Serie A: Juventus Target Easy Win in Top vs Bottom Clash

S.P.A.L. 2013 vs Juventus

Juventus are still hanging on to a one-point lead atop the Serie A table after a 2-0 win over Brescia despite missing Cristiano Ronaldo. But with Lazio breathing down their necks, the defending champions cannot afford any more slip-ups, which have become more frequent in recent weeks.

Luckily for the Old Lady, they have another easy assignment this weekend as they pay a visit to struggling SPAL.

I Biancazzurri are stuck at the bottom of the table and are nine points from safety. The Serie A 2020 odds have them as favourites for relegation, and barring some miraculous turnaround, they look destined for the drop.

Talking Points

SPAL staring straight at relegation

Things are not looking good for SPAL at the moment. They remain down at the bottom of the table with just 15 points through 24 matches and have lost six of their last seven matches.

The one match they won during that span was a shock 2-1 victory at Atalanta. However, they were unable to build off of that win and have subsequently lost four games on the bounce. Last time out, they couldn’t pick up some much-needed points away to Lecce, who are also down in 16th.

Andrea Petagna is doing all he can to keep SPAL up. The 24-year-old striker is the club’s top scorer by some distance with nine goals and has scored in three of his last four appearances.

Unfortunately, they just don’t have enough firepower apart from Petagna. SPAL have scored just 18 goals thus far this season, the fewest in Serie A.

SPAL have been equally bad at home and on the road this season. However, their home form has taken a massive dip. After winning two of their first four home games — including a shock win over Lazio — they have failed to win in their last seven games at the Stadio Paolo Mazza and have lost four in a row.

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently sitting on the second spot of Serie A top scorers this season — Cristiano Ronaldo before Juventus’ Coppa Italia match against AC Milan

Ronaldo likely to return

Juventus have been wobbling in recent weeks as their away form has let them down. They suffered back-to-back away defeats to Napoli and Verona and were also held 1-1 in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final against AC Milan.

Granted, Napoli and Milan possess talented players and Verona have been very impressive this season, but it’s still surprising to see Juventus stumble as often as they have of late.

Juve have had not had quite as many problems at home, though. They took care of Fiorentina 3-0 and also beat Brescia 2-0 despite being without Cristiano Ronaldo, who was rested. Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado supplied the goals in Ronaldo’s absence.

But after that brief rest, Ronaldo should be back in the side against SPAL and he will be keen to extend his amazing goalscoring run. CR7 have found the net in each of his first eight games in 2020 (he has 12 overall this year) and 11 consecutive Serie A matches. That scoring binge has seen Ronaldo rise to second in the Serie A goal chart with 20 goals.

Juve don’t exactly have a great away record in the league this season. Apart from the fact that all three of their losses have come away, they’ve also won by more than one goal away from home just once all season.

But with Ronaldo hungry for more goals to appear on Serie A 2020 highlights and SPAL still struggling for form, this is as good a chance as any for a comfortable Juventus away win.

History

Juventus and SPAL have squared off just five times in Serie A. Juventus have the upper hand with three victories, all coming at home. Juve won their first meeting this season 2-0, with Miralem Pjanic and Cristiano Ronaldo supplying the goals.

However, SPAL have sprung a couple of surprising results against Juventus at home. In 2019, they beat the champions 2-1, although that was against a second-string side as Juve had all but secured the title by that point. They also held Juventus to a scoreless draw in 2018.

Betting Tip

	S.P.A.L. 2013 vs Juventus	Juventus Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 2.19
	February 23, 01:00 (GMT+8)

Unsurprisingly, the SBOBET odds are leaning heavily toward a Juventus away win, which is priced at 1.39. SPAL are 7.80 to score another shock win over Juve, while a draw is 4.60.

But instead of the 1X2 market, I’m going to go with the Asian handicap for this match. Yes, Juventus have not been all that convincing away from home this season, but you have to imagine that they can turn on the style against the bottom club in the league.

The odds for Juventus at -1.50 are just too enticing to pass up, and I believe the champions will come through with a win of at least two goals against SPAL.