Serie A Betting: Napoli the bet of the week

Italian Football / Dave Farrar / 29 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

Marek Hamsyk continues to be Napoli's key player

"Weak travellers going to strong home team, with strong home team eminently backable. Napoli are, without doubt, the bet of a poor week."

Dave Farrar once again bemoans the Serie A fixture list that throws up two cracking matches one week and not much to speak of the next. That said, good betting opportunities are still out there, as is the case with a Napoli home win.

NAPOLI v GENOA

I know that I've complained about this before, but after Juventus v Roma and a Milan derby last weekend, we're faced with a fairly uninspiring weekend of action. The team of the moment are unquestionably Napoli, and they should continue their good recent form at home against Genoa.

I was in Livorno last week to see Napoli's latest win, and what impressed me was their ability to cope without Lavezzi and Quagliarella, and adapt their style to the situation with which they were faced. German Denis worked hard, because that's what he does, and Marek Hamsyk reined in his attacking instincts to control the midfield along with the excellent Luca Cigarini.

Quagliarella is back for the visit of Genoa, and Napoli shouldn't be trading at the even money mark to beat a side that has lost its spark, and which doesn't play particularly well away from home. Genoa have lost 5 of their last 6 away in the league, and Napoli, while occasionally patchy at the San Paolo, will probably be far too good.

There's a chance that this game could produce goals as well, but Genoa haven't been playing their traditional free flowing football in the last few weeks, and Gian Piero Gasperini may go a little against type and try to keep it tight. Either way, weak travellers going to strong home team, with strong home team eminently backable. Napoli are, without doubt, the bet of a poor week.

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SAMPDORIA v ATALANTA

Last week, I opposed Genoa with Atalanta, and was disappointed with the rather toothless display of Bortolo Mutti's team. Atalanta are on the road at the Marassi again this week, and will have to play Sampdoria without their playmaker Cristiano Doni.

There's trouble in the air at Samp as well, with Antonio Cassano and Gigi Del Neri reportedly falling out, and Cassano more than likely to be unavailable this weekend because of injury. Given that the two most creative players could well be missing, the 0-0 is worth a look here. Even though Doni is ageing, Mutti's team don't look the same without him, and Samp are certainly not as good a side without Cassano.

Mutti would bite your hand off if you offered him a 0-0, and both Roma and Bari have already come away from the Marassi with a goalless draw. It's not a bet on which I'd advise a massive stake, and you may want to look at under 1.5 and 2.5 goals as well, but it should certainly give you a run for your money.

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CAGLIARI v FIORENTINA

I bet that if I say the names Cagliari and Fiorentina and ask you to tell me which of them is higher in the table that you'd get it wrong. Cagliari's excellent recent run means that they sit a point clear of La Viola and have every chance of extending that lead to four points on Sunday.

Cagliari may draw a lot of games, but they've lost only 2 in 12, and they've won 5 of their last 7 at home. Massimiliano Allegri probably doesn't get the credit he deserves for the stylish way that his side go about their business. Andrea Cossu is one of the best players in the division, and Alessandro Matri has had a fantastic goalscoring season. Larrivey is suspended, but that means that Nene will play, and I feel that Cagliari are a better team with Nene in it so that hardly weakens them. Fiorentina look toothless without Adrian Mutu, were badly beaten at Palermo last week, and look there for the taking, and Cagliari's 1-0 win over La Viola last season may well be repeated this weekend

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