09-01-2008 Serie A Betting - Matchday 18 Preview

Serie A restarts this weekend amid a flurry of transfer speculation. Italy’s top flight teams have been concentrating on their conditioning during the brief Winter break, while at the same time trying to recruit some new faces to help in the second half of the season. Unbeaten Inter Milan resume with a healthy seven point lead at the top of the table, but there’s a long way to go. Check out PinnacleSports.com for up to 60% better Serie A betting odds.

Carlo Ancelotti, the embattled AC Milan coach, has an immediate opportunity to get a long overdue first home win of the season, when Serie A resumes this weekend. The Diavolo have played seven home games at the San Siro, drawing five and losing two, while also losing the Milan Derby as the visitors, right before Christmas. The Rossoneri host Napoli on Sunday looking to set the record straight and improve their chances of gaining a Champions League berth.

While Milan have definitely lacked confidence at home they haven’t been helped by a shortage of attacking options. Ronaldo is recovered from injury but is a long way from full fitness so his 18 year old compatriot, Alexandre Pato, could start his first Serie A game, partnering Alberto Gilardino, given Pippo Inzaghi is still recovering from kidney problems. Napoli currently lie five places above Sunday’s rivals, but have been strongest at home, despite winning their first away fixture, back in Serie A, 5-0 at Udinese. That proved a flash in the pan, as the Partenopei have failed to win an away game since, and PinnacleSports.com make them under-dogs 2.120 (+1 & +1.5) with AC Milan 1.820 (-1 & -1.5).

Unbeaten Inter Resume Serie A On the Road

While AC Milan have so far had a domestic season to forget, city rivals, Internazionale, are blazing a trail at the head of Serie A, seven points at the Winter break in the quest to defend their Scudetto. Inter ended 2007 on the perfect note winning the Milan Derby 2-1, and remaining unbeaten in the league. Despite continuing injury problems, - which have ruled out Walter Samuel and Oliver Dacourt for the rest of this season, and will keep several other players out for January - Inter’s strength in depth and winning mentality have maintained their momentum.

Inter return to action having lost in the final of the Dubai Cup, which was the cornerstone of their Winter break preparations. The defeat against Brazilians, Internacional, wasn’t in itself a huge disappointment, as coach, Roberto Mancini, shuffled his pack. Inter face a trip to relegation threatened Siena on Sunday looking to maintain or increase their lead in Serie A. The white and blacks have won just two games all season, and haven’t kept a clean sheet in eight fixtures, but nevertheless they have proved hard to beat at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, losing twice there and drawing six games. PinnacleSports.com make Siena under-dogs 2.050 (+1) with Inter Milan 1.877 (+1).

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