Serie A Weekend Betting Preview, 23-25 May

The final weekend of Serie A kicks off with two massive, title-deciding fixtures on Friday night, as Napoli host Cagliari and Inter Milan travel to Como—both matches starting simultaneously with just a single point separating the two sides.

Napoli know that a win will secure their fourth Scudetto, while Inter must do their part and hope for a slip-up in Naples. Then on Sunday, attention turns to the other end of the table, where Venezia fight for Serie A survival against a Juventus side determined to secure Champions League qualification.

With so much on the line across all three matches, here are my thoughts and suggested bets for each encounter.

First, a quick glance at the latest odds across key markets one last time: Napoli remain overwhelming favourites for the title at 1/14, with Inter drifting to 6/1 as outsiders. In the race for the top four, Juventus are firmly backed at 7/20 to secure Champions League football, while Roma are at 11/4 and Lazio offer potential value at 11/1. Down at the bottom, Venezia look destined for the drop at 1/16, while Empoli are priced at 7/4 to pull off a dramatic escape.

Click here for all the long-term Serie A outright markets

FRIDAY

NAPOLI v CAGLIARI – Click here to bet

Friday’s rescheduled Serie A encounter sees league leaders Napoli host Cagliari at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with the hosts knowing that victory would officially secure their fourth Scudetto title.

Napoli currently sit one point clear of Inter Milan on 79 points and are firmly in control of their own destiny. However, they’ll have to do it without Antonio Conte on the touchline after the head coach received a red card during last weekend’s frustrating 0-0 draw away at Parma – a missed opportunity in an intense environment.

That said, the Azzurri remain strong favourites on home soil, having gone unbeaten in their last ten league matches at the Maradona (W7, D3). Although their most recent home outing ended in a 2-2 draw with Genoa, they’ll back themselves to get over the line, particularly with the stakes so high.

Cagliari, meanwhile, sit 14th in the table with 36 points and are effectively safe from relegation. While they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Venezia last weekend, Davide Nicola’s side have struggled on the road, managing just one win from their last nine away games (W1, D3, L5). With little left to play for and a shaky away record, the Islanders may struggle to match Napoli’s intensity.

Head-to-Head

Napoli have dominated this fixture in recent years. They cruised to a 4-0 win away in the reverse fixture earlier this season and are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Cagliari (W5, D3). At home, the Azzurri have won each of the last two clashes and will be eyeing a third consecutive victory over the Sardinians in Naples.

Betting

Napoli – 2/9

Draw – 6/1

Cagliari – 13/1

Verdict

With the Serie A title within touching distance, Napoli are unlikely to slip up against a mid-table Cagliari side that has nothing left to fight for. Even without Conte on the sidelines, the hosts home form and urgency should carry them over the line. A comfortable win is expected, especially considering the head-to-head record and Cagliari’s poor away form.

Suggested Bet: Napoli to Win to Nil – Yes at 17/20

COMO 1907 v INTER MILAN – Click here to bet

Como will host Inter Milan this Friday after an agreement with Lega Serie A rescheduled the fixture to accommodate Inter’s potential participation in a title playoff and to allow sufficient recovery time ahead of their UEFA Champions League final.

The Lariani have surprised many this season with a strong showing in their return to Italy’s top flight. Under the leadership of Cesc Fàbregas—the club has not only secured safety but finished in the top half of the Serie A table following a significant financial investment.

Como currently sit 10th in the standings with 49 points and are guaranteed to finish there, regardless of Friday’s result. They head into their final match of the season on the back of a 1-1 draw away to Verona, where Maxence Caqueret gave them the lead before a second-half equaliser from Darko Lazović.

Crucially, the Lombardy-based side have been superb at home in recent weeks, going unbeaten in their last six Serie A matches at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, with four wins and two draws—including three home wins on the bounce. They have also managed to find the back of the net in each of their last 13 consecutive home league games this season.

Inter Milan, meanwhile, are battling on two fronts. With a UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon, they also remain locked in a tense Serie A title race with Napoli. Last weekend’s 2-2 home draw with Lazio—sealed by Pedro’s dramatic 90th-minute equalizer—means Inter remain one point behind league leaders Napoli on 78 points heading into the final round.

To complicate matters further, Simone Inzaghi will not be in the dugout for this vital clash after being shown a red card in that heated encounter with Lazio—an untimely blow to Inter’s leadership on the sidelines.

