Our football expert previews round 34 of the Italian Serie A which resumes on Saturday the 27th of April 2019.
And that’s all she wrote! Juventus were crowned champions this past weekend for an eighth consecutive season following Napoli’s disappointing home defeat at the hands of Atalanta. To add to that, my 4/1 treble arrived which made the Easter weekend all the more exciting.
With the Scudetto remaining in Turin for another season, we can focus our attention on the battle for the top four, as well as the relegation dogfight. Just five rounds of Serie A football to go, let’s get to it!
Standings provided by Sofascore LiveScore
Saturday 27 April
Bologna 8/10
Draw 26/10
Empoli 33/10
Bologna earned a brilliant, but more important, 3-0 home victory over Sampdoria, increasing their chances of securing their status in the top flight. Empoli never help their chances of survival at all after suffering a 4-2 home defeat to SPAL. Five points separate these sides with the hosts placed 16th on the standings, while the Azzurri remain 18th in the relegation zone.
These sorts of games have the potential to keep one at the edge of their seat. Bologna have won their last four home games, scoring 10 goals and conceding just once, while Empoli have the worst away record in the league as they remain winless on their travels.
The home win looks a good bet.
Roma 9/20
Draw 7/2
Cagliari 11/2
Sixth-placed Roma are just one of the teams that a gunning for a spot in the top four. The Giallorossi are unbeaten in their last four games and have lost just twice on home soil this season. Cagliari have not fared well on the road with 10 defeats from 16 matches, scoring only 11 goals.
Should Roma capitalize on home advantage, they will leap-frog Atalanta and AC Milan into fourth, well at least for the time being.
Back the hosts to claim all three points.
Inter Milan 29/20
Draw 22/10
Juventus 39/20
Inter Milan will welcome the newly-crowned – for an eighth straight season – champions Juventus to the San Siro Stadium on Saturday evening. The hosts are looking pretty in third place, five points clear of AC Milan in fourth but will know that there is still plenty of work to be done.
The feeling must be all too familiar for the Old Lady who might put in a lethargic performance with the title race done and dusted. However, I feel that might just show the world why they are the champions of Italy for the eighth season in a row.
I doubt there will be too many goals in this affair and with that being said, I’m taking Juve to come away with a narrow win.
Sunday 28 April
Frosinone 7/1
Draw 39/10
Napoli 7/20
If Frosinone fail to pull off a positive result on Sunday afternoon, their chances of survival will be slim to none. But they play host to a wounded Napoli side, who should be feeling a bit glum following Juventus' successful title-defence.
Frosinone have lost back-to-back matches, occupying 19th place on the log. However, Napoli are not playing their best football either and are likely to find the going tough.
The Win/Draw Double Chance on the home team offers value at 19/10.
Chievo 2/1
Draw 21/10
Parma 29/20
Chievo are the only team unable to save themselves from the inevitable drop to Serie B. But that doesn’t take away their pride and team spirit which they showed plenty of last time out, after surprisingly edging Lazio 2-1 away from home. It was only their second win of the campaign and making it back-to-back against Parma would be some kind of accomplishment – well at least for them.
The hosts will play to win in front of their beloved fans, while Parma will do the same with the chance of relegation on the line.
An end-to-end game of football is on the cards with the Over 2.5 Goals market looking tempting at 21/20!
SPAL 33/20
Draw 17/10
Genoa 22/10
SPAL have been in terrific form with five wins from their last six games and will look to secure another season in the top flight with a home victory over a struggling Genoa side on Sunday. The latter are without a win in their last five matches, including four defeats.
The reverse tie ended 1-1 but with home advantage, SPAL look much more likely to collect maximum points.
Back the hosts to claim all three points.
Sampdoria 19/10
Draw 5/2
Lazio 13/10
Sampdoria have struggled in recent weeks with three losses from their last four games, including a 3-0 hammering at Bologna last time out. Lazio have not done much better following their shock 2-1 home defeat against bottom-of-the-log Chievo.
The last six meetings between these sides have produced a total of 27 goals at an average of 4.5 per game.
Given their history of goal fests, I’m going to follow that trend and take Both Halves Over 1.5 Goals – Yes – at 36/10!
Torino 18/10
Draw 2/1
AC Milan 33/20
Torino will be looking to maintain their unbeaten record of five matches when they host AC Milan on Sunday evening. The Rossoneri have been inconsistent of late and have registered just five wins on the road. The last six meetings between these sides have seen both teams find the back of the net.
Take Both Teams to Score – Yes – at 19/20.
Monday 29 April
Atalanta 3/10
Draw 17/4
Udinese 8/1
Atalanta produced a brilliant performance at Napoli last time out, claiming maximum points in a narrow but hard-fought 2-1 victory, extending their unbeaten run to nine matches. Udinese might be fighting relegation but La Dea are battling for a spot in the top four.
I’m expecting a cagey affair on Monday evening as neither side can afford to drop points.
Get on the Totals – Under 2.5 Goals – at 12/10.
Fiorentina 15/20
Draw 11/4
Sassuolo 36/10
We end off the round at Fiorentina, who have been dismal in recent weeks as they remain without a win in their last 10 matches. Sassuolo have drawn their last three matches and will be hoping to come good on Monday evening with a win likely to secure their status in the Serie A for another campaign.
The hosts are struggling to get out of first gear at the moment and Sassuolo might not be in their best form either but they have something to play for.
It won’t be smooth sailing but Sassuolo are tipped to come away with the win.
LAST WEEK’S TREBLE WON @ 4/1
Cagliari Win 21/20
Juventus Win 5/10
Inter Milan vs Roma BTTS (Yes) 13/20
THIS WEEK’S TREBLE @ 6/1
Bologna Win 9/10
Roma Win 9/20
SPAL Win 33/20