Our Bookmaker Ratings battle for this week switches its attention to Serie A, with an Italian classic taking place on Saturday night.
Having taken a big step towards a fifth consecutive Serie A title following last weekend’s results, Juventus will be aiming to strengthen their hold on top spot, playing a day before rivals Napoli.
WhoScored.com will also be looking to extends its own lead in the battle standings with BR once more. With a point awarded for each correct tip, we lead 6-3 following last week’s look ahead to Liverpool-Tottenham and El Clasico. Looking to bridge the gap this time out, we’re taking on Bookmaker Ratings tipster Mark O’Haire this week.
Mark’s tips - read more
Milan haven’t enjoyed their encounters with Juventus in recent years and appear to be ailing towards the campaign’s conclusion. With Juve delivering knockout blows in 10 of their last 11 road trips, I’ll take the Old Lady at 2.10 to win with the 3.60 also standing out on an away success alongside Under 2.5 Goals.
Since Allegri arrived in Turin, Juve have seen 18/35 (51%) away league fixtures feature fewer than three goals and Milan have followed suit in 19/34 (56%) at San Siro. And those records enhance to 9/16 (56%) when the Old Lad visit top-half teams and 8/16 (50%) when Milan entertain the top-10.
WhoScored’s say
Given the competitive nature of this battle we begrudgingly admit that both of Mark’s tips this week look very wise indeed. With Juventus up against a Milan side that have picked up just two points in their last four matches, missing the chance to make ground on fierce rivals Inter in the process, the Rossoneri find themselves at a low ebb.
By comparison Juventus have won a massive 20 matches in an unbeaten league run of 21 games and are sprinting to the Serie A title once more. The Old Lady have won each of the last 6 league games against AC Milan, with the gap in quality between the sides stark in recent years, while three of their last four victories in this fixture have seen under 2.5 goals scored.
WhoScored’s tips
While odds on a home win at 3.80 for a side of Milan’s stature are high, the form of the two sides dictates that they aren’t tempting at all. Instead I’m also looking into markets to back a victory for the away side, first of all tipping Juventus to lead at both half time and full time. That has been the case in each of Allegri’s side’s last 4 league matches, and indeed 7 of their last 9 on the road in Serie A, with a repeat at a lofty 3.40 with William Hill.
Our second bet is far more conservative but still has very tempting odds given the sensational form of the visitors. With 1.61 on the Old Lady to win either half, having done so 20 times in their last 21 league games, that should be a sure thing against a Milan side far from the peak of their powers by comparison.
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