Roma v Atalanta Preview and Betting Tips

Saturday 1st October 2011, 5pm GMT

Only one game from this round of Serie A fixtures catches my eye, and that is the opening game of the weekend. Roma managed their first win last weekend at Parma, whereas visitors Atalanta are unbeaten, and would in fact be two points clear at the top of the table had they not begun the season with a six-point deficit (due to their involvement in match fixing last season).

Roma were expected to take time to settle into new coach Luis Enrique’s new system, and that has certainly proven to be the case. They’re not there yet – although they showed signs of improvement at Parma, the truth is that they owed thier victory to Parma’s inept finishing and poor overall play for the majority of the game.

Spaniard Luis Enrique is now in the hot seat at Roma

The Romans are heavily favoured to record their first home win on Saturday, though an in-form Atalanta side may have other ideas. Their start to the season has surpassed all expectations, but coach Stefano Colantuono has organised this team well and they will provide a much tougher test for Roma than Parma did last week.

Simone Perrotta and Borriello may overcome minor injuries to feature for Roma, while goalkeeper Maaretn Stekelenburg returns after missing last week’s game. The visitors are expected to field the same team which beat Novara 2-1 on Sunday.

Roma will always be favourites to beat a newly-promoted team at home, but I think the odds are too short for this one. Atalanta have won their last three games, and I expect them to avoid defeat again tomorrow.

Prediction – Atalanta +1 (handicap betting) – 5pts

Match odds:  Roma                 4/7 

                   Draw                11/4 

                   Atalanta            9/2

                   Atalanta +1      11/10

Celtic v Udinese Update

It has emerged that Udinese will be traveling to Scotland without Antonio Di Natale for this game, which is a major blow to the prospect of an away win. I still fancy their chances (I think the squad they have selected is still stronger than Celtic's), but not as strongly as I would if their main goalscoring threat was in the side. The odds on a Udinese win have lengthened as a result of this news, but exercise caution!

Udinese squad: Handanovic, Padelli, Romo; Armero, Basta, Benatia, Ekstrand, Danilo, Neuton, Pereyra; Abdi, Asamoah, Badu, Battocchio, Doubai, Isla, Pinzi; Fabbrini, Marsura

Celtic v Udinese Preview and Betting Tips

Thursday September 28th 2011, 6pm GMT (live on ESPN)

Celtic host their second Europa League group stage fixture on Thursday evening at Parkhead. The Scots lost their first game away to Atletico Madrid, but they can consider themselves fortunate to still be participating in Europe at this stage – they were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by FC Sion, but the Swiss club were subsequently removed from the competition when it emerged that they had fielded ineligible players in the play-off games against Celtic.

Udinese beat Rennes 2-1 in their debut group stage game, and they have also made an unbeaten start in Serie A. Many held concerns about the strength of the Friuli side when they sold Alexis Sanchez and Gokhan Inler during the summer without really spending any money themselves, but they have been impressive so far, and striker Antonio Di Natale looks as dangerous as ever.

European football makes an unexpectedly early return to Glasgow on Thursday

Celtic began their domestic campaign well also, though their supporters won’t have been delighted with the 4-2 defeat they suffered in the old firm derby against Rangers last week. As we know, the Scottish league is an annual two-horse race between Celtic and Rangers, but the two Glasgow sides have both experienced increasing difficulty recently when faced with continental opposition. Udinese’s trademark counter-attacking style is not something Celtic are used to facing, and I think that the pace and movement of the Italian club will be too much for the hosts on Thursday.

Prediction – Udinese to win – 5pts  

Match odds:  Celtic           8/5 

                   Draw          11/5 

                   Udinese       8/5

Serie A - round 4 results

Chievo           2-1      Genoa

Atalanta         2-1      Novara                   

Cagliari           0-0      Udinese

Catania          1-1      Juventus

Lazio             0-0      Palermo

Siena             3-0      Lecce 

Parma            0-1      Roma

Bologna         1-3      Inter

AC Milan        1-0      Cesena

Napoli            0-0      Fiorentina

Atalanta v Novara Preview and Betting Tips

Sunday 25 September 2011, 2pm GMT

Stefano Colantuono’s Atalanta have made a remarkable – and unexpected – start to the season. Having begun the campaign with -6 points (due to involvement in match-fixing last season), they have picked up 7 points from their first three games, and they have yet to be beaten.

