Today’s featured game is the Serie A encounter between AS Roma and Juventus.

With all the money that Roma have had pumped into the club, you could forgive them for having expectations to win this game, especially due to the quality players that they’ve brought in. However, for me, they’re as far behind as ever as they cannot defend whatsoever and they have very little cohesion, which is common for clubs with lots of new players. Consider that Roma have won just half of their home games in Serie A this season and average conceding over a goal per home game and you can see that they do have issues. Luis Enrqiue is not a popular man there due to some tactical errors and his fall-out with club legend Francesco Totti so not all is well in the Roma camp. They’ve got huge issues with absentees ahead of this game, too. In attack, both Bojan and Borini have been ruled out, which leaves Luis Enrique with unsettled Borriello or unhappy Totti to sit alongside target man Osvaldo. In midfield, they miss the creativity of Pizarro and the muscle of Gago. In defence, they miss the leadership of Juan, experience of Cassetti, and solidarity of Kjaer. Roma may have improved their depth with all their signings but it’s going to be pushed to the maximum tonight because I cannot see how they’ll make a first eleven out of what’s left!

Juventus are playing really well this season too, helpfully. They laboured to a 2-0 win against Bologna as playmaker Pirlo was absent; they’ve normally looked a lot more ruthless and dangerous than they did in that game. They’re the only side in Serie A yet to be beaten this season and their displays have earned that with Juventus never knowing when they’re beaten and scoring goals for fun. It’s no surprise that they’re getting back to where they belong though, really, is it? Look at the leaders they’ve got in Chiellini, Buffon, Marchisio, Del Piero etc. if needed – they all lead from the front. In attack, they’ve got so many options with Matri, Amauri, Toni, Vucinic, Iaquinta, Del Piero, and now the returning Quagliarella to choose from! Admittedly, Vucinic is out for this game against his former club but Conte is not short of attacking options, to be blunt! Juventus only miss Vucinic and bring a great deal of momentum into this game so I really fancy them to nail an unconvincing and depleted Roma side tonight.

Big games are never “easy wins” but this one looks good to me. Juventus are a better side than Roma with a better manager and much better form, not to mention better options in their ranks. For me, there’s value on the away win at 11/10, especially with Roma likely to concede at least twice here with most of their defence out.

Verdict: Juventus to win at 11/10.

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Monday’s Picks

As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games!

Argentinian Primera Division:

Colon de Santa Fe vs Banfield (7) 2-0
Atletico Lanus vs Newell’s Old Boys (6) 1-0
Atletico Rafaela vs Godoy Cruz de Mendoza (4) 1-1
Velez Sarsfield vs Racing Club Avellaneda (6) 0-0
Independiente vs Tigre (6) 1-0
San Martin de San Juan vs San Lorenzo de Almagro (5) 1-1

Cypriot Division 1:

Alki Larnaca vs Enosis Neon Paralimni (4) 0-1

English Premier League:

Chelsea vs Manchester City (4) 1-2

Italian Serie A:

AS Roma vs Juventus (7) over 2.5 goals, at least one red card in this game

Polish Ekstraklasa:

Lech Poznan vs Zaglebie Lubin (7) 1-0

Portuguese Liga Sagres:

Olhanense vs Academica de Coimbra (4) 1-1

Romanian Liga:

Gaz Metan Medias vs Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt (6) 1-0
Pandurii Targu Jiu vs Concordia Chiajna (7) 2-0

Turkish Super Lig:

Kayserispor vs Karabukspor (7) 2-1
Sivasspor vs Manisaspor (7) 1-0
Bursaspor vs Fenerbahce (6) 1-1

Enjoy your free betting tips!