Serie A Betting Analysis from PinnacleSports

26th Apr 2007, 7:34

Inter Milan confirmed the inevitable on the weekend when they landed the Serie A title, but there is still plenty of life left in the Italian top flight. Battles for European positions and survival from relegation maintain the intrigue in what has been one of the most remarkable seasons in Italian football history. With plenty of action remaining www.PinnacleSports.com will continue to offer unbeatable Serie A odds, up to 60% better than the opposition.

Inter Land Title But Still Have Plenty to Prove

Inter Milan celebrated on the weekend by landing the Italian Scudetto. Two goals by Marco Materazzi secured a win at Siena, while Roma were beaten at Atalanta. The Nerazzurri could be forgiven for taking their foot off the gas after a season featuring a record 17 game winning run. However, Roberto Mancini’s side are still chasing a record points tally, and are motivated to stay sharp for the Coppa Italia in May against second place Roma. Nonetheless, after a week of champagne, Inter might not be at their best for the home game against fifth placed Empoli who will be eager to maintain qualification for European competition.

Luigi Cagni has worked wonders at Empoli since his appointment last January. The Blues are set for a second consecutive UEFA Cup adventure, no mean feat for perennial relegation strugglers. They come into this game in good form having strung together three clean sheets, but the side from Brescia have played Inter Milan twice already this season (league & cup) losing both games by an aggregate of 5-0. Empoli will of course look to expose any hangover that Inter may have after a week of partying but www.PinnacleSports.com still have the new champions as favourite for this game 2.260 (-1) with Empoli 1.735 (+1).

Bitter Rivals Battle in Rome Derby

Rome will be divided on Sunday afternoon as one of the most ferocious football rivalries is renewed. The Derby della Capitale is almost unrivalled for the bitterness, rivalry and sheer passion. The game was abandoned after a riot in 2004, but hopefully with the title already settled, and both teams assured of Champions League football, 90 minutes of football will be played. Roma have a comfortable eleven point lead over Lazio, but will want to maintain performance levels as they prepare for the Coppa Italia final against Inter.

The Giallorossi haven’t lost the Rome Derby as the home side since 1997, and captain, Francesco Totti, will want to maintain his position as the league’s top-scorer. Having strung together an eight game winning run that lifted them into third place, Lazio have now gone a further three games without victory, failing to score in the last two. In contrast Roma are scoring freely, reacting to the humiliating 7-1 defeat by Manchester United by scoring eight in three games, though the most recent ended in defeat to Atalanta. www.PinnacleSports.com have Roma as slight favourites on their Asian Handicap 1.877 (0/scratch & -0.5) with Lazio 2.050 (0/scratch & +0.5).

Reggina Close to Performing the Great Escape

Having suffered a 15-point deduction resulting from their involvement in the Italian match-fixing scandal Reggina were one of the obvious favourites for relegation. Though the Amaranto are in the basement of the table, three points covers the six teams above them in the table, so a win away to Ascoli on Sunday could change things dramatically. The Calabrians are unbeaten in their last four games, but that sequence included three draws, and another stalemate would leave them third from bottom and facing demotion to Serie B.

Their opponents, Ascoli, are in a much worse position, rooted to rock-bottom of the table and needing a miracle to survive. They have won just three times all season, their solitary home victory coming in December. Having conceded 15 times over the last four games, it is no surprise that despite being the away side. Reggina are favourites with www.PinnacleSports.com, 1.752 (-0.5) with Ascoli 2.230 (+0.5).

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