Saturday March 11, Napoli vs Atalanta
The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona will be the site for a highly contested fixture between Napoli and Atalanta. Napoli ranks first in Italy averaging 2.3 goals per Serie A match, while Atalanta is third with 1.7 goals scored per game.
One of the reasons Napoli is a high flying team and has a huge 15 point lead in the table is thanks to a breakout season from Victor Osimhen registering 19 goals. Osimhen’s side kick Georgian international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is having an MVP caliber type of season putting up solid numbers. He has scored 10 goals and adding a Serie A-leading nine helpers. The Partenopei suffered their second defeat in the competition last weekend, losing to Lazio 1-0. This happened to be the fourth time in all competitions that they have failed to get on the score sheet.
Atalanta is in the thick of it when it comes to seeking that illusive UEFA Champions League spot in the table. The Orobici currently sits five points back from AS Roma. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side has failed to capitalize on their opportunities when it comes to keeping pace with the top four of the table. Atalanta has regularly dropped games to less inferior sides of late. La Dea is in a slide at the moment, registering one win in their last six matches. A team that prides itself on open, attacking play has recently struggled to find the back of the net. They have bagged just three goals during this ugly six game stretch for the club.
In the last 28 meetings between these two sides, this matchup is fairly even, with Atalanta having the slight edge with 12 wins to Napoli’s 11 (five draws). In the last five meetings has the game go over the 2.5 goal market. Both teams to score market has also hit including a 2-1 win on the road for Napoli in Bergamo back on 5 November. Highly doubt we see Napoli lose in back-to-back home matches, but does not mean there will not be goals in this one. Atalanta ranks as the third best away side in Serie A. Meanwhile, Napoli will be without Mario Rui, one of their top defenders, due to suspension. Think we will see some goals in this Saturday fixture, bet both teams to score -125. (odds via Bet365, odds available at time of publishing).
Sunday March 12, Juventus vs Sampdoria
Juventus will look to bounce back after suffering a tough defeat to AS Roma last weekend on the road. Sampdoria picked up a valuable point last weekend, though the club still currently sits at the bottom of the table and looks destined for Serie B next season.
Juventus returns home where the club has been its strongest all year long, only suffering one defeat so far in the Serie A campaign. More impressive than that is their solid defensive play, only conceding 10 goals at Allianz Stadium.
Sampdoria is having a season to forget, with no signs of anything happening in a positive manner anytime soon. The club will have to go on a miraculous run to get out of the relegation zone currently sitting nine points back from Spezia.
Head-to-head, Juventus has not lost to Sampdoria since 2017. Earlier in the campaign, these two sides settled for a scoreless draw in Genoa. Like Juventus’ chances here despite their points deduction. The club is playing with a chip on their shoulders, aspiring for European glory. The only concern for Juventus is that it is a short week for the club, who plays SC Freiburg on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League.
Sampdoria has scored a league-worst 11 goals this season. I Blucerchiati will struggle to get any goals in this one. Take Juventus clean sheet yes -150, and in a same game parlay, take Juventus to win and under 3.5 goals -120 (odds via Bet365, odds available at time of publishing).