SS Lazio v AS Roma
Football: Italian Serie A
Sunday, 25th April 2010. Kickoff 20:45

---

AS ROMA

AS Roma is taking their slim Serie A leadership into the second consecutive week. Lupi is still one point ahead of Inter, but prefer to diplomatically put the Nerrazzurri as title favorites in most of the interviews.

Bookmakers are not sharing their view on the situation and odds clearly identify Roma as the number 1 candidate for the championship.

Although it is an old and dry cliche, but every game is like a final for Roma. At least on paper Sampdoria looks like one of the few real tests on Lupi's road to Scudetto.

Following the emotional and controversial derby AS Roma has no significant absences.Regardless of the calls for Totti's suspension after his provocative gestures - Pupone was only fined for his behaviour.

Sampdoria

Luigi Del Neri and Antonia Cassano are coming back to the city they once lived in. Current Sampdoria head coach had a unlucky spell in the Italian capital, while Peter Pan virtually made a name for himself in the Gialorossi shirt after arriving from Bari.

Genoa-based club is fighting hard for a finish inside the top 4 with Juventus,Genoa and Palermo amongst the main competitors. Luigi Del Neri signed a contract extention this week as a reward for his productive work with Sampa.

Accardi,Castellazi and Pozzi are not available for the visitors.

Betting advice

The given handicap on the market makes Sampdoria (+1.25) a valuable bet.

Roma's pragmatism can be found in the recent narrow 1 goal victories against Atalanta & Lazio. Moreover Giallorossi have forgotten how to keep a clean sheet. Plus the Serie A leadership is obviously making Roma a bit nervous.

The Statistics :

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Sampdoria (+1.25) @ 1.73 with Bet365