Serie A betting: Atalanta can further enrage Lazio, while Napoli stall at Torino

Atalanta v Lazio
Sunday, 19:45
Live on BT Sport 3 and Betfair Live Video
There's been a lot of nonsense talked this week about Lazio, even suggestions they might withdraw from this season's Serie A because of the perception that the world, and specifically referees, are against them.

This is a club that thrives on a persecution complex, and that's certainly the feeling that this latest hullabaloo has created. They go to Bergamo to face an under-performing Atalanta side, but one that looks to be finding a way, and that will pose a serious threat to a weakened and disheartened Lazio.

Simone Inzaghi will be without Ciro Immobile after his one-match ban for a headbutt on Nicolas Burdisso and that's a big miss for Lazio. He may not have scored in his last five, but he's a constant threat, and leads the line adeptly. Without him, and Luis Nani, you wonder where the goal threat will consistently come from.

The key for Atalanta will be to translate their Europa League form into domestic performances, and there are signs that they may be doing just that. They've won four of their last five in all competitions, and are finally starting to adjust after losing so many players over the summer. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them go on a charge in the second half of the season.

Atalanta are trading at 2.50 to win, and given Lazio's mindset, their troubles, their form and their absentees, that rates a solid bet.

Recommended Bet:
Back Atalanta to beat Lazio @ 2.50

Torino v Napoli
Saturday, 17:00
Live on BT Sport Extra 2 and Betfair Live Video

Torino gave both their season and this column a big boost with that win at Lazio on Monday night, and now they look to cause another surprise as they face Napoli on Saturday night.

Napoli are wounded, and this is their opportunity to show that they have what it takes to win the Serie A title. This is exactly the kind of situation in which Juventus would excel and come away with a win, and Napoli are 1.72 to come away from Turin with a victory.

I took them on last week, and at that price, I'll be laying them again. The confidence will be flowing through Torino's veins, and they've only lost three times this season. Roma are the only team to beat them here, and while you could argue that they come up short against the big teams, there was no shame in that defeat and they weren't in great form when they played Roma. This is a very different Torino.

Napoli are on the brink of slipping badly, and must be cursing the fact that the winter break comes later than normal in this campaign. They need a rest, and if they're not careful, the title will already be gone before they get a week off in January.

Dries Mertens hasn't scored in five Serie A games, Jose Callejon is also in poor form, and even though Lorenzo Insigne returns here after injury, a rejuvenated Toro will provide stern opposition. Napoli won 5-0 here last season, and this is set to be a much taller order for the team that would be Champions.

Recommended Bet
Lay Napoli against Torino @ 1.72

Sampdoria v Sassuolo
Sunday, 14:00
Live on Betfair Live Video

Supporting the notion that there'll be goals in Sampdoria games has been a pretty lucrative furrow to plough over the last couple of months, as nine of Samp's last 12 matches have gone Over 3.5 Goals. Two of the other three had three goals, and you can see the theme. Samp concede more than they should, but are often capable of digging themselves out of trouble.

It's great to see one of the big Serie A sides truly back on their feet and really bouncing: despite a poor recent run, Samp are still sixth in Serie A with a game in hand, and come into this weekend after a typically thrilling Coppa Italia game that they lost 3-2 to Fiorentina.

Their threat comes from all over the field: Samp have five players who have scored at least three League goals this season so far, and in Fabio Quagliarella and Duvan Zapata they have a strike-force which has so far managed 15 goals between them. They're an unlikely partnership, but nevertheless effective.

Sassuolo are struggling again, and while they're not full of goals, four of their last five have gone Over 2.5, and they have a style which suggests that they'll be involved in high-scoring games, it just hasn't quite come to fruition yet. Samp will make the running, and I suspect that the game will be played at their tempo, so Over 3.5 Goals is the bet here.

Recommended Bet:
Back Over 3.5 Goals in Sassuolo v Sampdoria @ 3.00