Serie A – week 20 betting tips

Essential holiday requirements have ensured that this week's tip will be short and sweet. It's hard to do justice to my much-practiced "relaxing on the beach" look while typing on a laptop keyboard, you understand.

We are exactly half-way through the 2010/2011 Serie A season, and while there are a lot of seemingly predictable results this weekend, the odds offered on many games are simply prohibitive. Two teams that look to be worth taking a risk on however are Napoli, who will host Fiorentina, and Parma, who visit lowly Brescia. 

Napoli v Fiorentina Preview and Betting Tips 

January 15th 2011, 5pm GMT

Napoli easily dealt with Juventus at the Stadio San Paulo last week, and I favour them to overcome Fiorentina on their home turf tomorrow. Indidentally, Napoli striker Edinson Cavani last week joined Antonio DiNatale at the top of the Serie A goalscoring table thanks to his hat-trick against Juventus. Hopefully he will add to his 13-goal season total tomorrow.

Cavani: more goals please!

Match odds:      Napoli        8/11         

                       Draw          5/2          

                       Fiorentina   7/2      

Napoli: Last 5 Serie A Results

09.01.2011 - Napoli 3-0 Juventus

06.01.2011 - Inter Milan 3-1 Napoli

19.12.2010 - Napoli 1-0 Lecce

11.12.2010 - Genoa 0-1 Napoli

06.12.2010 - Napoli 1-0 Palermo

Fiorentina: Last 5 Serie A Results

09.01.2011 - Fiorentina 3-2 Brescia

06.01.2011 - Bologna 1-1 Fiorentina

11.12.2010 - Udinese 2-1 Fiorentina

05.12.2010 - Fiorentina 1-0 Cagliari

27.11.2010 - Juventus 1-1 Fiorentina

Brescia v Parma Preview and Betting Tips 

January 16th 2011, 2pm GMT

Parma are not renowned for their success on the road, but they are a far better team than Brescia, and odds of almost 2/1 make them backable against a team who have lost their last three games.

Match odds:      Brescia     6/4

                       Draw        2/1

                       Parma     15/8

 

Brescia: Last 5 Serie A Results

09.01.2011 - Fiorentina 3-2 Brescia

06.01.2011 - Brescia 1-2 Cesena

19.12.2010 - Catania 1-0 Brescia

12.12.2010 - Brescia 1-0 Sampdoria

04.12.2010 - AC Milan 3-0 Brescia

Parma: Last 5 Serie A Results

09.01.2011 - Parma 1-2 Cagliari

06.01.2011 - Juventus 1-4 Parma

19.12.2010 - Parma 0-0 Bologna

11.12.2010 - Palermo 3-1 Parma

05.12.2010 - Parma 2-1 Udinese

 

Week 20 Prediction: Napoli and Parma both to win - 4pt double

Good luck!

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Serie A - week 19 round-up

Yesterday was one of those days in Serie A when a lot of clubs decided to deviate from the script. Not a good day for betting, in other words.

League leaders AC Milan needed a 90th minute Ibrahimović equaliser to force a 4-4 draw with Udinese at the San Siro. This was Udinese's first point on the road since they beat Bari 2-0 at the Stadio San Nicola on October 31st, and it was only the 20th 4-4 draw in Serie A history.

Another team with an unconvincing away record is Cagliari, and they upset our main tip of the day by claiming only their second away win of the season at Parma. Cagliari led 2-0 at half time, and though Parma's Giovinco attempted to spark a comeback by scoring within eight minutes of the restart, his goal turned out to be the last of the game.

A lacklustre Lazio display at home against Lecce ensured that they lost ground on Milan, when they really should have reduced the gap. The Romans were one-dimensional and predictable throughout, and were lucky not to concede a third during a frantic goal-mouth scramble ten minutes before the final whistle. Lecce were full value for what may prove to be three vital points come the end of the season.

Lazio coach Eddy Reja announced before the game that his target is now to finish second in Serie A this season. They haven’t impressed since the winter break however, and they will need to re-discover their early season form soon if Reja’s goal is to prove realistic.

