Serie A is heading towards a captivating climax over the next couple of months. There is no sign of a breakaway at the top, the race for European places is fierce, and at least eight teams are currently embroiled in the scramble to avoid relegation.
There are still 13 games to go, so there will be plenty of twists and turns to come. But as every week passes, the stakes get higher, and this weekend there are some fascinating tussles to get our teeth into. The SBOTOP picks for three matches to watch in Round 26 take in the league leaders Napoli on the road, a resurgent Juventus looking to build on a huge victory over Inter Milan, and another fixture with big implications for the top and the bottom of the table.
Como vs Napoli
Antonio Conte’s Napoli are aiming to end a run of three consecutive draws when they visit 13th-placed Como on Sunday, and the Serie A 2025 betting odds say they will succeed. But this is by no means a walk in the sunshine against the club on the banks of Lake Como. I Partenopei were held to a 2-2 draw by Lazio last week and, on the back of draws against Udinese and Roma, Conte’s team has lost a little momentum, though they stayed on top of the table thanks to Juventus’ victory over Inter Milan last weekend.
Managed by Spanish midfield legend Cesc Fabregas, I Lariani have plenty of quality in their squad, and they picked up an impressive 2-0 win away to Fiorentina last week. The former Arsenal star has taken to management better than some stellar playing talents have in the past, and he has experienced keeper Pepe Reina in his group as well as some talented attacking players. French midfielder Jonathan Ikone is on loan from Fiorentina while up front, former AC Milan star Patrick Cutrone and Argentine striker Nico Paz both have six goals and three assists so far this season, with Paz scoring in the win over La Viola last weekend.
Napoli are priced at 2.16 to win this clash with the draw at 3.07 and Como at 2.91. I think Conte will get the better of the hosts’ young coach.
Cagliari vs Juventus
14th-placed Cagliari host fourth-placed Juventus at the Sardegna Arena on Sunday when the Old Lady hopes to continue her progress over the past few weeks, winning four on the bounce. Juventus derailed Inter Milan’s title push last week with a 1-0 win thanks to a late Francesco Conceicao strike, and it was a deserved victory. I Nerazzurri had the lion’s share of possession, but with eight shots on target to two, Thiago Motta’s team were much more incisive.
Randal Kolo Muani, on loan from PSG, has made an electric start to his career in Turin, with five goals from his first four appearances. And with Dusan Vlahovic and Kenan Yildiz also in the attacking group, Juve are strong favourites to make it five wins on the bounce on Sunday at odds of 1.83.
Davide Nicola’s Cagliari have longer to prepare than their visitors, as Juventus have a second leg Champions League play-off against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night. And they have proved they can live with the best teams in the top-flight, drawing 0-0 with third-placed Atalanta last week.
While the hosts are likely to spend much of the game in their own half, in Roberto Piccoli they have a good attacking outlet. On loan from Atalanta, the 24-year-old is strong in the air and has scored a handy six goals so far this season.
Venezia vs Lazio
Marco Baroni’s fifth-placed Lazio are priced at 1.90 with a -0.75 handicap to win on their trip to Venice, and I really can’t see the Romans sinking against a woefully out-of-form Venezia. The hosts are without a win in seven games and have lost their last three to leave them in 19th place and five points from safety, so they really need to pick up points at home when they can.
Venezia manager Eusebio Di Francesco took over at the helm after the club were promoted through the play-offs, but the former Hellas Verona and Roma boss has not had the success he hoped for on leaving Frosinone for Venice. A return to the second tier looks on the cards unless Eusebio can pick up a strong set of Serie A 2025 results in the run-in.
Last week, Lazio drew with leaders Napoli, and that followed on from a 5-1 destruction of Monza as Pedro scored twice. And on their last away game, Lazio won away to Cagliari. Lazio beat Venezia 3-1 in Rome on the opening day of the season, and you can back the same score at odds of 12.52 and, locked on 46 points with Juventus, Baroni’s team will accept no fewer than three on Saturday.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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