Serie A: Back Bologna to beat Inter and Napoli to overcome goal-shy Chievo

Edinson Cavani is a man in need of a goal

Dave Farrar previews this weekend's Italian action and believes Bologna can pile further misery on Stramaccioni's Inter...

Chievo v Napoli

Napoli have surely blown it: time and again they have had the chance to overtake, or at least draw level with, Juventus, at the top of the Serie A table, and their final chance seemed to have come last Friday. They played well against Juve, particularly in the second half, and were slightly unfortunate not to win. Blerim Dzemaili's late miss is one that will linger long in the minds of Napoli fans. That could have been their moment.

The fact that the gap remains at six points and that time is running out means that the pressure is now off Napoli, and that could be the making of them this weekend. Chievo are in terrible form, having won only one of their last five, and significantly they have only managed to find the net three times in that run. Eugenio Corini is being criticised for his selections, and, unlike Delio Rossi or Antonio Conte, he doesn't have the personnel or tactical experience to nullify Napoli the way that both Sampdoria, Udinese and Juve did.

Napoli have stopped Chievo from scoring the last two times that they have played, and with the Flying Donkeys unable to cope well with teams that play at a high tempo, I think that Mazzarri will send Napoli out to do just that. And Napoli are very good when they are able to bully teams: the physical presence of Gokhan Inler and Blerim Dzemaili dominates, and Marek Hamsyk, Lorenzo Insigne and Edinson Cavani can take advantage.

It's now seven games in all competitions since Cavani scored, and there'll be pressure on him to deliver. If Napoli's attitude is right, then they should be able to help him end his run and engineer a bloodless victory that won't necessarily pile the pressure on Juve, but will at least make Neapolitans feel good about their football team again. I'm happy to support Napoli at 2.111/10, and also back them to win the game 2-0 at 10.09/1.  

Recommended Bets 

Back Napoli to beat Chievo @ 2.111/10
Back Napoli to win 2-0 @ 10.09/1 

Inter v Bologna

We got our fingers badly burnt by Inter last week: I thought that Catania were a near certainty to beat them, and when the Sicilians led 2-0 early on it seemed as if we've have a nice win. Catania committed the criminal error of presuming that they'd won, though, and they simply stopped playing, and Inter showed that there's nothing wrong with their spirit by pulling off an extraordinary comeback. It was no great surprise to see Inter beaten by Spurs in midweek, with Kevin Hatchard of this parish calling that game perfectly, and I think that we can oppose Inter again this weekend, such are their injury problems and form, and such is the underrated quality of Bologna.

Bologna are 5.24/1 to go to San Siro and win, and with Inter having played on Thursday night, and being badly beaten, and with important players still missing, Bologna must fancy that they can cause an upset. The problem with Stefano Pioli's team is that they are a different animal away, in comparison to the form that they show at home. That said, they have won in Naples and in Rome this season, and they're playing Inter at a good time. I'm going to chance them at a big price. The other feature of this game may well be goals. These two played out a wonderful Coppa Italia game earlier this season, which finished 3-2 in Inter's favour, and Inter won 3-1 in Bologna, when they looked a lot stronger than they do now.

Over 3.5 Goals are priced at 3.211/5, and that seems more than fair to me. Bologna's three away wins this season have all been by the same scoreline, 3-2, and if you fancy something similar here, you should get a really good price. I wouldn't put you off having what my betting.betfair colleague Alan Dudman calls "a dart" at that. 

Recommended Bets

Back Bologna to beat Inter @ 5.24/1
Back Over 3.5 Goals @ 3.211/5

There's not a great deal else that appeals to me this weekend. Saturday night's game between Udinese and Roma seems likely to have goals, but you can't be so sure with Aurelio Andreazzoli's Roma, and the 1.784/5 on offer seems a little skinny. Juve will almost certainly see off deflated Catania, but I'm not interested at 1.3130/100, and I'm tempted by Torino's trip to Parma, with the visitors priced at 4.47/2, but after Torino cost me last week against Palermo, I can't bring myself to put them up. The money is better saved for Zarkandar in the Champions Hurdle on Tuesday.