Serie A Betting: Early goals, Juventus trip up and Roma add to Milan misery

Udinese v Sampdoria
Saturday, 17:00
Live on Betfair Live Video

The early Serie A game on a Saturday has traditionally been something of a graveyard in terms of entertainment, but I'm prepared to hope that Udinese and Sampdoria buck that trend and give us some goals this weekend.

Both teams like to go forward, although that approach is serving Samp rather better than Udinese right now, and Marco Giampaolo's team will be buzzing after their win over Milan last weekend.

Sampdoria have now kept two consecutive clean sheets in the League, and the last time that they made it three was back in March 2015. They're a long way from rock solid defensively, and I think that Udinese will find a way through them, making it 13 consecutive home games in which they've scored against Samp.

Samp drew 0-0 in Verona against a team that was desperate to defend, and they'll find that Udinese fit the mould of the Torino team with whom they drew 2-2 three weeks ago. Playing with verve and leaving themselves open, and I think that Giampaolo's men will enjoy themselves.

It's a reunion too for ex-Udinese strikers Duvan Zapata and Fabio Quagliarella, who are back at the Dacia Arena and eager to make their mark.

The curse of the early game aside, I think that we'll see a high-scoring Samp win here, and while they make some appeal at 2.74, I prefer to back Over 3.5 Goals at 3.40, which is more than generous.

Recommended Bet
Back Over 3.5 Goals in Udinese v Sampdoria @ 3.40

Atalanta v Juventus
Sunday, 19:45
Live on BT Sport 1 and Betfair Live Video

Juventus are unbeaten in their last 25 Serie A games against Atalanta, but Gian Piero Gasperini will feel that this is his best chance in a long time of catching the Old Lady cold. Atalanta now have eight points from the last four fixtures, are finding a nice rhythm, and shouldn't be as big as 5.70 to beat Juve.

I know that Juventus have won their opening six games, and I know that Gonzalo Higuain is back in some kind of form, but injuries have left Juve a little stretched, and if there's a Coach in Serie A who's clever and cute enough to take advantage of that, it's Gasperini.

I expect Atalanta to try and run Juve off their feet, a little like they did against Everton, and while it's a tough task, Juve have looked vulnerable away from home already this season, and Gasperini's men can take advantage. Confidence is high after Thursday's 1-1 Europa League draw away to Lyon.

I'm tempted to back them at 5.70 for the win, but with Juve so short, why not keep the draw on side and simply lay them?

Recommended Bet
Lay Juventus to beat Atalanta @ 1.78

Milan v Roma
Sunday, 17:00
Live on BT Sport 2 and Betfair Live Video

Roma have now won nine consecutive away games in Serie A, and they've beaten Milan the last three times that they've played them. I think that there are valid reasons to back Eusebio Di Francesco's team to get the job done again here.

Milan didn't manage a shot on target in their defeat at Sampdoria, and there's still a feeling of the Emperor's New Clothes about them. They've lost to the two best teams that they've played so far, Lazio and Samp, and been some way short as well, and Roma are a better team than either of those. The Rossoneri fumbled a 2-0 lead to Rijeka in the Europa League on Thursday and only won with a last-gasp Patrick Cutrone goal, leaving Vincenzo Montella under pressure.

With Roma having now won four in a row, the only thing that bothers me is their long journey back from Qarabag, but this is a seasoned team which is used to travelling, and they should be shorter than 2.78 to win this one. Diego Perotti and Gregoire Defrel are injured, but it gives Alessandro Florenzi a great chance to run riot in a more advanced role.

Edin Dzeko has now scored in four consecutive games, even the former Milan man Stephen El Shaarawy has found some form, and Roma are buzzing. They'll have a much sterner test at home against Napoli next week, but I rate them to get the job done at a decent price this week.

Recommended Bet
Back Roma to beat Milan @ 2.78