Serie A Weekend Betting Preview, 23-24 August
The 2025/26 Serie A season kicks off this weekend, and I’ve taken a closer look at three key fixtures from the opening round, complete with betting suggestions for your consideration.
Before we dive into the previews, let’s take a look at the latest outright odds. Napoli remain favourites to defend their title at 13/8, with Inter Milan at 27/10 and Juventus at 5/1. AC Milan are priced at 11/2, while Roma sit at 10/1. The rest of the field can be backed at 22/1 or higher.
Click here for all the long-term Serie A outright markets
SATURDAY
SASSUOLO v NAPOLI – Click here to bet
Sassuolo find themselves straight in the firing line as they welcome reigning champions Napoli to the Mapei Stadium this Saturday, making their opening fixture an extremely challenging one. Last season, the Neroverdi were formidable at home, going unbeaten in 16 of 19 matches (W14, D2, L3), but facing the quality of Napoli will certainly test their resolve as they aim to establish themselves back in Serie A.
That said, preparation has gone well for Fabio Grosso’s side ahead of week one. They come into the match unbeaten in four pre-season friendlies and secured a 1-0 victory over Catanzaro in the first round of the Coppa Italia last Friday.
Napoli, meanwhile, begin their title defence on the road at newly promoted Sassuolo, a fixture where complacency could prove costly. Last season saw the Azzurri suffer a shock 3-0 defeat away to Hellas Verona on opening day, something they will be keen to avoid this time. Despite that early setback, Antonio Conte’s side were dominant on their travels, going unbeaten in twelve consecutive away matches (W8, D4) after the Verona loss, finishing the campaign with 10 wins, 7 draws, and just 2 defeats overall on the road.
Head-to-Head
Napoli have won their last five meetings with Sassuolo, including a 6-1 thrashing in their most recent clash. Impressively, the visitors have scored at least twice in each of their last five trips to the Mapei Stadium.
Betting:
Sassuolo 5/1
Draw 16/5
Napoli 4/7
Verdict:
This feels like the type of game where Napoli’s quality should tell, but Sassuolo at home can be difficult for visiting teams, they’re stubborn and rarely go down without a fight. I don’t think it’ll be the kind of thrashing we’ve seen in recent head-to-heads, but Napoli should still find a way to start their title defence with three points.
Suggested Bet: Result and Totals – Napoli and over 1.5 at 9/10
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AS ROMA v BOLOGNA – Click here to bet
AS Roma kick off their Serie A campaign at home this weekend after finishing fifth last season on 69 points, narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot by a single point. The Giallorossi will now feature in the UEFA Europa League, hoping to mount another strong campaign in Europe. Their home form at the Stadio Olimpico was impressive last season, recording the third-best home record in the league with 13 wins, 2 draws, and 4 defeats, accumulating 41 points from 19 matches. Pre-season results have been promising for Gian Piero Gasperini and his side, with four wins (all clean sheets), a draw, and a single defeat against Aston Villa.
Bologna finished ninth last term with 62 points, missing out on European qualification by just three points. They travel to the capital hoping for a stronger start than last season, which saw them winless in their first four matches and amassing only nine points from the opening eight games. Away from home, Vincenzo Italiano’s side were respectable, winning six, drawing seven, and losing just six, including a maximum points haul on their last visit to the Olimpico. Bologna have been active over pre-season, featuring in five friendlies with 24 goals scored, winning three matches and losing two, reflecting a lively tempo upfront ahead of their season opener.
Head-to-Head
Bologna have had the upper hand in recent meetings with Roma, going unbeaten in their last five encounters with three wins and two draws. Last season, the Rossoblu claimed all three points with a 3-2 victory at the Olimpico and also secured a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture. Both teams have found the back of the net in each of the last three meetings, producing no fewer than 13 goals overall during that span.
Betting
AS Roma 23/20
Draw 23/10
Bologna 26/10
Verdict
Roma are usually a safe bet at home, but Bologna have made a real nuisance of themselves in this fixture and arrive with nothing to fear. Both sides look lively going forward and the recent head-to-head record suggests goals are almost a guarantee. I wouldn’t be shocked if Roma edge it, but I’m far more confident that both nets bulge.
Suggested Bet: Totals and Both Teams to Score – Over 2.5 and Yes at 29/20
SUNDAY
JUVENTUS v PARMA – Click here to bet
Juventus open their Serie A campaign at the Allianz Stadium against Parma, where they will be eager to set the tone after a frustrating 2024/25 season that saw them finish fourth with 70 points. While a return to the Champions League is a step forward, falling short in the title race once again will have left many inside Turin unsatisfied. Igor Tudor’s men were typically tough to break down at home last season, losing just once while conceding only 15 goals, but inconsistency in attack proved costly. Seven draws from 19 home fixtures told their own story, including a stalemate in this very fixture. Their summer also featured a short-lived appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where they were eliminated 1-0 by Real Madrid in the round of 16.
Parma, by contrast, endured a tense battle at the wrong end of the table, eventually finishing 16th with 36 points last campaign, just five clear of the drop zone. Carlos Cuesta’s side often struggled on their travels, managing only two away wins all season and scoring a modest 19 goals across those games. Yet despite the overall struggles, the Crusaders will draw confidence from last season’s head-to-head record, taking four points from a possible six against Juve – results that arguably made the difference between survival and relegation. Their off-season has also been encouraging, losing just once in five friendlies (W2, D2, L1) before securing a clinical 2-0 victory over Pescara in the first round of the Coppa Italia last weekend before heading into this challenging Serie A opener.
Head-to-Head
Juventus have come out on top in four of the last six meetings with Parma, but last season told a different story. The Crusaders went unbeaten, taking four points from six, first holding Juve to a 2-2 draw in Turin before edging a 1-0 win at the Tardini.
Betting
Juventus 40/85
Draw 15/4
Parma 6/1
Verdict
On paper, this should be routine for Juve, but Parma showed last season they can frustrate the Old Lady, and that won’t be lost on Tudor’s players. The Bianconeri are usually efficient at home, but until they prove they’ve sharpened up in the final third, I’m wary of a blowout. I still see Juventus finding a way through, though Parma may hang around longer than expected.
Suggested Bet: Result and Totals – Juventus and Under 2.5 at 27/10
Click here for all this weekend’s Italian Football action
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
