Serie A: Roma welcome wounded Juve, Napoli host Sampdoria

The second matchweek of Serie A promises some superb duels, as Italian football royalty Roma and Juventus feature in a televised tussle, while Napoli and Sampdoria contest a clash at the Stadio San Paolo.

Serie A already provided surprises aplenty in the opening week, so what do these fascinating fixtures have in store?

Roma v Juventus
This classic match-up should be worthy of top billing, considering the summer makeovers both sides have undergone.

Roma, 7/4 with Coral to win, have forward threats aplenty, with Premier League loan signings Edin Dzeko (11/2 to net first) and Mohamed Salah (13/5 in the anytime market) settling in.

Chelsea-owned Salah, in particular, is remembered on Italian soil for impressive outings against Juve (also 7/4 for victory) last season.

The Egyptian attacker finds himself pitted against fellow Blues outcast and the man he replaced on the wing, albeit temporarily, for Fiorentina last term, in Juan Cuadrado.

Now seeking his Old Lady debut, the wily Colombian wideman is 8/1 to grab the opener and get off to a flying start.

Scudetto holders Juventus, missing cohesion after seeing Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal all leave, are re-building for a new era.

Summer striker signings Paulo Dybala (5/2 to strike anytime) and Mario Mandzukic (9/4) will be chomping at the bit to break their Serie A ducks for Juve, who could be vulnerable on the road after an opening defeat to Udinese.

So, the Giallorossi are 19/10 to at least pinch a point, in a repeat of last season’s result, but must beware wounded lions.

Napoli v Sampdoria
Two clubs under different management this season, Napoli and Sampdoria, should make this clash a close call, with a splitting of the spoils priced at 16/5.

As hosts, Campania club Napoli are odds-on 1/2 favourites, having also dominated recent head-to-heads against the Blucerchiati, with not one loss in their past eight encounters.

Yet, history only counts for so much, as the Little Donkey’s suffered a dismal opening defeat to minnows Sassuolo last time out.

By comparison, Sampdoria lashed five past newcomers Carpi so, bursting with confidence, are a smashing 5/1 shot to claim all three points.

Exciting Colombian forward Luis Muriel and Brazil-born Italy international Eder excelled in that opener, both bagging braces, though they should not find so much space at San Paolo.

So, back Eder at 17/2 to give Samp the advantage by breaking the deadlock, and majestic Muriel at 9/1 to finish the scoring.

Napoli, of course, will be hoping hitman Gonzalo Higuain (10/3 to be first on target) gets off the mark on home turf, having clocked up two strikes the last time the Little Donkeys hosted their rivals.

Former Sampdoria star Manolo Gabbiadini is a 6/4 anytime shout, after scoring against his former club in this fixture previously.

Betting tip: We fancy in-form Samp at 5/1 to beat Napoli