On Sunday they face another newly-promoted side – Novara, whose confidence will have been boosted by a 3-1 win over Inter on Tuesday. The visitors are a well-organised outfit, and Morimoto is always a threat to opposition defences, but they are more comfortable on the artificial surface of their home ground than on the road. These two last met at this venue in March of this year, when the Serie B fixture finished 1-1.

Denis scoring from the spot against Lecce

Udinese striker German Denis has scored each of Atalanta’s last three goals, an indication that he is enjoying his loan spell in Bergamo. Atalanta have the momentum coming into this game, and I expect them to claim another three points on Sunday.

Prediction – Atalanta to win – 3pts

Match odds:  Atalanta       4/5 

                   Draw           9/4 

                   Novara        7/2

Lazio v Palermo Preview and Betting Tips

Sunday 25 September 2011, 2pm GMT

I don’t like to pick the same team repeatedly if I can help it, but in a series of fixtures where value is a rare commodity Lazio once again look like they are worth a shot. The Romans didn’t look overly convincing at Cesena on Wednesday, but they managed to overturn a 1-0 half-time deficit and record their first league win of this campaign. Some of their new signings have yet to settle, particularly in defensive areas, but it is encouraging that strikers Cisse and Klose have both hit the ground running.

Palermo made it two home wins out of two on Wednesday, beating Cagliari in a five-goal thriller. The Sicilians may have lost Javier Pastore during the summer, but they still have some talented players in their ranks – Josep Ilicic, Abel Hernandez and Fabrizio Miccoli to name but three. Lazio have more quality overall however, and given Palermo’s fragility away from home I expect a win for the Biancoceleste here.

Prediction – Lazio to win – 3pts

Match odds:  Lazio           4/5 

                   Draw           9/4 

                   Palermo      10/3

Serie A - round 3 results

AC Milan        1-1        Udinese        

Cesena          1-2        Lazio  

Chievo           1-0        Napoli 

Fiorentina      3-0        Parma

Genoa           3-0        Catania        

Juventus        1-1        Bologna        

Lecce            1-2        Atalanta       

Palermo         3-2        Cagliari         

Novara          3-1        Inter 

Roma            1-1        Siena

AC Milan v Udinese Preview and Betting Tips

Wednesday September 21 2011, 7.45pm GMT (live on ESPN)

In terms of league standing, Udinese are already five points ahead of their next opponents after just two games. Admittedly, the current champions have had the tougher start, but two 2-0 wins will give the Friuli side some confidence coming into this game at the San Siro.

The last time these two met in Milan, the result was a thrilling 4-4 draw. Indeed, both meetings between Udinese and the Rossoneri last season ended in draws. An injury-hit Milan side were torn apart by Napoli’s counter-attacks on Sunday, and they will face exactly the same style of football from Udinese tomorrow. Udinese have scored at least once in each of their last ten away games against Milan, and their last away defeat by Milan was in 2002.

Udinese talisman Antonio Di Natale

Milan will have to make do without Massimo Ambrosini, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Philippe Mexes, Robinho and Filippo Inzaghi, though Zlatan Ibrahimovic (who missed the visit to Napoli) will be given a late fitness test ahead of the game. Kwadwo Asamoah Pasquale and Antonio Floro Flores are likely to miss out for the visitors. I have a feeling that Udinese’s momentum will be a big factor here, and they should manage to take at least a point from what should be an entertaining game.

Prediction – Udinese +1 (handicap) – 3pts

Match odds:  AC Milan        8/13 

                   Draw             5/2 

                   Udinese         9/2

                   Udinese +1     6/5

Cesena v Lazio Preview and Betting Tips

Wednesday September 21 2011, 7.45pm GMT

Despite the fact that Lazio let us down on Sunday against Genoa, I think they are worth backing to win tomorrow at Cesena. Coach Edy Reja reportedly offered his resignation following his team’s reversal against Genoa, but his offer was refused by Lazio president Claudio Lotito.

Reja will be looking for a response from his players tomorrow, and I think he will get one. The steely character displayed by Lazio last season indicated a respect for Reja and his tactics among the squad (striker Mauro Zarate, now at Inter, excepted). This season’s squad is stronger than last season’s, and they are certainly better than Cesena who have yet to pick up their first point of this campaign.

