Inter and AC Milan headline huge weekend
If a matchday in which the top four teams in a division all face off is billed as a "Grand Slam" then what superlative term do you go for to promote a set of fixtures in which the top eight all collide (fourth v first, second v third, fifth v sixth and seventh v eighth) and there's a Derby di Sicilia too?
It promises to be a weekend to savour in Serie A and there's no doubt what the headline match is - a rare Derby della Madonnina in which AC Milan enter with the advantage. The Rossoneri are top and three points clear of Sunday's "hosts" Inter Milan and the extensive injury lists of both sides won't dampen the spectacle.
Inter have won the last three collisions and haven't lost at home in close to two years but AC Milan won't have a better chance to beat the champions, having been victorious in six of their last seven in the league while the Nerazzurri have toiled, and Massimiliano Allegri's men are hard to resist at [2.94].
The away triumph also appeals at [3.75] in Sunday's early game between Lazio and Napoli, in which the winners will at least temporarily leapfrog AC Milan. Walter Mazzarri's men are yet to lose on their travels, while Lazio have suffered successive defeats - Edy Reja's decision to rotate his squad for the midweek trip to Cesena backfiring.
Their neighbours Roma have been the form club in Italy over the last month, however they are yet to win outside of the capital and Juventus are unbeaten in ten in all competitions, so a draw looks likely at [3.3]. Patchy Fiorentina should see off Cesena in Saturday's earlier tie at [1.52].
Palermo are stronger than Catania on paper yet they haven't taken three points from any of the last four Sicilian sizzlers, and their rivals are magnificent at grinding out results, which leads us to believe that under 2.5 goals is the best bet at generous-looking odds of [1.81].
The other Sunday afternoon match on Betfair Live Video pits Sampdoria boss Domenico Di Carlo against Chievo, who he left this summer. His absence hasn't been too keenly felt, unlike that of exit-bound Blucerchiati forward Antonio Cassano on Thursday's evidence. The draw is a tempting [3.35].
Fiorentina v Cesena, Betfair Live Video, Saturday, 5pm
Juventus v Roma, Betfair Live Video, Saturday, 7.45pm
Lazio v Napoli, ESPN & Betfair Live Video, Sunday, 11.30pm
Sampdoria v Chievo, Betfair Live Video, Sunday, 2pm
Palermo v Catania, Betfair Live Video, Sunday, 2pm
Inter Milan v AC Milan, ESPN & Betfair Live Video, Sunday, 7.45pm
Got any punts lined up for any of these tasty encounters? Tell us below...
Published: 12 Nov 2010
Leave a comment