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