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After last weekend's Serie A results, Inter Milan have opened a 20 point gap on their nearest rival, Roma, and the best price available on the Nerazzurri lifting the Scudetto, is now 1/100!!! There is however, plenty of life still left in the Italian top flight, with competition for European places, a tight relegation battle, and up to 60% better odds from PinnacleSports.com on all the remaining games.
Nerazzurri Looking to Close Out Title
Inter are not quite at the stage of making a mathematical certainty of the Serie A title, but they can take another big step toward completing the job when they visit Calabria for their game against Reggina. It has been a season of upheaval in Italian football, and while the focus has been on the punishments to the giants of Serie A, Juventus and AC Milan, they weren't the only clubs to suffer. Reggina received an 11 point handicap for their part in Calciopoli, which has left them struggling for survival. In a normal season their results would have given them 36 points, putting them in with a shout of a UEFA Cup spot, instead they are one place above relegation, facing a tough home game against the run-away leaders. The Amaranto (Dark Reds) have only spent one season out of Italy's top division since 1999, playing Internazionale at the Stadio Oreste Granillo seven times, registering just a single win over that sequence. Reggina have actually failed to score in the last six meetings between the clubs (home & away) and last season lost this fixture 4-0. Given their perilous situation, Reggina will however, be expected to put up a fight and PinnacleSports.com price Inter Milan split ball favourites on the Asian Handicap 2.110 (-0.5 & -1.0) with the Calabrians 1.826 (+0.5 & +1.0). Lazio Looking to Extend Winning Streak to Eight
Lazio were another club to be implicated in Italy's soccer scandal, but the club escaped with a relatively light punishment (deducted 3 points) but their UEFA Cup ban hit harder. The Biancocelesti are set to make up for that disappointment as they currently occupy the third Champions League spot, courtesy of a seven game winning streak, in which they have scored 18 goals. On that basis they are certainly one of Italy's form sides, and PinnacleSports.com make them favourites for Saturday's home game against struggling Messina. Messina were one of the beneficiaries of the match-fixing scandal, despite being mathematically relegated last season, they retained their Serie A status for the third consecutive season. The reprieve could be short-lived as the Sicilain club have nonetheless been in turmoil, changing manager three times. The most recent sacking took place this week, after defeat to Cagliari, when Alberto Cavasin was dismissed, and Bruno Giordano - who was actually in charge at the start of the season - reappointed. Messina are without an away win all season, so unsurprisingly PinnacleSports.com has them as under-dogs on the Asian Handicap 2.29 (+1 & +1.5) with Lazio 1.719 (-1 & -1.5). Milan & Empoli Fight for Champions League Rights
Empoli is a small Tuscan town with a population of just 45,000 people, so it is something of an achievement for their football team to be challenging for a Champions League place spot, which could be at the expense of AC Milan who they play on Saturday evening. Empoli are currently fifth in Serie A, with the Rossoneri in sixth trailing them by just a point. The success of Luigi Cagni's side has been built on home form, whereas on the road they are inconsistent. They have won just four away games this season, and have a bad record against Milan at the San Siro, losing on four of their five league visits. Though qualification for next season's Champions League is crucial, AC Milan are distracted by their continued involvement in the competition this year. Though Carlo Ancelotti feels his side are capable of qualifying for next year's Champions League by winning the competition, he must ensure Milan make it by virtue of their league position. The purchase of Ronaldo in January's transfer window has added some much needed fire-power to the club. The Brazilian is ineligible for Europe, so instead he has been following a rigorous fitness programme, which is paying dividends. Milan are unbeaten in their last nine home games, and PinnacleSports.com make them favourites for this important clash, 1.935 (-1), with Empoli 1.990 (+1). 60% better odds at PinnacleSports.com !
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