Serie A is back, and it’s time for the biggest stars to shine as Napoli and Juventus threaten to run away at the top.
The two leaders are clear favourites on betting websites to battle it out for the Scudetto. But there is a sparkling set of post-Christmas football games for us to enjoy. Inter and Lazio, particularly, may have something to say in their epic clash.
WEEK 19 SATURDAY:
Crotone vs Napoli
Marek Hamsik became Napoli’s top scorer of all time, with his 116th for the Azzurri helping them to stay at the top. A win against Crotone will keep them there, but they will be without suspended defender Mario Rui. Moreover, Crotone did beat Chievo in their last home fixture. Maurizio Sarri knows you have to beat a bottom-three side, though.
AS Roma vs Sassuolo
Roma are sandwiched between Inter and Lazio in fourth and will expect to pop their visitors’ balloon as they try to follow up that great win against Inter. It wasn’t a one-off, though; Sassuolo have won four of their last six, and are at 1.99 to triumph in Rome with a +1.50 goals start.
Sampdoria vs SPAL
Fabio Quagliarella scored last time out away to Napoli and has ten for Samp, but they are falling away after four league defeats in six. They should get back on track against SPAL, sitting precariously in 17th, but the promoted team is unbeaten in three Serie A games.
Atalanta vs Cagliari
Atalanta are on the charge, up to seventh and on an unbeaten run of five. You can count on the influential Josip Ilicic to put Cagliari to the sword. The visitors have been on an alarming slide to 16th, with only two points from their last five. Atalanta are at 2.06 to win with a -1.25 goals handicap.
Fiorentina vs AC Milan
Milan slid down to 11th after a run of six games with just a solitary win, and they have the small matter of a home tie in the Coppa Italia with Inter in the run up to this game. The Viola, six unbeaten in the league, looks good value at 2.25 to win here.
Benevento vs Chievo
The celebrations at Benevento have just died down after they won their only point of the campaign, against Milan, at the start of December. Chievo might give them a chance, having won just one point in four games, but the hosts must beware seven- goal Roberto Inglese.
Bologna vs Udinese
Bologna and Udinese are two of four teams in mid-table on 24 points and separated only by goal difference. Bologna won last time out in Verona, but it’s the visitors who are on the charge with four consecutive league wins.
Torino vs Genoa
Torino are another on 24 points and sit comfortably in tenth. But if they have their sights set on a Europa place, they need to turn draws into wins: they have taken only a single point in four of the last six. Genoa, in 15th, only lost one in four on their travels.
WEEK 19 SUNDAY:
Hellas Verona vs Juventus
If Napoli slip up at Crotone, the Bianconeri is are ready to pounce. Their own man-of-the-moment, Paulo Dybala, is a target for big spenders PSG, but Max Allegri won’t let his stars get distracted. They are at 1.80 to win in Verona with a -1.50 goals handicap.
Inter Milan vs Lazio
It’s a battle of the sharpshooters in the match of the weekend, when third-placed Inter take on Lazio, two places back in fifth. Inter’s Mauro Icardi leads the scoring charts with 17, but a shock defeat to Sassuolo last time out was a body blow to the Milan side. Ciro Immobile is just a goal behind, on 16, and Lazio can climb to within a point of their hosts with a win.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
