Serie A Odds & Picks on Matchday 26: Napoli Odds-On to Beat Torino at San Paolo

• It’s Matchday 26 in Serie A with the top two – Inter and Juve – going head-to-head
• Udinese and Fiorentina to play their game in an empty stadium
• Get the odds and best bets from this weekend’s Serie A  games below

It’s Matchday 26 in Serie A with the big clash of the weekend being first playing third in the  Allianz Stadium, Turin. But, in addition to Juve and Inter Milan offering up some good bets for the punters, there are plenty of Serie A games from which to find some value.

It’s worth noting at this stage, that five of these matches will be played in closed stadiums due to the coronavirus outbreak that’s now spread to Italy.

Serie A Matchday 26 Odds

All odds taken Feb. 26

Serie A Pick 1: Udinese vs Fiorentina

Udinese have gone six league games without a win and find themselves just five points clear of the relegation zone. They need to arrest this slump and fast if they are to avoid a nerve-jangling run-in and this game against mid-table Fiorentina offers them that chance.

Generally though, despite the poor run of results, their form has been okay and an empty Dacia Arena (it’s one of the five stadiums closed to fans due to coronavirus) may adversely create a better environment for a home win, with no pressure from their demanding fans. Last weekend, I Bianconeri were seconds away from victory in Bologna but conceded in injury-time, and so are closing in on that elusive victory.

Fiorentina are free of any relegation worries but, equally, look to have too much ground to make up to get among the European places. The Viola drew with AC Milan last weekend but had Dalbert Henrique sent off, and so the Brazilian full-back will miss the Udinese game through suspension.

So, the value here is with the home win. Udinese are desperate for the win, have been playing well, and so the law of averages says they’re due one. I think they’ll get it.

Pick: Udinese to win (+187)

Serie A Pick 2: Napoli vs Torino

This clash at the Stadio San Paolo promises to be one of the most intriguing of the weekend, with both having urgent need of the win. While Napoli struggled for form in the first half of the season, a change of manager – Gennaro Gattuso was brought in to replace Carlo Ancelotti – brought about a change in fortune and they now have a European place in their sights. But it’s tight and they can’t afford to slip up.

Torino’s concerns are at the opposite end of the table and they find themselves just five points clear of the drop zone after losing five on the spin. It’s a downward spiral that needs to be stopped if they, like Udinese, are to avoid the end-of-season free-for-all at the bottom of the table.  Of late they have simply conceded too many goals.

So, despite the fact Torino will battle hard, it’s difficult to see anything other than a home win but going for the correct score offers a better value bet. I’m going for a comfortable Napoli win and a clean sheet.

Pick: Napoli to win 2-0

Serie A Pick 3: Cagliari vs Roma

Roma are still in with a shout of a Champions League place and so will be looking for three points in what promises to be a tricky one in Cagliari at the Sardegna Arena. But they come into the game in good shape after easily beating relegation-threatened Lecce 4-0 at the weekend.

The Sardinians, who didn’t have a game at the weekend, are in poor form and are currently on a run of 11 games without a win. Luckily for them, a flying start to the season means they are still free of any relegation worries but will still be desperate to earn themselves that elusive win.

Worth remembering here though is that in their last five games, Cagliari have drawn three and lost two by single goals. So, while the obvious bet here is the away win, taking into account the fact these two sides drew 1-1 back in October, there is a case here for a speculative gamble on a home victory.

Pick: Cagliari to win (+261)