Roma v AC Milan Preview and Betting Tips

Saturday 29th October 2011, 5pm GMT

Milan make the trip to the capital on the back of three successive league wins, a run which has put an end to the defending champions’ rocky start to the season. Roma on the other hand have lost three of their first eight games, and new coach Luis Enrique will be feeling the pressure soon unless he can show some consistency.

Milan’s Philippe Mexes is likely to miss this game against his old team-mates having sustained an injury in training. Also injured for the visitors are Alexandre Pato, Gennaro Gattuso and Mathieu Flamini. Midfielder Clarence Seedorf is doubtful. Roma’s injury casualties are captain Francesco Totti and midfielder Miralem Pjanic. New signing Pjanic has been the driving force behind Roma’s attack so far this season, and he is likely to be missed by the home team.

Nocerino celebrates after putting three past Parma

Recent games between these two sides have been tight affairs (they have managed only one goal between them in their last three meetings), but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a couple of goals tomorrow. Luis Enrique is trying to mould a Barcelona-esqe attacking side out of the Roma team, and Milan have scored eleven times in their last three games. In-form midfielder Antonio Nocerino, who scored a hat-trick for the Rossoneri in midweek against Parma, will start again tomorrow.

Overall I feel that the momentum is with Milan at the moment, while Roma are still finding their feet under Enrique. A cautious bet on an away win is my tip of the weekend in Serie A.

Prediction – AC Milan to win – 3pts


Match odds:  Roma             7/4
                   Draw              21/10
                   AC Milan          8/5

Serie A - round 8 results

Palermo         2-0      Lecce           

AC Milan        4-1      Parma

Atalanta        1-1      Inter Milan

Cesena          1-1      Cagliari         

Chievo           0-1      Bologna        

Genoa           2-1      Roma 

Lazio             1-1      Catania        

Napoli           2-0      Udinese        

Novara          1-1      Siena 

Juventus        2-1      Fiorentina

Serie A - round 7 results

Bologna 0-2      Lazio
Cagliari 0-0      Napoli
Inter         1-0      Chievo
Lecce         3-4      AC Milan
Parma 1-2      Atalanta
Roma         1-0      Palermo
Siena         2-0      Cesena
Udinese 3-0      Novara
Fiorentina    2-2      Catania
Juventus     2-2      Genoa

Bologna v Lazio Preview and Betting Tips

Sunday 23rd October 2011, 7.45pm GMT (live on ESPN)

New Bologna Coach Stefano Pioli got off to a perfect start last week when his side won 2-0 at Novara. Pioli was appointed following the sacking of Pierpaolo Bisoli, who had managed to take just a single point from Bologna’s first five games. Their visitors Lazio have also had to consider the possibility of changing coach this season – Edy Reja offered his resignation after a rocky start – but all is now rosy in the Biancoceleste garden after their dramatic win in the Derby della Capitale last Sunday.

Miro Klose, the new "King of Rome"

One factor which may well have an influence on the outcome of this game is the availability of Lazio striker Miroslav Klose. The German has scored a late winner in both of his side’s last two league games, and as Lazio assistant coach Giovanni Lopez said "he is a reference point in our attack and we missed him on Thursday (Lazio drew 1-1 at Zurich in the Europa League on Thursday)." The in-form striker is struggling with a muscle injury and will face a late fitness test tomorrow. Bologna will have to make do without injured striker Alessandro Diamanti.

It is impossible to over-estimate the value of a derby win for either of the Roman teams, and I expect that last Sunday’s win – their first derby victory since 2009 – will have a galvanising effect on Lazio. Bologna are in the bottom three in Serie A, and I expect a Lazio win tomorrow with or without Klose, but I will be more confident if the in-form striker starts.

Prediction – Lazio to win – 3pts

Match odds:  Bologna         12/5 

                   Draw             11/5 

                   Lazio            11/10

Udinese v Novara Preview and Betting Tips

Sunday 23rd October 2011, 2pm GMT

Udinese sit in second place in the table after six games, level with Juventus on points and goal difference but having scored two less. Unbeaten so far this season, they missed a chance to pull clear at the top last week when they instead decided to participate in the nil-nil-fest which gripped Serie A on Sunday.