The pressure is on the Roman side to stop conceding goals and to start justifying the money they spent in the close season. Though there is also pressure on the hosts here, Lazio should be strong enough to pick up their first league win.

Prediction – Lazio to win – 3pts

Match odds:   Cesena     21/10 

                    Draw         9/4 

                    Lazio         6/5

Serie A - round 2 results

Atalanta        1-0       Palermo       

Bologna        0-2       Lecce 

Catania         1-0       Cesena         

Lazio            1-2      Genoa

Napoli           3-1       AC Milan       

Parma           2-1       Chievo

Siena            0-1       Juventus       

Udinese        2-0      Fiorentina     

Cagliari         2-1       Novara         

Inter            0-0       Roma  

Lazio v Genoa Preview and Betting Tips

Sunday September 18 2011, 2pm GMT

New-look Lazio make their first Serie A appearance in front of their home fans on Sunday. The team will bear a closer resemblance to that which drew 2-2 with AC Milan last Friday than the weaker line-up which drew 2-2 with Vaslui in the Europa League yesterday.

New signings Djibril Cissé, Miroslav Klose (both of whom scored in the San Siro last week) and Abdoulay Konko, coupled with the retention of star midfielders Hernanes and Cristian Ledesma, makes this season’s Lazio a formidable outfit. Edy Reja’s men had the second best defensive record in Italy last season, and the added firepower which the new signings bring will make them a more complete unit.

Cisse: "How do I look in sky blue?"

Genoa also began their season with a 2-2 draw last week, in their case against newly-promoted Atalanta. Alberto Malesani took over as coach during the close-season, and while his vast experience should serve Genoa well, I doubt that this visit to the capital will be a happy one for him.

New Genoa signings Alexander Merkel and Ze Eduardo are expected to be unavailable due to injury, as is Lazio defender Stefan Radu.

Prediction – Lazio to win – 4pts

Match Odds:            Lazio     7/10

                             Draw     12/5

                             Genoa    4/1

Siena v Juventus Preview and Betting Tips

Sunday September 18 2011, 2pm GMT

Juventus marked their first competitive game at the Juventus Arena with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Parma. New signing Andrea Pirlo played a central role in dismantling the visitors, and Pirlo’s fellow Juve debutants Arturo Vidal and Stefan Lichtsteiner were among the goals.

Newly-promoted Siena picked up a point at Catania, which is a decent achievement for any team. Giuseppe Sannino’s men are a solid outfit, and I expect them to cause problems for a lot of their opponents this season, but if Antonio Conte’s Bianconeri can dominate possession in the manner which they did last week they will pick up another three points on Sunday.

Prediction – Juventus to win – 4pts

Match Odds:            Siena          4/1

                             Draw         12/5

                             Juventus    7/10

Serie A - week 1 results

Catania        0-0    Siena

Chievo         2-2    Novara        

Fiorentina    2-0    Bologna      

Genoa         2-2    Atalanta      

Juventus      4-1    Parma         

Lecce          0-2    Udinese      

Palermo       4-3    Inter 

Roma          1-2    Cagliari       

Cesena        1-3    Napoli

AC Milan      2-2    Lazio

              *****

There will be no weekly round-up available this season (due to time constraints), but I will continue to post the results after each series of Serie A games – as has been requested by a number of readers - and I will also update the league table.

Previews will be available on Friday afternoon every week, as was the case last season.

Feel free to email any feedback or requests you might have!

Serie A 2011/12 Kicks Off!

Following a resolution of the issues which necessitated a player's strike, the Italian league kicks off tomorrow evening as reigning champions AC Milan welcome Lazio to the San Siro. Napoli visit Cesena on Saturday, while the other 16 top flight clubs begin their campaigns on Sunday.


I won't attempt to predict any results until at least the first week or two of the new season have passed, and we get an idea of what to expect. The only game which catches the eye from this first round of fixtures is Cagliari's visit to Roma on Sunday afternoon. While Roma are deserved favourites, the odds are very short at 1/2. The hosts have a new manager (Luis Enrique) - and some quality attacking signings in Bojan and Eric Lamela - but they have also lost some important players, and their Europa League defeat at the hands of Slovan Bratislava suggests that the team may take some time to gel. As I said, Roma really should open their campaign with a home win on Sunday, but Cagliari +1 may be worth a tiny 'fun' bet at 6/4.


Happy new season!