We've got a full card of Italian football on Saturday and as ever @bobreaksbookies has the best of the action covered and there are some interesting looking matches for us to enjoy on this beast of a footballing day. Napoli will look to get back to winning ways on home soil as they welcome Sampdoria to Naples while Atalanta travel to Milan boasting a fine recent record over the struggling giants. Finally, we have a really good game from the top of the table as Roma head to Turin to take on Serie A champions Juventus, having lost their last 7 on the road against the Old Lady of Italian football. 14:00 Napoli vs Sampdoria – Prediction 3.1
Current Form
Past Meetings
Final Verdict - Another goals galore feast ? Napoli returned to form in their last outing at Torino and I’m backing them to get back to winning ways at home as well with the visit of an out of form Sampdoria side that had started the season in impressive style, with 8 wins from their opening 12 fixtures. While recent stats don’t make my goals selections dead certs, past meetings between these sides do indicate a strong possibility of goals with an average of 4.85 goals scored in the previous 7 meetings but BTTS and over 2.5 goals is odds against here @11/10 and while the recent form of neither side has been particularly impressive, Napoli’s win at Torino suggested Maurizio Sarri’s men had gotten over their recent slump and I expect the hosts to score at least a couple with Sampdoria conceding 2 more in 4 of their last 5 on the road. While Sampdoria are certainly struggling following their impressive start to the campaign, culminating in a disappointing 1.0 home loss to Sassuolo in their last league outing, they are a side that can score goals on their travels, hitting the net in 20 of their last 24 away league outings and given their recent history with Napoli, I expect them to score a consolation to bring up my 2 picks of BTTS and over 2.5 goals @11/10 and Napoli to win and BTTS @9/4. Neither selection can be backed with a large degree of certainty, but I really like the past meeting stats and if Sampdoria can produce some of the form that they displayed in the earlier part of the season, we could be in for a decent contest at the Stadion San Paulo. Best Bets BTTS and over 2.5 goals @11/10 –2.5 stars Napoli to win and BTTS @9/4 – 1.5 stars 14:00 SPAL 2013 vs Torino - Prediction 1.1 Current Form
Past Meetings
Final Verdict - BTTS has every chance Both sides struggle for clean sheets and I fancy BTTS here @3/4 odds with Torino and SPAL seeingthat outcome in plenty of their recent fixtures. Best Bets BTTS @3/4 – 3.5 Stars 17:00 AC Milan vs Atalanta - Prediction 1.2 Current Form
Past Meetings
Final Verdict - Atalanta will fancy their chances Atalanta will be confident of getting at least a point when they travel to the San Siro on Saturday evening to take on Rino Gatusso’s struggling Milan side and with these two teams locked together on 24 points after 17 games played in this Serie A campaign, we should be in for an interesting contest. The hosts have really struggled for form this season, despite heavy investment in their playing squad, and whether the former Rangers man Gattuso has the necessary qualities to energise and galvanise his new squad, remains to be seen with Milan dropping points at lowly Benevento in his first game in charge as well as losing at Croatian minnows Rijeka in a Europa League dead rubber and while Milan did manage to beat Bologna 2.1 in their most recent home Serie A match, a 3.0 loss at Verona in their last league outing left Gattuso describing his side as “playing like fools” With a strong Atalanta side next on the agenda, it could get even tougher for Gattuso against an opponent that will certainly benefit from having no more Europa League action to concern themselves with until February and I don’t expect them to lose here at a ground that they have achieved a great deal of success at in recent seasons, with only 1 loss in their last 5 visits to the San Siro. Goals are certainly a possibility when Atalanta are involved but with Milan only seeing BTTS in 1 of their last 6 at home, I wouldn’t bank on them scoring here despite Atalanta’s away form which has seen them lose 3 of their last 5 on the road in Serie A, but with the Europa League finished for 2017, Atalanta have improved their form again in recent weeks and I expect them to go home with a positive result here against a labouring Milan. The visitors are 3/5 odds-on not to lose and considering recent form, looks like a solid selection with Atalanta really impressing lately while Milan, who have failed to score in 4 of their last 6 at home, continue to struggle and quite frankly, I don’t really expect them to improve under Gattuso who has yet to show in any of his previous managerial roles that he has the tactical nous or indeed the man management skills required to succeed at such a high level. An away win could well be on the cards @9/5 so the DNB option is also tempting @1/1 with Atalanta expecting a good result against an opponent that has only beaten them once in their last 7 meetings. Best Bets Atalanta or draw @4/7 – 4 stars 19:45 Juventus vs Roma – Prediction 1.0 Current Form
Past Meetings
Final Verdict Juventus have shown signs of returning to their best form and I expect them to claim the points here against a Roma side that have a really poor record in Turin, losing each of their last 7 in Turin. While Juve have finally been beaten at home, they remain a formidable outfit on their own patch and while I don't expect it to be in any way easy for the Old Lady, they can edge to the 3 points over a Roma side that have not looked particularly sharp in their 2 recent away performances at Genoa and Chievo. The home is priced @5/6 and is certainly much bigger than it might have been even a month earlier so I am going with experience and backing Juve to claim the spoils. Best Bets Juventus to win @5/6 - 2.5 stars Comments are closed.
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