Serie A: Is This the Old Lady’s Assault on the Scudetto?

Juventus vs Inter Milan

Serie A is back with a bang this weekend with a blockbuster clash in Turin where a resurgent Juventus play hosts to fellow title hopefuls Inter Milan.

Juventus come into the game on the back of a 2-0 victory over Salernitana while Simone Inzaghi’s Inter were held to a draw at home by Fiorentina, and those two results mean this game could well decide which of the two giants is best placed to make a march on the 2022 Scudetto.  

The Serie A 2022 betting odds have totally ignored the Old Lady for much of the campaign but a run of eight wins and four draws from the last 12 league games has seen Juventus come in to a price of 10.00 to win the title.

And while Max Allegri’s men are still outsiders, this is now a four-way race. Inter are second favourites at SBOTOP odds of 2.75, but they sit in third place – a single point above Juve though with a game in hand.

Imagine how the odds will shift if Juventus pull off a huge win at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

Talking Points

Vlahovic’s fast start has given Juventus sharper teeth

I Bianconeri’s recent Serie A 2022 results are little short of sensational and they are currently seven points behind leaders Milan with the same games played, and a win on Sunday will really keep them in the title race.

With second-placed Napoli away to fifth place Atalanta on Saturday, this could be a big weekend for the Old Lady, though the Rossoneri will be expected to win at home to Bologna.

Dusan Vlahovic, with four goals in his first seven league games, has been a brilliant signing from Fiorentina. He has added extra bite to the attack and seasoned strikers Alvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala, with eight goals each from 29 and 21 games, now have more competition.

An injury to Federico Chiesa might mean all three will start against Inter, with Dybala pushing out wide and that would give the visitors’ defence plenty to worry about.

Meanwhile, midfielder Manuel Locatelli has also run into good form. He impressed at Euro 2020 and came with big expectations following his switch from Sassuolo. Locatelli plays in a deep lying position, similar to Azzurri legend Andre Pirlo and, at 24 years of age, he has a bright future ahead.  

Defeat to Villarreal in the Champions League was a serious blow to I Bianconeri’s pride, but it might just spur them on to an explosive finish in Serie A and that would make for one of the most exciting Scudetto races in history.  

Martinez the key to Inter’s push  

While Vlahovic has been writing the headlines for Juventus, Inter Milan’s Argentine hitman Lautaro Martinez has been in superb form, scoring 14 league goals, including a hat-trick in a recent 5-0 win over Salernitana and bagging the winner in a Champions League second leg win over Liverpool.

The 24-year-old seems to have thrived this season and he isn’t missing his old strike partner Romelu Lukaku one bit. He’s formed a fruitful partnership up front with Edin Dzeko, who has helped himself to 12 league goals and Martinez is the best bet to breach the Juventus defence. 

Midfield dynamo Marcelo Brozovic is out injured so it will be the job of Uruguayan Matias Vecino to match up to Locatelli.

Like Juventus, I Nerazzurri are out of the Champions League and they have been strong on the road this season, losing only one away game in Serie A.

Here, we have two angry titans about to collide.

History

Juventus have not lost to Inter in their last 10 encounters in Turin and have dominated the head-to-head meetings over the past 68 games, winning 31 to 15 and there have been 22 draws.

The Old Lady won this fixture last term, 3-2, but Inter have had the better of the two exchanges since then – drawing 1-1 at the San Siro in a league game in October when Paulo Dybala scored a late leveller for Juventus and winning 2-1 in the Super Cup in January.  

In terms of recent form, Inter are unbeaten in six games but have drawn four of those, while Juventus have won five and lost one over that period – that shock Champions League exit to Villarreal.   

Betting Tip

Inter Milan stopped Juventus from winning a record 10th Scudetto last season and the Old Lady has a chance to exact some revenge by wrecking the Nerazzurri’s 2022 campaign while keeping their own alive.

The visitors are marginal favourites at odds of 2.47 with Juventus at 2.74. But the momentum is with the Old Lady and she can take another big step on Sunday.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.