ITALIAN SERIE A BETTING PICK - INTER MILAN V SS LAZIO

Italian Serie A

2009-05-02 - Inter Milan vs SS Lazio

A Sports Betting Pick by Gooner

Internazionale Milano v SS Lazio
Football: Italy, Serie A
Saturday, 2nd May 2009 - Kickoff 19:30

Inter Milan (1st - Home Rec : 11-5-0 28:13)

Ooops. Irresistable Inter Milan are slipping up - with ZERO wins in their last three games and that causing plenty of nerves amongst the Inter faithful.

That not surprising because Inter do have recent history of failing to clinch domestic titles, stunningly choking in 2001, and almost repeating the trick last season.

Still, Inter have the strutting peacock Jose Mourinho in charge now - and this is why he was brought in - to make these tasks easier for the fans. So it's time he delivered.

(Actually, Mourinho was REALLY brought in to ensure Champions League success, but as that dream failed that script has been carefuly re-written)

Mourinho has been trying to get Inter Milan to play a more expansive style of football, perhaps stung by criticism of the negative style of play, but his 4-3-1-2 system, has not brought much success.

If Mourinho drops his new system, then Inter will win this game, crushing the life out of the Lazio midfield. But can MR Ego admit that he's got it wrong? Probably not - so look for the experiment to continue.

Team News :
Inter are wihtout Douglas Maicon, Nelson Rivas and Hernan Crespo who are all injured while Mario Balotelli and ex-Lazio star Dejan Stankovic are both suspended.

Lazio (9th - Away Rec : 7-1-8 23:25)

LOazio have nothing to play for, an their recent results so it with four losses in their last six games, but also an exception 4-2 win over fierce rivals AS Roma in the Roma derby.

Perhaps it takes a big game to get Lazio fired up these days? Or perhaps Lazio are saving themselves for the Coppa Italia final ?(joking - no-one takes the Coppa seriously!)

Team News :
Lazio have Goran Pandev and Simone Inzaghi still injured. Christian Manfredini, Emilson Cribari, Mobido Diakhite and former Inter midfielder Ousmane Dabo are also sidelined.

Head to Heead

Lazio used to be Inter Milan's bogey team, with a string of wins and draws against the Nerazzurri but that all seemed to stop three seasons ago.

Inter Have won the last three matches here in the San Siro, and also two of the last three clashes in Rome.

Probable Teams :

Inter Milan :
Julio Cesar;
Santon, Cordoba, Samuel, Chivu;
Vieira, Cambiasso, Zanetti;
Figo;
Cruz, Ibrahimovic

Lazio :
Muslera;
Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozehnal, Kolarov;
Brocchi, Ledesma, Matuzalem, Foggia;
Zarate, Rocchi

The Betting Verdict

Despite my criticism of Jose Mourinho's negative style of football, the man knows how to get sides to win games, especially the important games and I expect to see Inter Milan get the job done.

However, the bookmaker prices are pretty close to my projected values for "fair value" and so there is little edge to be obtained on any of the result bets.

So this is a game that it's better to watch and see whether Inter succeed or crack - without any cash on it.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

BEST BETTING TIP :

NO BET at these prices.

(unless you want to take a shot at a correct score bet)