Bari v Napoli Preview and Betting Tips
January 23rd 2011, 2pm GMT
Napoli missed an opportunity to gain ground on leaders AC Milan last week, when they played out a scoreless draw with Fiorentina at home. They will be hoping to pile further misery on fellow southerners Bari tomorrow, and their confidence will have been restored by their 2-1 cup win over Bologna during the week.
Bari are another side who exited the Coppa Italia this week, via a 3-0 defeat at AC Milan. “This was not the most important game for a team that is fighting to defend its Serie A status,” insisted coach Giampiero Ventura. Meanwhile Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri wishes to “hand our fans great joy this campaign.”
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| Mazzarri, when asked exactly how much joy Napoli fans can expect to be handed |
I think tomorrow’s game at the San Nicola Stadium will help him move closer to achieving this aim, against opponents who have managed just 1 win in 15 games. Bari have struggled to score goals, and their form has consigned them to bottom of the table (5 points adrift). Donati has been one of their more consistent performers, and considering the fact that he is suspended for this game I expect Bari to suffer their thirteenth loss of the campaign tomorrow.
Prediction – Napoli to win – 6pts
Match odds: Napoli 21/20
Draw 21/10
Bari 3/1
Bari: Last 5 Serie A Results
16.01.2011 – Juventus 2-1 Bari
09.01.2011 – Bari 0-2 Bologna
06.01.2011 – Lecce 0-1 Bari
19.12.2010 – Bari 1-1 Palermo
12.12.2010 - Roma 1-0 Bari
Napoli: Last 5 Serie A Results
15.01.2011 – Napoli 0-0 Fiorentina
09.01.2011 – Napoli 3-0 Juventus
06.01.2011 – Inter 3-1 Napoli
19.12.2010 – Napoli 1-0 Lecce
11.12.2010 - Genoa 0-1 Napoli
*****
Udinese v Inter Preview and Betting Tips
January 23rd 2011, 11.30am GMT (live on ESPN)
This intriguing clash is the most exciting match-up of the weekend in Serie A. As is the case in all three games previewed this week, both of these sides were in action during the week. Udinese will be feeling the pace a little more, as they were forced to partake in extra time and a penalty shoot-out which proved ultimately fruitless against Sampdoria in the cup. Inter, meanwhile, were 3-2 winners over Cesena in a league fixture.
The Milan side will be full of confidence going to the Friuli stadium – they have won five out of five since former AC Milan boss Leonardo was appointed coach. This is a resounding vote of approval for Leanardo, from the same group of players whose form was mediocre for almost half of this season. They now lie in a very threatening fourth position in the table, just six points behind leaders AC Milan with a game in hand.
Udinese have proven to be formidable at home however, and they won’t fear any challenge at the Friuli. They have also shown an improvement on the road, by virtue of a thrilling 4-4 draw with the league leaders and a 4-2 away win at Genoa. With DiNatale and Sanchez leading the line, Udinese are lethal on the counter-attack. I expect to see some goals when these two meet tomorrow.
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| DiNatale: can he put a stop to Inter's winning run? |
Prediction: Over 3.5 goals – 2.5pts
Match odds: Udinese 11/5
Draw 11/5
Inter 6/5
Over 3.5 goals 2/1
Udinese: Last 5 Serie A Results
16.01.2011 – Genoa 2-4 Udinese
09.01.2011 – AC Milan 4-4 Udinese
06.01.2011 – Udinese 2-0 Chievo
19.12.2010 - Lazio 3-2 Udinese
11.12.2010 - Udinese 2-1 Fiorentina
Inter: Last 5 Serie A Results
19.01.2011 – Inter 3-2 Cesena
15.01.2011 – Inter 4–1 Bologna
12.01.2011 - Inter 3-2 Genoa
09.01.2011 - Catania 1-2 Inter
06.01.2011 - Inter 3-1 Napoli
*****
The Outside Bet:
Bologna v Lazio Preview and Betting Tips
January 23rd 2011, 2pm GMT
Lazio currently lie third in the table, level on points with second-placed Napoli, and 4 points behind leaders AC Milan. Bologna’s target for the season will be to avoid the drop, and they sit 5th from bottom as things stand.
Due to their recent good form, last year’s champions Inter are now just 2 points behind Lazio with a game in hand. Coach Eddy Reja flagged January as a crucial month for Lazio’s season, and the Biancoceleste have not been coping very comfortably with the pressure their lofty league position brings.
Both sides’ chances of securing silverware were reduced this week as they exited the Coppa Italia. Lazio’s defeat will sting more than Bologna’s however, as it was their fourth consecutive loss to bitter city rivals Roma. Reja’s men didn’t respond well to their last derby defeat in November, and they may well struggle to regain form at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
The unavailability of Matuzalem, Rocchi, Sculli, Garrido, Meghni (injuries) and Lichtsteiner (suspension) will not help Lazio’s cause, especially considering the fact that Bologna have a full squad to choose from.
Bologna may have been comprehensively beaten by Inter last week, but this was their first loss in four league games, and I favour them to avoid defeat tomorrow.
Prediction: Draw – 1.5pts
Match odds: Bologna 21/20
Draw 21/10
Lazio 3/1
Bologna: Last 5 Serie A Results
15.01.2011 – Inter 4-1 Bologna
09.01.2011 – Bari 0-2 Bologna
06.01.2011 – Bologna 1-1 Fiorentina
19.12.2010 – Parma 0-0 Bologna
12.12.2010 - Bologna 0-3 AC Milan
Lazio: Last 5 Serie A Results
16.01.2011 – Lazio 1-0 Sampdoria
09.01.2011 – Lazio 1-2 Lecce
06.01.2011 – Genoa 0-0 Lazio
19.12.2010 - Lazio 3-2 Udinese
12.12.2010 - Juventus 2-1 Lazio
Good luck!
