Serie A Weekend Betting Preview, 30-31 August
The new Serie A season may be just underway, but the first round of fixtures has already thrown up talking points. Matchday 2 offers another opportunity to weigh up the early contenders against those still looking to find their rhythm, before the international break briefly halts proceedings next week. I’ve picked out three standout fixtures to keep an eye on with a suggested bet in each.
First, the latest outright market where Napoli remain favourites to retain their crown at 16/10, with Inter Milan close behind at 9/4 and Juventus following at 6/1. AC Milan and Roma are both priced at 8/1, while the rest of the field can be found at 28/1 or bigger.
Click here for all the long-term Serie A outright markets
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SATURDAY
NAPOLI v CAGLIARI – Click here to bet
Napoli began their title defence in ideal fashion last weekend, easing to a 2-0 victory away at Sassuolo. Goals from Scott McTominay and new arrival Kevin De Bruyne ensured Antonio Conte’s men claimed maximum points in the opening round, placing them second in the early standings. This Saturday brings their first outing at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, where they were beaten just twice in the league throughout last season. Having comfortably dispatched Cagliari both home and away in 2024/25 without conceding, the champions will back themselves to continue that trend.
Cagliari, meanwhile, travel to Naples buoyed by a dramatic 1-1 draw at home to Fiorentina on the opening weekend. Sebastiano Luperto’s 94th-minute equaliser rescued a point for the Sardinians in a contest that was fairly even on the balance of play, leaving them 11th in the early standings. This will be their first away assignment of the new campaign, and history suggests it could be a difficult one, Cagliari lost 11 of their 19 road fixtures last term, including a final-day defeat in this exact matchup.
Head-to-Head
Napoli completed a league double over Cagliari last season, cruising to a 4-0 victory in the reverse fixture before signing off with a clinical 2-0 win at home in Naples on the final day.
Betting:
Napoli 1/3
Draw 9/2
Cagliari 9/1
Verdict:
This looks set to be a relatively straightforward win for Napoli this weekend. However, at odds of 1/3, it may be better to seek value elsewhere. The hosts registered an impressive 11 clean sheets at home last season, including in this fixture, and should be strong contenders again, particularly given Cagliari’s struggles on the road during the previous campaign.
Suggested Bet: Napoli to win to nil – Yes at 10/11
SUNDAY
GENOA v JUVENTUS – Click here to bet
Genoa will host for the second consecutive week following a lacklustre opening performance that saw them play out a scoreless draw with Lecce, leaving them 14th in the early standings. Patrick Vieira’s side will no doubt have been disappointed with the result, particularly given that they claimed all three points against Lecce at home last season. This weekend presents an even greater challenge, as Genoa attempt to contain Juventus at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, a fixture that saw them lose both encounters against the Old Lady last term.
Juventus travel to Genoa after a strong 2-0 victory over Parma in Turin on Matchday 1. Jonathan David opened the scoring before Dušan Vlahović added a late strike in the 84th minute, despite Juve being reduced to ten men just a minute earlier. Kenan Yildiz was pivotal, providing assists for both goals and helping the Bianconeri climb to fourth in the early standings. Sunday’s clash marks their first away trip of the season, and after going unbeaten in their opening ten away fixtures last term (W4, D6), Igor Tudor’s side will be confident of starting strongly again in a fixture that proved favourable for them last season
Head-to-Head
The two sides met twice last season, with Juventus completing a league double over Genoa—winning 3-0 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris before securing a 1-0 victory in Turin.
Betting
Genoa 7/2
Draw 5/2
Juventus 9/10
Verdict
Juventus look decent here, though an outright win may be short. Tudor’s side kept three consecutive clean sheets to start last season’s away campaign and also silenced Genoa at the Luigi Ferraris last term. Genoa could struggle to break the deadlock for a second consecutive match, which should allow Juventus to return home with a positive result.
Suggested Bet: Double Chance and Both Teams to Score – Draw/Juventus and No at 23/20
INTER MILAN v UDINESE – Click here to bet
Inter Milan got their domestic campaign off to a sensational start with a 5-0 demolition of Torino on Monday evening, their largest margin of victory in a Serie A opener since 1961. Goals from four different players, including a brace from Marcus Thuram, ensured Cristian Chivu’s first league match in charge could hardly have gone better, placing the Nerazzurri top of the early standings. Back at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza this weekend, Inter will be confident of maintaining momentum, particularly given their strong record against Udinese, as they look to tighten their grip on first place heading into the international break.
Udinese, meanwhile, opened their campaign with a 1-1 home draw against Verona on Monday, surrendering a second-half lead to settle for a point that leaves them 8th in the standings. This trip to Milan represents their first away assignment of the season, though recent history on the road does little to inspire confidence, the Little Zebras lost nine times away from home last term, including four of their last five outings. That form hardly bodes well against an Inter side already showing signs of a ruthless early-season streak.
Head-to-Head
These sides clashed three times last season, with Inter asserting their dominance on each occasion. In Serie A, the Nerazzurri secured a league double over Udinese, edging a thrilling 3-2 contest in Udine before recording a 2-1 victory at the Meazza. They also met in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 in December, where Inter cruised to a 2-0 win on home soil.
Betting
Inter Milan 7/20
Draw 9/2
Udinese 8/1
Verdict
Inter’s statement performance on Monday sets the tone, and while a repeat of that five-goal margin looks unlikely, they should still have Udinese’s measure in what promises to be another entertaining encounter.
Suggested Bet: Result and Totals – Inter Milan and Over 1.5 at 8/15
Click here for all this weekend’s Italian Football action
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
