Serie A: Roma to retain derby record, Viola should stay top
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | November 7, 2015
Roma v Lazio
- Serie A
- Sunday, November 8th
- Kick-off: 14:00 GMT
- Stadio Olimpico, Rome
- Live on BT Sport Europe
Eternal City rivals renew hostilities
It’s been almost three years since Lazio won a Rome derby in the league, and bitter rivals Roma have scored three goals at home in each of their last three Stadio Olimpico outings.
This is reflected in the outright match betting with Coral making nominal hosts the Giallrossi odds-on 20/23 favourites and the Eagles 10/3 outsiders. A derby day draw, meanwhile, is a 12/5 chance.
Rudi Garcia’s rampant Roma are well worth a wager to continue their trend of netting three at home here at a terrific 13/5 price. The Giallorossi’s goal-glut isn’t down to a striker, but to their supporting cast.
Familiar faces a threat
Ex-Premier League wide duo Gervinho and Mohamed Salah, plus Bosnia midfield mover Miralem Pjanic, all have five Serie A strikes apiece, so punters would be well-advised to spread their scorer bets.
The latter is out, so Egypt international Salah is 6/4 anytime, with Arsenal old boy and Ivory Coast counterpart Gervinho 5/1 to break the deadlock with another Premier League alumnus Edin Dzeko 6/5 to score here.
Lazio’s leading threats remain Filip Djordjevic and Miroslav Klose, who are both 15/8 anytime chances. Felipe Anderson (10/3) and Antonio Candreva (better at 4/1) have also scored recent derby goals, but Roma are Serie A’s leading scorers and also worth a wager to win with both teams scoring at 5/2.
Sampdoria v Fiorentina
- Serie A
- Sunday, November 8th
- Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
- Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
- Live on BT Sport Europe
Viola can stay top with win
League leaders Fiorentina face a trip to Genoese side Sampdoria and Serie A’s leading marksman Eder.
Despite the clear threat the Brazilian-born Azzurri international poses, it’s the Viola who are odds-on 19/20 favourites for victory. Samp are 16/5 outsiders to record a home win, while a point apiece is reckoned a 9/4 chance.
Eder scored last in this fixture a year ago, and he’s a 6/1 to repeat that feat, or a safer 7/4 in the anytime market. Backed up Colombia attacker Luis Muriel (9/4) and Italy teammate Roberto Soriano (10/3), Sampdoria should pose Fiorentina some problems.
Coaching changes paying off
Both of these sides are under new management this term with Walter Zenga building on predecessor Sinisa Mihajlovic’s fine work at Samp, and new Viola boss Paulo Sousa is exceeding all expectations. His signing of former Blackburn Rovers flop Nikola Kalinic has proved inspire.
Six of the Croatia frontman’s seven Fiorentina goals have come in Serie A, so Kalinic is 9/2 to net the opener. Having Viola star Giuseppe Rossi fit again also helps, but with his injury record an anytime price of 6/5 looks a little short.
There’s more to like about fellow support player Josip Ilicic at 7/4 in that market after five strikes in 11 outings. Fiorentina also appeal to win with both teams finding the target at tasty odds of 29/10.
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