Italian Serie A
2010-03-20 - Palermo vs Inter Milan
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Analysis:Inter faces a tough challenge as they travel to Palermo who are unbeaten at home this season and they have won just once in their last five matches coming into this match.
However, Jose Mourinho's side will be coming in with confidence having beaten Chelsea 1-0 in midweek. Samuel Eto'O scored his first goal for the club in 2010 so that will give him confidence as well. Mario Balotelli is still out of this match after a spat with Mourinho. He was lambasted by team mate Marco Materazzi, so it’s unlikely he will be brought back so quickly for such an important game. Diego Milito and Wesley Sneijder are in good form but we are more likely to see the return of Dejan Stankovic in midfield and Davide Santon at left-back.
Even though their confidence is high, Inter will not have it easy at the Stadio Barbera. In rec ent times, a run of three draws, a win and Friday’s 3-1 defeat at Catania has seen Milan close to within a point to them. Sulley Ali Muntari didn't had a good game, coming off the bench to concede a penalty and receiving two yellow cards and being sent off. But the good news is that Cristian Chivu is the only injury absentee.
The statistics do not favour Inter here. They are the leaders with the lowest overall tally since Serie A went back to 20 teams. With just 59 points they are well below the previous haul of 63 when Milan and Juventus were joint top at this stage in 2004-05. Last season, they were seven points ahead at this stage.
Palermo are no pushovers and are u nbeaten at home together with the likes of Inter and Sampdoria. At home they have managed 10 wins and four draws to date. They have also conceded only nine goals on home soil to date.
When these sides met back in October it was a spectacular 5-3 result at San Siro and we can expect another exciting clash here. Take note that Palermo are unbeaten in their last 22 official games at the Barbera, dropping only five points in the process. The last team to win here was rivals Catania in an extraordinary 4-0 on March 1 2009, so it is now a year since they were beaten at home. Also it should be noted in the other 21 games they won they scored 50 goals.
Last season Inter came away 2-0 winners thanks to two goals by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
As for the team news, Mark Bresciano and Giovanni Tedesco remain injury doubts, but Giulio Migliaccio is fit again and Javier Pastore is now fit again.
Palermo are coming into this match after a 3-2 defeat to Udinese, that prevented them from extending their lead over fifth-placed Juventus.
Go for this match to end in a draw.
Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser
The Pick :
Draw Match 1-1
BEST BETTING TIP :
Go for the draw here.
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take Palermo and accept the 1/4 ball here.
