The best teams respond to the biggest challenges, and four top-ten clashes in Serie A will test the title hopefuls to the max this weekend.
In the Italian league, football betting tips almost always back Juventus heavily. But take a look at this week’s Handicap Betting. Three of the top four teams, the Old Lady included, are at 1.80 or over to take three points, which all means Napoli, who have the easiest task on paper at home to Pescara, could be the Round 20 winners.
WEEK 20 SUNDAY:
Inter Milan vs Chievo
In Sunday’s warm up to the weekend’s big clashes, seventh-placed Inter entertain Chievo, four places and eight points behind. Ivan Peresic struck twice in Inter’s win over Udinese last week to take the scoring weight off Mauro Icardi’s shoulders. The hosts have won the last five in all competitions while Chievo have lost three on the bounce.
Crotone vs Bologna
Bologna can put further distance between themselves and the bottom three when they visit 19th-placed Crotone. On their last trip before the Christmas break, Roberto Donadoni’s team dispatched Pescara 3-0, but Crotone have only lost one of its last four home games.
Udinese vs Roma
Luciano Spalletti’s side has an equally tricky task on a visit to Udinese, where the hosts have won two out of their last three at home. Roma is stronger on its own patch and will need to play well, but the knowledge that Juve is in Florence may give them a boost.
Roma is at 1.92 to collect a vital three points.
Napoli vs Pescara
The league’s top scorers host the bottom club, and I fear this could get a little messy for Pescara. Napoli’s 11-goal Dries Mertens has formed a fruitful partnership with Jose Callejon, and the visitors have little hope of increasing their nine-point haul.
Lazio vs Atalanta
There is another cracking game in prospect in Rome where fourth-placed Lazio entertain sixth- placed Atalanta. The visitors have recovered their form and gave a good Chievo side a 4-1 spanking on their travels last week.
Lazio need to be at their best to win at odds of 1.97.
Cagliari vs Genoa
12th visits 14th, both on 23 points, in a game which is hard to call. The home side have the leakiest defence in the league by some distance, having already shipped 43 goals. But Genoa have lost four on the trot and find goals hard to come by.
Sampdoria vs Empoli
Sampdoria, also on 23 points, could make progress with a win over 17th-placed Empoli. The visitors have only scored 11 goals all season, but a disciplined defence has given them a seven-point cushion above the drop zone and Sampdoria is without a win in four.
Sassuolo vs Palermo
An early nail could be heading towards Palermo’s coffin if they can’t thwart one of the very few teams they could hope to catch from their 18th position. Sassuolo, in 16th, can move 11 points clear with a win.
WEEK 20 MONDAY:
Fiorentina vs Juventus
The Bianconeri sits at the top of the tree, four points clear of Roma and with a game in hand, but the Viola have made steady progress and climbed to ninth. Federico Bernardeschi and Nikola Kalinic have scored nine and eight so far, and there could be goals in this one.
It isn’t often that Juventus is as long as 1.84 to win a game.
WEEK 20 TUESDAY:
Torino vs Milan
There’s a great finish to the weekend on Tuesday when Torino can clamber into the Euro mix with a win at home to fifth-placed Milan. They are batting away interest in 13-goal hitman Andrea Belotti, and if the striker stays focused, then he could deliver a real blow to Milan’s title ambitions.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
