Week 7 of the Serie A might just be the most exciting yet. This week, we’ll see the inner-city derby between Roma and Lazio and the league’s two top teams – Juventus and Napoli – square off. There’s plenty of excitement to go around, but I’m interested in finding the best value for bettors.
Today, I’ll examine all ten of this week’s matchups, identify the best betting prospects – outrights, prop bets, over/under – and give you my picks for this matchday. Let’s head straight on into it.
In the most hotly anticipated game of the season, the Partenopei will travel to Turin, aiming to topple Juve and launch themselves ahead in the scudetto race. Napoli were ever so close to winning the league last year, but they were unable to perform when it mattered most, and they’ll certainly be looking for revenge.
As expected, both teams have gotten off to great starts this season. Juventus are perfect, claiming a full 18 points from their six games so far. The Partenopei suffered a slight drawback with a shocking loss to Sampdoria, but they’re back on track, and they’re looking better than ever – standing second in the league with 15 points.
This is a battle of the two best teams in the league. Each team has great defenses and great attacks, and with Ronaldo getting better each and every day, Juventus is looking more and more unbeatable. Nevertheless, Napoli’s attack is looking lethal recently; their attacking trio is the deadliest in the league, and against the Bianconeri’s relatively old backline, their pace and speed could cause some issues.
I think this will be a closer match than the odds indicate; the Partenopei are an elite squad, and they always have a chance to grab some points. This could be the most exciting game of the year, and Napoli will be hungry to prove themselves.
Prediction: Juventus 1-1 Napoli
Both Fiorentina and Atalanta have struggled so far this year. While Fiorentina may sit at fifth in the league, their standing is deceptive; their schedule has been remarkably easy, and in the few challlenging games they’ve played so far this season, they’ve been thoroughly outplayed.
Atalanta’s struggles are more obvious; despite a draw at Roma in the first week of the league, they’ve since lost to Cagliari and SPAL – concerning performances that cast doubt upon their Europa League chances.
Nevertheless, I like Atalanta in this week’s matchup. Neither team has been performing particularly well, but I think Atalanta has more weapons than the Viola. When Papu Gomez is playing well, he can be one of the best players in the league, and I think his Atalanta can certainly pose a challenge to Fiorentina.
Prediction: Fiorentina 1-2 Atalanta
Milan have been struggling in recent weeks. In their last three games against Cagliari, Atalanta, and Empoli, they’ve managed to draw all three times – a disappointing start to the season for the Rossoneri. They have the talent, but they just aren’t taking advantage of their chances, and their midfield is struggling to retain possession and create chances.
Meanwhile, Sassuolo are enjoying an excellent run of form. They’ve managed to win all five of their last home games, and surprisingly, they’re third in the league right now. Their roster isn’t filled with talent, but they’re playing like a true team, and they’ve certainly impressed so far.
This matchup is not nearly as clear cut as it may seem. Sassuolo always seems to trouble Milan, and it’s become difficult to trust the Rossoneri as they continue to disappoint time and time again. With the odds at 3.65 for a Sassuolo win, I think this is the best bet of the week. The Neroverdi will host Milan at Mapei Stadium, and they’ll look to continue their hot streak.
Prediction: Sassuolo 1-1 Milan
Inter didn’t have the greatest of starts to the season, but they’ve won their last three games, and they’ve consistently been able to bail themselves out of trouble. Cagliari have been wildly inconsistent; they’ve shown some flashes of brilliance, but overall, they’ve performed as expected – finding themselves very close to the relegation zone.
This is one of the more unlikely picks on this list, but it also provides some of the greatest upside. Even a draw would multiply the original bet five-fold, and if Icardi and his attack can’t capitalize on their chances, I can certainly see Cagliari escaping with an undeserved point.
Prediction: Inter 1-1 Cagliari
Chievo might be the worst team in the Serie A. While they were fortunate enough to grab draws against Roma and Empoli, they have been thoroughly outplayed in their last two games – unable to get anything going against Udinese or Genoa. Torino have not had a great start either, but they’ve consistently given themselves chances, and Belotti is still one of the most explosive talents in the league.
This matchup is more lopsided than the odds suggest. I Granata may not have found their form just yet, but Chievo look like a Serie B team, and Torino will be looking to get back on track in what should be an easy matchup. A 2 to 1 return on investment makes this bet even more enticing, and I think it should be relatively safe considering the circumstances.
Prediction: Chievo 0-1 Torino
If you’re interested in betting on the other matchups, I’ve listed my picks below. These games also offer interesting opportunities, and I’d have my eyes on the Derby della Capitale in particular.
Prediction: Roma 1-1 Lazio
Prediction: Bolonga 2-1 Udinese
Prediction: Parma 2-0 Empoli
Prediction: Frosinone 0-2 Genoa
Prediction: Sampdoria 2-0 SPAL
Juventus and Napoli may have some great defenses, but their attacks are even better. The two teams have the best forwards in the league – Ronaldo, Dybala, Insigne, Mertens – and they’ve certainly had no shortage of goals so far this year. Juventus have yet to end a game goalless, and Napoli have only done so once (a 3-0 loss to Sampdoria).
This should be a battle of two high-powered offenses. Both will be looking for goals, and the Bianconeri’s impenetrable defense doesn’t look so unbreakable any more. It’s very likely that both teams will score, and it should be an incredibly exciting matchup. This is a relatively safe bet, and the odds are good enough to provide some interesting value.
Icardi hasn’t gotten of the best start this season, only scoring a single goal, but he still remains one of the best strikers in the league. This week, Icardi’s Inter will take on a struggling Cagliari defense, and he should find himself with plenty of chances to find the back of the net.
The Argentinian is the most clinical striker in the world; he needs the fewest chances of any player to score a goal, and this is exactly what makes him so good. Cagliari has been prone to defensive errors so far this season, and Icardi will be certain to capitalize on the slightest hesitation from the opposition.
A brace is certainly not out of the question, and Icardi has a chance to prove just how good he is on Saturday.
Surprisingly, the Sampdoria defense has already managed to keep three clean sheets, including one in a 3-0 win against Napoli in week two. This week, they take on SPAL, one of the league’s worst teams who have cooled off after a fast start.
Sampdoria are heavy favorites for the matchup, and their defense has been rock solid so far this year. With SPAL struggling to score goals – they’ve only scored four so far this season – the Sampdoria defense shouldn’t have too many issues containing the opponent’s attack.
The Blucerchiati have the home crowd behind them at Luigi Ferraris, and I think this is the perfect game for them to regain momentum. A Sampdoria win and clean sheet triples your investment, and I see no reason why that shouldn’t happen.
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