Serie A Betting: Juventus v Fiorentina

Italian Football / Dan Fitch / 23 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

Many people's fancy for the Serie A title - Juventus - host a Fiorentina side missing their talisman and captain Adrain Mutu. It's on Betfair Live Video and it's likely to be more of the same with a narrow Juve win, says Dan "The Betting Man" Fitch.

In life, it is important to make the most of the chances that come your way. You don't want to reach a ripe old age and be worrying about what might have been, if you'd just taken that job/asked out that girl/stolen that wallet.

It's particularly galling when you fail to take your chance to get one over on a rival, especially if the chances to do so are few and far between. This is why I'll never regret the fact that I once stabbed William Bridgman with a compass during maths, even though it resulted in me having to spend my lunch break picking up litter.

Juventus may well live to regret not sticking something sharp and pointed into title rivals Inter Milan last weekend. Mourinho's side lost 3-1 at Atalanta, giving Juventus the chance to go within a point of the league leaders, if they could beat Lazio.

Alas, Juve left Rome with just a draw. Though they cut the gap between them and Inter to 3 points, Juventus will know that they missed out on an opportunity. Inter won't slip up too many times this season and when they do, Juve had better be ready to pounce. Inter are the [1.73] favourites to retain their title, with Juventus at [4.3].

Juventus have the chance to put the pressure on Inter, when they face Fiorentina on Saturday night. A Juve win by any margin, would see them go top of Serie A on goal difference. As ever, all the action can be seen on Betfair Live Video: the TV station that only gets regretful when it's really, really drunk.

In truth, Juventus could have easily lost to Lazio last weekend. Lazio took a deserved lead in the first half, only for Juve to equalise shortly afterwards through Olaf Mellberg, with their first real effort of the game. Juventus were much better in the second half and either side could have snatched the victory, as chances went begging.

Fiorentina were certainly dissatisfied with their 1-0 loss, away at AC Milan. The visitors were perhaps the better side, but saw all the key refereeing decisions go against them.

The Viola are now sixth and just 3 points away from the Champions League qualification places. Fiorentina will quickly have to recover their form, if they are to qualify for the competition for a second successive season, as they have yet to gain a single point, after their first two games of 2009.

If Fiorentina are to get winning again, then they will need Alberto Gilardino at his best form. Gilardino has scored 12 goals from 17 Serie A games, but struggled last week without the presence of his injured striker partner Adrian Mutu.

Juventus go into this game with serious selection problems. Buffon has been suffering with a bout of bronchitis, whilst his backup Manninger is also a doubt with a knee injury. It looks like Buffon might be able to make it, but Camoranesi, Iaquinta and Tiago will all missing through injury, with Sissoko and Molinaro both suspended. Nedved and Chiellini could be available, but face a race for fitness.

Fiorentina look light up front with Mutu injured and having sold Pazzini and Osvaldo. This could impact on the 2.5 goals market. Over 2.5 can be backed at [2.08] with under 2.5 at [1.9]. Only one of the last 4 meetings between the sides, has broken the 2.5 goal barrier.

Juventus are the [1.78] favourites, with the draw at [3.65] and Fiorentina [6]. Juve lost their home match to Fiorentina last season, but they are in great form of late, having stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions, to 9 games.

I think Ranieri's side will just sneak a win. 1-0 is available at [7.2], with 2-0 at [9.2] and 2-1 at [8.4]. Juve are [2.82] to be winning half time/full time, with the draw/Juve at [4.8]. A clean sheet for the home side will be available at around [2.0] when the market opens on Betfair, with Fiorentina [4.5] to not concede.