Serie A concludes this weekend and we take a look at three fixtures taking place on Sunday the 24th and suggest a pick in each fixture.
With Inter already crowned champions, the focus now turns to the battle for third place as AC Milan and AS Roma sit level on points, while Lecce look to ensure survival with a positive result against Genoa.
AC MILAN vs CAGLIARI
AC Milan sit 3rd on the table with 70 points and remain locked in a tight battle with AS Roma for 3rd spot. Milan returned to winning ways last weekend with a 2-1 away victory over Genoa after suffering back-to-back defeats against Atalanta and Sassuolo.
The hosts have scored 52 goals while conceding 33 this season.
Cagliari hold 40 points overall and have already guaranteed themselves another Serie A season. They earned an important 2-1 win over Torino last time out after losing 2-0 to Udinese and playing out a goalless draw with Bologna.
They have had a tough season in front of goal, finding the net 38 times while they have let 52 goals passed their defensive line.
Head-to-Head
Earlier this season Milan secured a 1-0 away win, although both league meetings last campaign ended in draws with 1-1 and 3-3 scorelines.
Betting – Click here to bet
AC Milan 1.29
Draw 5.75
Cagliari 11.00
Verdict
Milan are expected to control proceedings at home. Cagliari have shown some fight recently but Milan’s quality and motivation in the battle for third place should prove decisive after 90 minutes.
BET: AC Milan to Win and Over 2.5 Goals at 1.98
LECCE vs GENOA
Lecce sit 17th on the table with 35 points and remain just one point above Cremonese heading into the final round. A victory here would remove any relegation concerns and secure their Serie A status without relying on other results.
They picked up a 3-2 away win over Sassuolo last Sunday following a narrow defeat to Juventus and before that, Lecce also picked up a crucial 2-1 victory away to Pisa.
Genoa have gained 41 points throughout their campaign and have little pressure on them heading into the closing weekend. They were beaten 2-1 by AC Milan last time out after goalless draws against Fiorentina and Atalanta.
Notably the sides last victory came five games ago where they beat Pisa 2-1 on the road as slight favourites.
Head-to-Head
The reverse fixture earlier this season finished 0-0 while the corresponding fixture last season ended in a 2-1 win for Genoa after the first clash was drawn without a goal scored.
Betting – Click here to bet
Lecce 1.78
Draw 3.65
Genoa 5.25
Verdict
Lecce have the stronger motivation and recent wins over Sassuolo and Pisa show they can handle pressure against sides around them. Genoa are capable of making this tough but Lecce should have enough urgency to edge a tight contest in my opinion.
BET: Lecce to Win at 1.78
VERONA vs AS ROMA
AS Roma are also on 70 points and remain level with AC Milan in the race for third place currently sitting one spot back. Roma have been excellent over the last month, winning four of their last five matches while keeping three clean sheets during that run.
They head into this clash after a 2-0 victory over Lazio, which followed a 3-2 away win against Parma and an emphatic 4-0 home success over Fiorentina.
Verona sit 19th in the rankings with 21 points and have endured a difficult campaign with minimal success. They have shown some resilience recently with draws against Inter and Juventus, but they remain one of the lowest scoring sides in the league with only 25 goals and they will be taking the drop next season.
The side have battled for momentum in the second half of the campaign, with their last victory being in March where they beat Bologna 2-1.
Head-to-Head
Roma won the first fixture 2-0 earlier this season, although Verona did beat them 3-2 at home last campaign while Roma bounced back from that with a 1-0 win on home soil.
Betting – Click here to bet
Verona 10.00
Draw 5.50
AS Roma 1.33
Verdict
Roma are in excellent form and still have everything to play for in the race for third place. Verona have been stubborn lately but Roma’s momentum, defensive strength and attacking confidence should carry them through and put them in a solid position to end on the podium.
BET: Result and Both Teams to Score – AS Roma and No at 1.98
Note: All prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
