Siena vs Lazio
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Serie A encounter between Siena and Lazio.
Since returning to Serie A, Siena have done what most of us expected them to do – struggle. They’ve put in some tenacious displays at home and have even fought like troopers in away games but when it comes down to quality, this side is one of the weakest in the division. They won’t lie down for any side which is predominantly why they’ve not lost that many home games this season. However, they’re rarely a threat in front of goal and despite some dangerous pace down the flanks, they’re simply not clinical nor consistent enough. I respect Siena as a hard side to beat at home due to their unity and tenacity but from a quality perspective, I really think that they’ll struggle today.
Visitors Lazio have almost become masters of the away win in Serie A in recent years. Their consistency on the road is quite terrifying at times and although their defence can occasionally be vulnerable enough to cost them the game, their attack is potent and can win them almost any game in Italy. Even today with a number of players out Lazio still have the depth to do a good job here and why not? Realistically speaking, it shouldn’t take more than a single goal for Lazio to win this one and they’ve demonstrated innumerate times already this season that they know how to find the net.
All that remains to be asked is whether Lazio have the motivation or not to win this one. Sadly, I am not in a position to answer you on that front; only the players can answer that. I would expect them to be motivated but a winter break can upset a side’s rhythm so do approach this one with caution. Either way, there’s a quality gap between these two sides that I don’t personally believe is reflected in the odds so the away win at 7/5 appeals to me today.
Verdict: Lazio to win at 7/5.
Saturday’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!
Australian A-League:
Adelaide United vs Brisbane Roar (5) 1-2
Melbourne Victory vs Newcastle Jets (7) 2-1
Cypriot Division 1:
Ethnikos Achnas vs Ermis (8) 2-0
Apollon Limassol vs Anagennisi Deryneia (6) 1-0
Nea Salamis vs Anorthosis Famagusta (5) 1-2
Olympiakos Nicosia vs AEK Larnaca (7) 0-2
English FA Cup:
Birmingham City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (5) 1-1
Dagenham & Redbridge vs Millwall (4) 2-1
Middlesbrough vs Shrewsbury Town (7)
Nottingham Forest vs Leicester City (4) 1-1
Crawley Town vs Bristol City (6) 2-1
Doncaster Rovers vs Notts County (6) 1-0
Tottenham Hotspur vs Cheltenham Town (8) over 2.5 goals
Milton Keynes Dons vs Queens Park Rangers (5) 1-1
Hull City vs Ipswich Town (7) 2-0
Coventry City vs Southampton (5) 1-0
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Wrexham (7) 2-1
Fulham vs Charlton Athletic (7) 2-1
Norwich City vs Burnley (4) 1-2
Derby County vs Crystal Palace (6) 1-1
Fleetwood Town vs Blackpool (6) 2-2
Swindon Town vs Wigan Athletic (6) 1-1
Barnsley vs Swansea City (5) 1-0
Macclesfield Town vs Bolton Wanderers (6) 1-2
Newcastle United vs Blackburn Rovers (4) 1-1
Everton vs Tamworth (6) 1-0
Sheffield United vs Salisbury City (7) 2-0
Gillingham vs Stoke City (4) 2-1
Watford vs Bradford City (7) 2-0
West Bromwich Albion vs Cardiff City (6) 1-0
Reading vs Stevenage (7) 2-0
Bristol Rovers vs Aston Villa (5) 0-0
Greek Super League:
Asteras Tripolis vs Panaitolikos (4) 1-1
Ergotelis vs Panionios (7) 1-0
Levadiakos vs AEK Athens (5) 0-0
Italian Serie A:
Siena vs Lazio (6) 0-1
Internazionale vs Parma (8) 2-0
Mexican Primera Division:
Monterrey vs Jaguares (6) 2-1
Queretaro vs America (6) 1-1
Cruz Azul vs Tigres UANL (7) 2-1
Santos Laguna vs Pachuca (5) 1-1
Guadalajara vs Atlante (7) 2-0
San Luis vs Pumas UNAM (4) 0-1
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Sporting Clube de Lisboa vs Porto (5) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Spanish Primera Liga:
Racing Santander vs Real Zaragoza (6) 1-0
Levante vs Real Mallorca (4) 2-2
Real Sociedad vs Osasuna (6) 1-1
Real Madrid vs Granada (9) -1.5 handicap
Malaga vs Atletico Madrid (7) 2-0
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Barcelona II vs Numancia (6) over 2.5 goals
Gimnastic de Tarragona vs Real Murcia (4)
Guadalajara vs Elche (5)
Sabadell vs Real Valladolid (6)
Hercules Alicante vs Las Palmas (7)
Deportivo La Coruna vs Deportivo Xerez (7)
Cartagena vs Huesca (5)
Recreativo de Huelva vs Villarreal II (6)
Turkish Super Lig:
Bursaspor vs Mersin Idmanyurdu (7) 2-1
Istanbul BB vs Trabzonspor (6) 0-0
Samsunspor vs Galatasaray (6) 1-2
Welsh Premier League:
Prestatyn Town vs Neath Athletic (6) 2-2
Bala Town vs Afan Lido (7) 2-0
Enjoy your free betting tips!