Serie A Betting Analysis from PinnacleSports
17th May 2007, 18:43
With just two games left in a season that has changed the face of Italian football, there are eight teams still sweating on the Serie A status, trying to avoid one vacant relegation spot. Despite the almost paranoid obsession with fair-play following Calciopoli, the end-of-season run-in may still see the mutually beneficial results scenarios so common in Italy. One thing bettors can rely on is www.PinnacleSports.com offering the best Serie A odds around – up to 60% better than traditional bookmakers.
Torino & Livorno Expected to Carve Up Mutually Beneficial Draw
It is not often that you see a draw priced at 1.459, but those are the odds that PinnacleSports.com put on the Serie A game between Torino and Livorno ending in stalemate. It is common practice in the Italian league for teams to contrive mutually beneficial results at the end of the season, though you won’t find anyone actually admitting this, particular in the post-Calciopoli climate of fear.
A point for both Livorno and Torino doesn’t mathematically guarantee their status for next season. It would however, put them in a very strong position even in the worse case scenario where all teams below them win this Sunday. For this very unusual circumstance form goes out of the window, and extreme caution should be exercised. Though the draw is likely www.PinnacleSports.com price Torino shorter at 1.395 (0/scratch) on their Asian Handicap with Livorno 3.330 (0/scratch).
Flying Donkeys Hovering Around Relegation Zone
Chievo have a golden opportunity to pull themselves clear of the Serie A relegation zone with a home win over already-relegated Ascoli on Sunday. The Flying Donkeys travel to fellow strugglers Catania on the final day of the season, so simply must win this penultimate game. Their strong home form has given them a chance of staying in the top flight, as they have lost just once in ten fixtures in Verona, and that was against Scudetto winners, Inter Milan. Chievo have taken six points from fellow strugglers, Livorno and Parma, in their last two games at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, so should have the advantage over a side already doomed to Serie B.
As is often the case with sides that are already relegated, Ascoli’s form has improved since their fate was sealed. Last weekend they recorded only their second home win of the season with a 3-2 victory over Palermo. Teams in their position normally play a much more open and relaxed game, which can sometimes lead to a belated improvement in form. Ascoli’s poor defence however, hasn’t improved, conceding 24 times in their last eight games – an average of three goals per game. www.PinnacleSports.com recognise the defensive frailty pricing Chievo favourites 1.870 (-1.5 & -2) with Ascoli 2.060 (+1.5 & +2).
Fiorentina Out to Rubber Stamp UEFA Cup Entry
Fiorentina’s trip to Sicily on Sunday should be a comfortable one. A win for La Viola at Messina will guarantee their place in next season’s UEFA Cup. The home side are already relegated to Serie B so cannot match the motivation of the visitors. www.PinnacleSports.com’s prices reflect this pricing Fiorentina 1.971 (-1 & -1.5) with Messina 1.952 (+1 & +1.5).
Messina are on a 10 game winless run, last gaining three points back in mid-February. In truth the side have been on a slippery slope to relegation since avoiding the drop last term only as a result of the match-fixing scandal. Fiorentina have been putting in a much more positive end to their campaign, Cesare Prandelli’s side haven’t conceded in 360 minutes of football, including visits to Lazio and AC Milan.