Serie A Matchday 18 betting preview, free picks & best odds

Serie A 2024-25 will close out the year with several exciting encounters on Matchday 18. Lazio will host league leaders Atalanta, while Juventus welcome Fiorentina to Turin.
Here are our free soccer betting picks for this weekend’s action in the Italian top division.

Empoli v Genoa

Saturday, December 28 – 3pm CET – Stadio Carlo Castellani
Empoli are 11th on the table with 19 points, while Genoa are two places below them with three fewer points.

Given that these two sides have shared the points in their last three meetings, another draw could be on the cards.

Parma v AC Monza

Saturday, December 28 – 3pm CET – Stadio Ennio Tardini
Parma are 15th after suffering three consecutive defeats, while Monza are at the foot of the table having managed just one win thus far.

Winless in their last five games on the road, Monza could drop further points against a Parma side that has been decent on home soil.

Cagliari v Inter Milan

Saturday, December 28 – 6pm CET – Sardegna Arena
Champions Internazionale, sitting third, will be looking to extend their impressive run of four successive wins when they face Cagliari, in the bottom three after suffering a third consecutive defeat against Venezia.

Marcus Thuram leads the Golden Boot race with 12 goals in 17 appearances, and online bookmakers are paying +120 for the France international to add to his goal tally.

Lazio v Atalanta

Saturday, December 28 – 8:45pm CET – Stadio Olimpico
League leaders Atalanta will be eager to secure a 12th consecutive league win when they travel to Rome to face Lazio, who are in fourth.

Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere bagged a brace during their late win over Empoli, and top online casinos giving us great odds of +333 for the 23-year-old to hit the mark again.

Udinese v Torino

Sunday, December 29 – 12:30pm CET – Stadio Friuli
Ninth-placed Udinese secured a crucial 2-1 win over Fiorentina in Matchday 17, while 12th-placed Torino were hammered by Bologna.

Despite being winless in their last four meetings, anticipate the hosts to triumph against Paolo Vanoli’s men, who have failed to score in six of their last eight Serie A matches.

Napoli v Venezia

Sunday, December 29 – 3pm CET – Diego Armando Maradona Stadium
Demoted to second after losing to Lazio earlier this month, Napoli will be looking to put the pressure on Atalanta when they host Venezia, who moved to 19th following their 2-1 win over Cagliari.

Andre-Frank Anguissa has scored in two consecutive outings for Napoli, and Bovada are giving us tempting odds of +450 for the Cameroonian midfielder to extend that streak.

Juventus v Fiorentina

Sunday, December 29 – 6pm CET – Juventus Stadium
Juventus, sitting sixth, ended their four-game draw streak with a 2-1 win over Monza, while Fiorentina slipped to fifth after suffering back-to-back defeats.

Victorious both home and away in the last term, back Juve to secure a crucial win against their out-of-form guests.

AC Milan v AS Roma

Sunday, December 29 – 8:45pm CET – Giuseppe Meazza Stadium
Milan, in eighth, beat Hellas Verona 1-0 before the Christmas break, while 10th-placed Roma put five past Parma.

Unbeaten in their last six home games against the capital outfit, with four wins and two draws, the Rossoneri should be able to see this one out.

Como v Lecce

Monday, December 30 – 6:30pm CET – Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium
Como are 16th on the table with 15 points, while Lecce are two positions higher with a one-point advantage.
On a gradual ascension under head coach Cesc Fabregas, expect the hosts to secure maximum points against a Giallorossi side struggling to find form.

Bologna v Hellas Verona

Monday, December 30 – 8:45pm CET – Stadio Renato Dall’Ara
Seventh-placed Bologna secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Torino in their last outing, while Verona are 17th after slumping against Milan.

The Rossoblu have dominated this fixture at home, so back the hosts to hand their defensively vulnerable visitors a 13th league defeat of the campaign.

Sports betting picks