Napoli last night replaced Lazio in second place, their highest league position since the 1989/90 season. A fantastic hat-trick from Edinson Cavani inflicted a second straight defeat upon Juventus, and brought Napoli within 4 points of the top spot. Cavani has already proved to be a very useful signing for Napoli – can he help bring them the Scudetto?

Edinson Cavani sometimes celebrates his goals by attempting to fly

 

Serie A: Week 19 Results

Sampdoria              2 - 1           AS Roma

AC Milan                4 - 4            Udinese                

Bari                       0 - 2           Bologna                

Catania                  1 - 2           Internazionale                

Cesena                  0 - 0           Genoa                  

Chievo Verona        0 - 0            Palermo                

Fiorentina              3 - 2            Brescia                 

Lazio                     1 - 2            Lecce                   

Parma                   1 - 2            Cagliari       

Napoli                   3 - 0            Juventus

Serie A – week 19 betting tips

Napoli v Juventus Preview and Betting Tips

January 9th 2011, 7.45pm GMT (live on ESPN)

Juventus saw their 13-game unbeaten run come to a humiliating end against Parma on Thursday. The Turin side's disappointment was compounded by the news that the knee injury suffered by striker Fabio Quagliarella during the game would rule him out for the remainder of the season. They have wasted no time in replacing Quagliarella, signing 33 year-old Luca Toni today on a permanent transfer. The veteran is expected to make his debut against Napoli.

Midfielder Felipe Melo was handed a three-match ban following his dismissal on Thursday, so he will be unavailable for this visit to the Stadio San Paulo. Juventus are likely to be represented by Aquilani, Marchisio and Pepe in the centre of midfield on Sunday.

Hosts Napoli are currently in contention for their first Scudetto since Diego Maradona wore the sky blue. They failed to capitalise on Juventus’ defeat on Thursday evening however, losing 3-1 to a rejuvenated Internazionale at the San Siro. Despite the return of the excellent Ezequiel Lavezzi from injury, the Southerners never really threatened Inter from open play, their only goal coming from a set-piece.

This game is too tough to call in terms of the result. Both sides tasted defeat last time out, and they will be anxious to begin picking up points again. With Napoli sitting in third place with 33 points, and Juventus a mere 2 points behind them in fifth, there is a lot at stake. Quagliarella’s unfortunate injury notwithstanding, both of these teams boast a lot of quality in attack, and I expect to see some goals when they meet on Sunday.

Prediction: over 2.5 goals – 3pts

Match odds:      Napoli                 5/4

                       Draw                 11/5

                       Juventus             2/1

                       Over 2.5 goals    evens

Napoli: Last 5 Serie A Results

06.01.2011 – Inter Milan 3-1 Napoli

19.12.2010 – Napoli 1-0 Lecce

11.12.2010 - Genoa 0-1 Napoli

06.12.2010 - Napoli 1-0 Palermo

28.11.2010 - Udinese 3-1 Napoli

Juventus: Last 5 Serie A Results

06.01.2011 – Juventus 1-4 Parma

19.12.2010 - Chievo 1-1 Juventus

12.12.2010 - Juventus 2-1 Lazio

05.12.2010 - Catania 1-3 Juventus

27.11.2010 - Juventus 1-1 Fiorentina

"El Pocho" Lavezzi ("The Chubby One") - Back from injury

*****

Parma v Cagliari Preview and Betting Tips

January 9th 2011, 2pm GMT

As mentioned above, Parma’s 4-1 defeat of Juventus at the Stadio Delle Alpi was the biggest surprise from Thursday’s Serie A fixtures. Though Juventus were reduced to ten men from the 17th minute, this was a comprehensive win for Parma. Hernan Crespo looks to be enjoying his football lately, and he converted a penalty which he himself had won. Sebastian Giovinco has proved a useful addition for Parma since he signed on loan from Juventus, and he scored two against his parent club on Thursday.

Cagliari are one of the many Serie A clubs who seem to suffer from acute bouts of homesickness. While usually reliable on their own home turf in Sardinia, they tend to struggle on the road, and won’t be relishing this visit to the Stadio Ennio Tardini on Sunday.

