Home And Away: Napoli set for Tuscan triumph in the Coppa

Daily Tipping / Jonno Turner / 09 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Christian Maggio is always a menace down the right flank for Napoli

Jonno Turner has picked Istanbul BB and Napoli as Thursday's two sides to back...

BREAKING NEWS: England manager Fabio Capello has resigned from his post in order to concentrate fully on his role as one of the Dolmio puppets. Yes, 2012: the year of Italians jumping sinking ships.

Hotly tipped for the job is Harry Redknapp, who was cleared of tax evasion charges in court yesterday. "Redknapp: my agony is over" reads the news ticker on my TV this morning. Agony? Over? Come back in a year, Mr England manager.

According to rumours, Harry has already been in contact with the FA, but apparently this was to complain after Roberto Mancini waved an imaginary tax return at him.

We're off to Turkey for our first tip of the day, as Istanbul BB welcome Karabukspor to the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. The hosts have been excellent so far this season, and currently occupy ninth place in the Super Lig.

Boss Arif Erdem has seen his side in formidable form on their own patch, where they have lost only once in their last 13 games, an impressive record when you consider that the run includes victories over Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

And BB will be desperate to make it three consecutive wins in front of their own fans, following six goals smashed in their last two.

Karabukspor make the journey to Istanbul this afternoon on the back of a miserable run of 11 losses in 12 on their travels. There has been no surer thing than an away defeat for Bulent Korkmaz's side this season and in the bigger picture, they have only tasted victory twice in 28 away outings.

That run has seen Korkmaz's side into the relegation zone, where they sit two points from safety with time running out. Their home form may just see them out of the mire, but I don't think their luck will change today.

Bet 1: Istanbul BB (HOME) to win @ [1.8]

Conjunctivitis.com - there's a site for sore eyes.

Napoli travel to Siena this evening for the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final looking to book their place in the final. The visitors have had a positive season and started the campaign with a bang, but have dropped off slightly of late, now finding themselves in seventh.

And that makes this competition all the more important for Walter Mazzarri's side, who will know that a win in this first leg will give them one foot in the final.

They have reason to be confident too. Just one loss in their last nine games shows that Mazzarri is doing something right on the training ground, and the Azzurri's away record is good too, with just one loss in their last seven.

Siena, meanwhile, have not had the best of campaigns and currently sit teetering on the edge of the relegation zone, just three points away from being dragged into the drop zone.

Just one win in six at the Stadio Artemio Franchi will have the Bianconeri fans worried as we reach the business end of the season, and coach Giuseppe Sannino will probably try to emulate his side's 1-1 draw with Napoli a fortnight ago, in order to give his side something to play for in the second leg.

Being the first tie of two, this could be a somewhat cautious affair - but I can see goals in it, and I'm backing Napoli to go into the second leg with the upper hand here.

Bet 2: Napoli (AWAY) to win @ [2.34]