Italian Serie A
2009-03-14 - Cagliari vs Genoa
A Sports Betting Pick by Gooner
Football: Italy, Serie A
Saturday, 14th March 2009 - Kickoff 17:00
Cagliari (8th - Home Rec : 8-3-3 22:14)
Cagliari are sitting in eighth in spite of a recent slump.
Last weekend’s draw with Chievo means that the Isolani have only won one of their last five games (1-2-2) but they are still in contention for a UEFA Cup qualification berth.
Home results have generally been good, but Cagliari have been flattered a little bit by a run of games against sides that perform pretty badly when playing away from home.
Cagliari have tightened things up in recent weeks at home, with just six goals scored and two conceded in the last six matches here, underlining that goal chances are becoming scarece at both ends of the pitch.
Genoa will be a tougher test than any of the previous six opponents that have visited the Stadio Sant'Elia.
Genoa (5th - Away Rec : 4-5-5 11:15)
Genoa come into this match after finally losing at home - in a 0-2 defeat by leader leaders Inter Milan.
After a mediocre start to the season Genoa have run up an 11-9-3 record, with those losses coming at Juventus, at Roma, and as mentioned home to Inter Milan last weekend.
Genoa Team News :
Genoa are without injured men Matteo Paro and Anthony Vanden Borre. Thiago Motta, Giuseppe Biava and Matteo Ferrari all have one-game bans.
Probable Teams
Marchetti;
Pisano, Lopez, Canini, Agostini;
Fini, Conti, Biondini, Cossu;
Acquafresca, Jeda
Genoa :
Rubinho;
Papastathopoulos, Bocchetti, Criscito;
Rossi, Milanetto, Juric, Mesto, Jankovic;
Milito, Sculli
The Betting Verdict
A tough fixture between two sides that do not like to be beaten.
Genoa are arguably the better side on form, but with several absences and an away fixture it's likely that they will flood the pitch with a 5-man midfield and make themselves very hard to beat.
Cagliari will also be looking to be very solid at the back, and I don't expect much goal action, this is backed up by a bookmaker price of just 1.57 to 1.61 for Under 2.5 goals.
However, I'm more tempted with the 3.20 price on the points to be shared.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
Cagliari 0-0 Genoa
BEST BETTING TIP :
This one has all the makings of a hard fought DRAW although it's always a risky punt.Playing UNDER 2.5 GOALS would be a more likely winner - but the odds of 1.57 reflect that.