That said, Inter have shown strong form on the road, losing just once in their last five away league matches and registering 35 points in total on their travels (W10, D5, L3). Their most recent away game saw them dispatch Torino 2-0 with clinical efficiency, and they’ll be desperate to replicate a similar display given what’s at stake in the title race.

Head-to-Head

Inter Milan secured a 2-0 win in the reverse encounter earlier this season, marking the first Serie A meeting between the two sides since the 2002/03 campaign. The Nerazzurri have now won each of their last three league meetings with Como, keeping a clean sheet in all three.

Betting

Como – 15/4

Draw – 33/10

Inter Milan – 4/6

Verdict

Como have nothing left to play for in terms of league position but will be eager to end a successful season on a high, especially in front of their home fans. Their recent home form suggests they won’t roll over easily. Still, Inter’s need for all three points, combined with their depth, should edge them through—though it may not be entirely straightforward, especially with Inzaghi absent.

Suggested Bet: Result and Both Teams to Score – Inter Milan and Yes at 21/10

Get your money back if your team loses to an injury time penalty.

Introducing Tough Luck Insurance from World Sports Betting. Bet on football matches with confidence, and if your team loses to an injury time penalty, we’ll return your stake as free bets.

*Valid for Pre-Match and Live in Play events up to 90 Mins.

T’s & C’s apply. Refund/Payout limited to R5000. Single/Straight bets only.

Free Bets do not qualify for this offer. Limited to 1 refund per customer per event.

Simply email promotions@wsb.co.za with Subject ‘ Tough Luck Insurance ’

SUNDAY

VENEZIA v JUVENTUS – Click here to bet

We round off the Serie A campaign with a high-stakes encounter in Venice as Venezia host Juventus at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on Sunday evening. For both sides, there is plenty riding on the outcome, though the objectives couldn’t be more different.

Eusebio Di Francesco’s Venezia find themselves in desperate need of a miracle. Sitting 19th in the table on 29 points, they are two behind 17th-placed Lecce heading into the final day. Even a win might not be enough to secure survival, but anything less than three points will guarantee relegation status. Last weekend’s 3-0 defeat away to Cagliari was their 18th loss of the campaign—typifying a season marred by inconsistency.

At home, Venezia have shown glimpses of resilience in recent weeks, winning two of their last three matches at the Penzo. However, their overall home form has remained underwhelming, with just five wins and 20 points collected on their own turf. Offensively, they have struggled to consistently threaten — netting just 15 times in total on home soil — and they now face a Juventus side with European ambitions of their own.

Juventus, currently 4th with 67 points, know that a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League is not yet secured. Roma trail by a single point, while Lazio are just two behind, meaning anything less than a win could prove fatal to their top-four hopes depending on other results.

The Bianconeri returned to winning ways last weekend with a 2-0 victory over Udinese, ending a run of two straight draws. Despite some shaky moments, they remain unbeaten in their last four Serie A outings (W2, D2).

However, it’s been a different story on the road, where Thiago Mottas’s side are winless in their last five Serie A away matches (three draws and two defeats). More concerning for the visitors is their lack of cutting edge in front of goal, having one goal per game across their last four away outings. That said, with Champions League qualification still on the line, the Bianconeri will be desperate to avoid leaving their fate in the hands of others and will look to reassert their historical dominance over Venezia—despite the reverse fixture in Turin ending in a draw.

Head-to-Head

Juventus boast a strong historical advantage in this fixture, having never lost to Venezia in Serie A. Across their nine previous league meetings, the Bianconeri have recorded six wins and three draws. Earlier in the campaign, the sides shared the spoils in a lively 2-2 draw in Turin, while their last meeting at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo also ended in a stalemate, finishing 1-1. With no league victories against Juventus to their name, Venezia face an uphill battle to reverse that record on Sunday.

Betting

Venezia – 9/2

Draw – 33/10

Juventus – 6/10

Verdict

With Champions League qualification on the line, Juventus should approach this one with control rather than risk, especially given their recent away struggles and low-scoring outings. Venezia will be desperate for a result but lack the cutting edge, and with nerves on both sides, a cagey affair feels likely.

Suggested Bet: Double Chance and Total – Draw/Juventus and Under 2.5 at 5/4

Click here for all this weekend’s Italian Football action

Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change