Top Match Betting: Assessing Juventus, Napoli and the Lisbon derby

With all the major leagues across Europe now back underway, we’ve been looking for value from Saturday’s top matches, starting in Serie A and ending with one of Europe’s fiercest local rivalries.

Juventus vs Lazio - Match Preview

It’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s first match at the Juventus Stadium, but while all eyes will be on the Portuguese superstar, Lazio know all too well that they will need to keep another forward in check this weekend.

Simone Inzaghi’s men have fared pretty well against the Serie A champions in recent meetings, winning back-to-back matches before the Old Lady bagged a 93rd minute winner in their last encounter - a feat Max Allegri’s side also achieved in their opener at Chievo last time out. It was Paulo Dybala, rather than Federico Bernardeschi, that was the Juve hero back in March, and he’s made a habit of scoring in this fixture.

The Argentine has found the net ten times against Lazio in his career, which is three more than he has managed against any other side, and with Ronaldo set to be the eternal favourite in the scorer stakes this season, it’s the 24-year-old that may be the more logical bet here, especially at odds of 2.32 with Unibet.

Napoli vs AC Milan - Match Preview

Staying in Italy for the late kick-off on Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti takes charge of his first match at the San Paolo as Napoli boss, coming to blows with the club for whom he holds legendary status.

It was a tough start for the three-time Champions League winning manager, overcoming a real test in the capital against Lazio, and things don’t get a great deal easier ahead of the visit of Milan. The away side have been busy in the transfer market again, and most notably added former Partenopei hitman Gonzalo Higuain to their ranks to boost the firepower of a modest attack from last season. The Argentina international loves to haunt his former club and has five goals in six appearances against Napoli since leaving in 2016.

All in all, however, it’s Saturday’s hosts that have comfortably had the better of their visitors in recent meetings, winning five in a seven-match unbeaten streak against the rossoneri. Moreover, eight of the last nine meetings between these sides in Naples have seen over 2.5 goals, and a repeat since an inevitability, with Marathon Bet offering the best odds (1.81).

Benfica vs Sporting - Match Preview

With both of these clubs looking to knock rivals Porto off their perch, and the top three in Liga NOS already as it was last season after just two games, neither side will want to lose ground early on ahead of the first Derby de Lisboa of the season. It’s the fixture that both sets of fans are most determined to avoid defeat, and that nervousness has spilled over onto the pitch in recent years.

Each of the last three meetings between the sides have ended in stalemates, the most recent of which finished 0-0 with a total of just four shots on target. Goals, in general, have been thin on the ground when the two rivals have come to blows, and Saturday’s meeting is unlikely to be much different.

Of the last 12 meetings between the sides, just two have seen over 2.5 goals and none have witnessed more than three goals scored between the sides. Marathon Bet offer the best odds once more, this time in the under 2.5 market, at 1.76, and if the treble takes your fancy, the same bookmaker offer odds of 7.20 to tempt you in.