Serie A Betting Preview – Inter vs. Roma: The Battle of the Number 9s
Serie A this season has its spark back. Whilst Juventus have dominated for the last six seasons winning the Scudetto in each, things are now looking a little more competitive at the top of the table.
The top five can currently be split into two groups. The first group sees top of the table Napoli on 51 points, just in front of champions Juve on 50. The battle for the other two remaining Champions League spots sees three teams set to push each other all the way. Inter are third on 42 points, Lazio fourth on 40 and city rivals Roma fifth on 39. Sunday’s evening game sees third take on fifth in a battle that could go a long way to deciding who qualifies for Europe’s showpiece competition next season.
On the current form book this one could go either way, with both teams struggling to hit the heights of earlier in the season. Inter are without a win in their last seven league and cup games, although they did scrape through their last-16 Copa Italia-tie against Serie C Pordenone on penalties only to lose to city rivals Milan in the next round. Roma have one win in their last five.
Both teams will be looking to their talismanic number 9s to dig them out of their current slump and strike a shot in the arm to their league rivals.
For Inter that responsibility falls on the mercurial Mauro Icardi. The Argentinean has 18 goals in 20 Serie A games this season, making him second top scorer in the league as well as one of Europe’s hottest properties. Captaining the side and leading the line from the front he scored last time out in the first game after the winter break – a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina. Most notably he has form against Roma, grabbing two in a 3-1 win away at the Stadio Olimpico on match-day two. He’s 5-4 to score any time at the San Siro with Unibet, and 4-1 to get the opening goal of the encounter.
With the season he’s having he’s bound to have suitors from all over Europe, with reports again this week of an imminent bid from Real Madrid. Icardi commented on the rumours on social media by posting “Never forget that you are the architect of your own destiny.” We think his short-term destiny is to stay strong and find the net again in this encounter regardless of his long-term future.
Also on the scoresheet the last time the teams met was Roma’s number 9, Edin Dzeko. The Bosnian flew out the blocks in Serie A with seven goals in his first six games, but since then has only found the net twice in 13. Like Icardi he did score last time out, in a 2-1 loss at home to Atalanta. Roma surely need last season’s Capocannoniere to rediscover his goal scoring form – Dzeko fired them to second in the table and finished top scorer in Serie A with 29. At Unibet, you can get odds on him to strike at the San Siro of 9-5 to score at any time and 11-2 to open the scoring.
To find out how you can bet on either of these two number 9s to make the difference or simply a choice of result for free head to our free betting page to see a list of the best available free bets.
Inter may be ahead on this season’s head to head form book, but over the last two seasons it’s been difficult to separate these two sides with two wins apiece and one draw from the last five encounters. The side from the capital did however come away with a 3-1 win from this fixture last season, with two goals from Radja Nainggolan.
It looks like anything could happen. One thing that we are certain to see is some goals, with only two 0-0 draws between these two sides since 2004. In fact, the last five encounters have seen a total of 14 goals between the sides.
Roma fans may be concerned over the news that their keeper, Alisson is set to be subject of a bid from Liverpool in the Premier League. Roma have reportedly slapped a £44million asking price on the Brazilian shot-stopper. If he’s still a Roma player by Sunday and takes the field at San Siro he’ll be looking to add to his tally of nine clean sheets so far this season in Serie A.
But we think Inter and Icardi will have just two much firepower for that, but maybe not enough to take the three points. We think the struggles for both sides may continue with a draw here, although we’re backing Dzeko to put his own struggles to bed and find the net for the second game running. We think it’ll finish 1-1 – a result that doesn’t help either side.
To follow our prediction and find the best sites to place your bet head to our list of the best online betting sites.
David handles all partnerships with the different bookies. If you want your bookie on Bettinglounge, David is the guy to contact.
