SERIE APREVIEW: Fiery Italian Serie A season reaches Match week 19 Serie A gameweek 19 is upon us and the log leaders seem to be running away with the title. Juve will be looking to bounce back against Atalanta on Sunday, while Lazio and AC Milan lock horns on Tuesday in what seems to be the big games of the week in the Italian league.
Saturday 21 January
11/8 Verona | Draw 19/10 | Lecce 23/10 (14:00)
We open up matchday 19 with Verona sitting in the relegation zone at home to Lecce. The away side seem to be elevating their form in recent games, while the home side failed to keep up their winning form in a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan after conceding an early goal within the first five minutes. However, the visitors are a better side here looking at their last five games winning three and drawing two, as well as being clinical upfront, back the away side here.
8/1 Salernitana | Draw 9/2 | Napoli 31/100 (17:00)
Log leaders Napoli have lost once this season in Serie A to Inter Milan. They will be looking to continue in their hot-red-form after smashing Juventus 5-1. Victor Osimhen has been Napoli’s key player upfront scoring 12 goals in the league topping the goal scorer charts. On the flipside, Salernitana have failed to beat the visitors in their last four meetings. Napoli is a banker here.
11/10 Fiorentina | Draw 9/4 | Torino 13/5 (19:45)
We wrap up Saturday’s action with Fiorentina as they entertain Torino at the Artemio Franchi Stadium. Both teams suffered a defeat in their latest fixture, and this will be an intriguing matchup as a quick turnaround is key. I see both teams cancelling each other out in this fixture.
Sunday 22 January
5/2 Sampdoria |Draw 9/4 | Udinese 11/10 (11:30)
Sunday action will start with 18 placed Sampdoria welcoming eighth placed Udinese. The home side lost their last two games and need to turn things around as soon as possible. As for Udinese, surely, they must be disappointed with themselves given the way they started the season coupled with losses to Juventus and Bologna in their last two and Sampdoria are desperate for a win here, I’m backing both teams to score in this fixture at 17/20.
23/20 Monza | Draw 9/4 | Sassuolo 9/4 (14:00)
Newly promoted side Monza will fancy their chances with Sassuolo, who sit 17th place on the log. Monza started the season on the wrong foot teetering in the relegation zone but have turned things around to climb to 12th position in the Serie A. Sassuolo have been very poor recently losing their last five games. The confidence is high for the home side and will defiantly take all three points in this game.
7/2 Spezia | Draw 5/2 | AS Roma 77/100 (17:00)
AS Roma travel to Alberto Picco Stadium to take on Spezia. Coach José Mourinho’s side have been dominant over Spezia in last five meetings winning three, drawing one and losing one, which makes them the ‘favourites’ in this fixture. However, Roma really needs a win and boasts better quality in personnel as they are contesting to finish in the top four in the league, back Roma to win.
11/10 Juventus | Draw 23/10 | Atalanta 23/10 (19:45)
After that heavy 5-1 defeat to Napoli Juventus will be looking to reaffirm their ‘big team’ status when they welcome Atalanta. This won’t be an easy game for the home side, as Atalanta have been performing well this season. The away side have absolutely demolished their most recent opponent Salernitana 8-2. Last time the away side visited the Old Lady, they won the game 1-0. In addition, Atalanta have been very clinical upfront in their last four games scoring 22 goals. The Old Lady will find the back of the net but the 3 points belong to the visitors – get in on 11/2.
Monday 23 January
87/100 Bologna | Draw 11/5 | Cremonese 10/3 (17:30)
Monday we will witness 11th placed Bologna hosting bottom placed Cremonese. The hosts are entering into this game with the hope of keeping their wining mentality after coming from behind to beat Udinese 2-1. As for Cremonese, they are in still in search of a win this season managing seven draws and 11 defeats in 18 games. I am tipping Bologna.
27/100 Inter Milan | Draw 9/2 | Empoli 8/1 (19:45)
In form Inter Milan face Empoli at the San Siro Stadium. The hosts have been in good form winning 10 games, losing eight, and drawing two across all competition. Also, Inter have not lost to Empoli in their last six meeting wining each encounter. On the other hand, Empoli will be hoping to end that hoodoo to secure a victory here, but will they be able to do it at the San Siro? I don’t think so, Inter Milan is a banker here make them your multiples.
Tuesday 24 January
21/10 Lazio | Draw 23/10 | AC Milan 6/5 (19:45)
We wrap up gameweek 19 with an entertaining encounter as Lazio go head-to-head with AC Milan. The home side have been inconsistent over their last five games winning two, drawing one, and losing two games. Same applies to the visiting side as they managed just one win, two draws, and two defeats over five games. Last season Milan managed to collect maximum points from the hosts (six points), and they will be hoping that the likes of Rafael Leão helps the side to continue where they left off from the previous term. This is an entertaining encounter and a Both Teams to Score (YES) is a safe bet in this encounter at 4/6.