Novara are one of the new arrivals to the top flight, and they have settled reasonably well. Their last result was a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home against Bologna, but they have also beaten Inter 3-1 at home and drawn away at Chievo.

Antonio Floro Flores celebrates after scoring against Atletico Madrid

Udinese are well known for their attacking threat, but the most impressive aspect of their performances so far has been their water-tight defence. The Friuli side have conceded just once in their six league games so far – the best defensive record in the league. Their 2-0 home win over Atletico Madrid on Thursday in the Europa League was no mean feat either. Captain Antonio Di Natale returns to the line-up against Novara after being rested on Thursday.

The odds on a Udinese win tomorrow are too short to consider, but there is value in backing them to win while keeping another clean sheet.

Prediction – Udinese to win to nil – 4pts

Match odds:  Udinese                               4/9 

                   Draw                                   3/1 

                   Novara                                6/1

                   Udinese to win to nil             7/5

Serie A - round 6 results

Atalanta         0-0       Udinese        

Cagliari           0-0       Siena

Cesena           0-0       Fiorentina     

Chievo            0-0       Juventus      

Genoa            0-0       Lecce 

Lazio              2-1       Roma  

Novara           0-2       Bologna        

AC Milan         3-0       Palermo        

Catania          2-1       Inter  

Napoli            1-2       Parma

Napoli v Parma Preview and Betting Tips

Saturday 15th October 2011, 7.45pm GMT

Napoli were given a boost in the lead-up to this game by the return to fitness of striker Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan missed his team’s 3-0 win at Inter two weeks ago due to an ankle injury, but he recovered in time to line out for his country during the week.

Visitors Parma were impressive in their last game, a 3-1 home win over Genoa. “Atomic Ant” Sebastian Giovinco has started the season well, and is the driving force behind the Parma attack. His side have shown fragility away from home however, and, Giovinco aside, they don’t pose much of a threat.

Edinson Cavani's 3 league goals this season were all scored against Milan

I like the swagger Napoli have shown so far this season. Their front three of Hamsik, Lavezzi and Cavani are terrorising defences, while they also have quality behind them in players like Zuniga, Cannavaro and new signing Inler. Napoli beat Parma with a two-goal cushion twice last season, and I expect them to win by at least two again at the Stadio San Paolo on Saturday.

Prediction – Napoli -1 (handicap betting) – 5pts

Match odds:  Napoli         1/2 

                   Draw         14/5 

                   Parma        11/2

                   Napoli -1     8/5

Atalanta v Udinese Preview and Betting Tips

Sunday 16th October 2011, 2pm GMT

Udinese are one of only two teams who are still unbeaten in the league this season (Juventus being the other one). Their hosts on Sunday, Atalanta, were undefeated until they lost 3-1 at Roma in the last series of games.

Atalanta had made a bright start upon their return to the top flight, but their defeat at Roma poses questions about their ability to compete with the better Serie A teams. Wins over Novara and Lecce are one thing (and in fairness their win over Palermo was impressive), but make no mistake - they will be facing one of the top teams in the division on Sunday.

Guidolin shows how he plans to sweep aside the challenge of Atalanta

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin has coped well with the demands of participation in both European and league football so far this season. He has rotated his squad, and has already been able to rest top goalscorer Antonio Di Natale (already on 4 league goals for this season), who stayed at home while his team travelled to Scotland to face Celtic. Guidolin’s men will be targeting all three points when they visit Bergamo on Sunday, and I think they will be successful.

Prediction – Udinese to win – 2pts

Match odds:  Atalanta      6/4 

                   Draw          21/10 

                   Udinese       9/5

Serie A - round 5 results

Apologies for the delay in posting these. No club football this weekend in Italy, so the next preview(s) will be posted next Friday as usual. Catch you then!


Cesena 0-0  Chievo  
Fiorentina 1-2   Lazio
Juventus 2-0   AC Milan
Lecce 0-2   Cagliari
Novara 3-3   Catania
Palermo 2-0    Siena
Parma 3-1  Genoa
Udinese 2-0  Bologna  
Inter          0-3    Napoli
Roma 3-1    Atalanta