Roma - Juventus Betting Preview: Expect goals at the Stadio Olimpico

Roma-Juventus Betting Preview: Expect goals at the Stadio Olimpico

16 Feb 2013 17:30:00

Zdenek Zeman's gung-ho style ultimately cost him his job with the Giallorossi, but Al Hain-Cole expects the goals to continue to flow under new caretaker boss Aurelio Andreazzoli

A run of five Serie A games without victory was enough to cost Zdenek Zeman his job as Roma boss, but after also losing last week’s clash with Sampdoria, Saturday’s game against Juventus has taken on even more importance for stand-in coach Aurelio Andreazzoli.

Unfortunately for the new coach, his side have not won any of the last five games against the league champions, and are clear 9/4 (3.25) underdogs with Paddy Power to come out on top in this match.

La Vecchia Signora are fresh from recording a devastating 3-0 Champions League win in Celtic’s intimidating home ground, so will be unfazed by a trip to the Stadio Olimpico, where they are clear 6/5 (2.20) favourites to come away with a victory.

The last encounter between these sides in the Italian capital resulted in a 1-1 draw, and you can get odds of 23/10 (3.30) on this game resulting in a stalemate.

The main reason for Zeman’s departure was his cavalier style of play, which may have been pleasing on the eye, but led to all too many goals conceded by Giallorossi.

The Romans have actually scored as many goals as their Turin opponents, but while the league leaders have only conceded 16 goals, Saturday’s hosts have let in a punishing 45.

It is unlikely that Andreazzoli will have managed to cure the team of this vulnerability during his short spell in charge, so a high-scoring game seems inevitable between the league’s two most prolific sides.

A bet on over 2.5 goals to be scored would have paid out in seven of Roma’s last 10 Serie A games, and five of the visitors’ last eight league matches, so looks to offer great value at odds of 8/11 (1.73) in this encounter.

Alessandro Matri got the ball rolling for Antonio Conte’s men with an early goal at Celtic Park on Tuesday, and the striker has now hit the back of the net six times in his last six starts for the club.

With this kind of form behind him, odds of 6/1 (7.00) look extremely generous for the former Cagliari man to open the scoring on Saturday, and is well worth a tipple at that price.

BET

OF THE

DAY

BEST BET

VALUE BET

Over 2.5 goals at 8/11 (1.73) with Paddy Power

Alessandro Matri to score first at 6/1 (7.00) with Paddy Power

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Al Hain-Cole is a Liverpool fan, experienced tipster and avid follower of European football. He specialises in accumulators and if you would like to read more from Al you can follow him on Twitter here.