Prediction: Parma to win – 5pts

Match odds:      Parma      10/11

                       Draw         9/4

                       Cagliari      3/1

Parma: Last 5 Serie A Results

06.01.2011 – Juventus 1-4 Parma

19.12.2010 - Parma 0-0 Bologna

11.12.2010 - Palermo 3-1 Parma

05.12.2010 - Parma 2-1 Udinese

28.11.2010 – Inter Milan 5-2 Parma

Cagliari: Last 5 Serie A Results

06.01.2011 – Cagliari 0-1 AC Milan

18.12.2010 - Cesena 1-0 Cagliari

12.12.2010 - Cagliari 3-0 Catania

05.12.2010 - Fiorentina 1-0 Cagliari

28.11.2010 - Cagliari 3-2 Lecce

Crespo: will he be celebrating on Sunday?

*****

 

Lazio v Lecce Preview and Betting Tips

January 9th 2011, 2pm GMT

Lazio’s attacking players were frustrated at Genoa on Thursday, and they could well have lost the game were it not for the performance of goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Their back four were also solid however, and the return of Stefan Radu from injury will help their defensive cause.

Lecce lost at home to local rivals Bari on Thursday, and now lie just a single point above the bottom side. After their joy at having earned promotion to the top flight last May, they will obviously be keen to avoid a swift return to Serie B. Their form is not encouraging however, and I am backing Lazio to win by a margin of more than one goal at the Stadio Olimpico.

Prediction: Lazio to win -1 (handicap betting) – 2pts

Match odds:      Lazio         2/5

                       Draw         3/1

                       Lecce       15/2

                       Lazio -1     6/5

Lazio: Last 5 Serie A Results

06.01.2011 – Genoa 0-0 Lazio

19.12.2010 - Lazio 3-2 Udinese

12.12.2010 - Juventus 2-1 Lazio

03.12.2010 - Lazio 3-1 Inter Milan

28.11.2010 - Lazio 1-1 Catania

Lecce: Last 5 Serie A Results

06.01.2011 – Lecce 0-1 Bari

19.12.2010 - Napoli 1-0 Lecce

12.12.2010 - Lecce 3-2 Chievo

05.12.2010 - Lecce 1-3 Genoa

28.11.2010 - Cagliari 3-2 Lecce 

Good luck!

Serie A - week 18 round-up

Genoa 0-0 Lazio

Genoa managed to hold a dominant Lazio to a scoreless draw during the first half of this fixture, but the visitors were forced to defend for most of in the second - net-minder Fernando Muslera performing superbly, as he has many times this season. Lazio have a small squad, and on days like today when talented attacking midfielder Hernanez and striker Mauro Zarate are off form, they will struggle to score.

This was a disappointing result for those of us who backed Lazio, but an encouraging one for their defence, who kept a clean sheet for the first time in 6 outings.

Udinese 2-0 Chievo

Udinese showed considerable fortitude today in holding on to a 2-0 advantage despite the dismissal of their Roman midfielder Giampiero Pinzi in the 35th minute, and despite having missed a penalty late in the first half. 

Though they forced a late equaliser against 10-man Juventus in their last game, Chievo couldn't make the numerical advantage count today. 

Udinese's goals were provided by Alexis Sanchez and yes, you guessed it, Antonio DiNatale.

Palermo 3-0 Sampdoria

Rather than securing the draw we were hoping for, Sampdoria instead suffered their heaviest defeat of the season. Fabrizio Miccoli, Giulio Migliaccio and Massimo Maccarone all found the net for Palermo in a performance which got them off to a perfect start to 2011. If they can keep the excellent Miccoli fit and scoring goals, Palermo will be serious contenders for one of the European qualifying places.

Other Serie A results from Thursday 6th January 2010:

Juventus 1-4 Parma

Roma 4-2 Catania

Bologna 1-1 Fiorentina

Brescia 1-2 Cesena

Cagliari 0-1 AC Milan

Lecce 0-1 Bari

Inter Milan 3-1 Napoli

Serie A returns on Sunday, so make sure to return for selected match previews and betting tips!