Soccer Preview: Serie A Matchday 1 odds

The 2022-23 Season Kicks off on Saturday

If the 2022-23 Serie A season is even half as good as the 2021-22 was, fans will be in for a treat. Last season’s three-team title race went down to the wire as AC Milan won their first Scudetto for 11 years. Perhaps the title will stay in Milan this season, with both AC and Inter Milan among the favorites. There are plenty of other Serie A teams worth following this season and we’ll get the first look at them during Serie A Matchday 1. Let’s run through the odds from some of the standout matches of the weekend.

AC Milan’s Begin Title Defense

Defending champions AC Milan welcome Udinese to the San Siro on Saturday for Serie A Matchday 1. A draw is priced at +365 in a fixture that has finished in a 1-1 deadlock on three straight occasions. Interestingly enough, the last time the Rossoneri lost their season opener, in 2019, Udinese beat them 1-0. Still, AC Milan are -255 favorites as Divock Origi and Charles de Ketalaere could make their debuts.

Udinese comes in as +800 underdogs and hasn’t beaten AC Milan at the San Siro since 2016. Typically, Udinese was involved in shootouts last season as they both scored and conceded over 1½ goals per game. Bettors are responding by taking over 2½, which stands at -135 odds.

There’s been a strong trend in AC Milan vs. Udinese matches recently. Each of the last 15 Serie A meetings has been decided by a single goal or ended in a draw. So, it’s no surprise AC Milan -1½ is priced at longer than even odds, at +115.

Trap Game for Inter?

Inter Milan lost out on the title by just two points last season and it will certainly be fresh in their minds. They won’t be upset that they drew 2021-22 Serie B champions Lecce in their first match, though. Still, +850 underdogs Lecce are not to be underestimated and have made some intriguing signings in the Summer.

Lecce has brought in no fewer than 13 new players both on permanent and loan transfers. One would think some of those new arrivals are bound to be hits. Also, Inter is winless in their last three matches at Lecce.

The Italy Serie A betting odds list a draw at +450 odds, despite the fact that it was the outcome the last time these teams played. Inter should theoretically be even stronger than last season, though, with Romelu Lukaku back. They come into Saturday’s match as 1½-goal favorites and priced at -310 outright odds.

Verona Host New Look Napoli

Napoli was in the Serie A title race for much of last season but collapsed in the late stages. In the offseason, they lost a bunch of players who played big minutes in 2021-22. GK David Ospina, CB Kalidou Koulibaly, FW Lorenzo Insigne and FW Dries Mertens are all with different clubs.

Without their former captain Insigne and best defender Koulibaly, there may be an adjustment period. Striker Victor Osimhen is back and he’ll now be the centerpiece of the team. With all the turnover, Napoli has longer than even odds to defeat Hellas Verona in their opener. The visiting Partenopei are priced at +105 to win compared to +270 for a draw.

Hellas Verona shows +245 odds for Monday’s match and was a difficult team to beat last season. One of the key  Italian Serie A betting tips in recent seasons has been taking both teams to score in this fixture. It’s happened in each of the last four meetings and sits at -180 in this match.

Juventus Open up with Sassuolo

It’s tough to know what to expect from Juventus this season. They’ve finished fourth in consecutive seasons but the Serie A odds price them as a strong title contender, at +185. Juve host Sassuolo in Serie A Matchday 1 and player Paul Pogba will have to wait to make his second debut. The midfielder is nursing a knee injury and GK Wojciech Szczesny and winger Federico Chiesa are also on the injured list.

Juve just completed a deal for former Eintracht Frankfurt winger Filip Kostic which adds much-needed creativity. It remains to be seen whether Massimiliano Allegri will hand the 29-year-old Europa League winner his debut on Monday. Regardless, Juve is one-goal and -215 outright favorites vs. Sassuolo.

Last season, Sassuolo got their first-ever win at the Allianz Stadium and are +550 underdogs to repeat. Both teams have scored in the last seven meetings in all competitions. With three or more goals scored in each of the last 11, it should come as no surprise that over three shows -125 odds.

Other Matches of Interest

Atalanta had a disappointing 2021-22 campaign and missed out on UEFA competitions entirely. They’ll look to regroup in 2022-23 and start their season on the road at Sampdoria. Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta is -120 favorites to win in Genoa and has won the last three meetings.

Monza makes their much-awaited Serie A debut vs. Torino on Saturday. The club from the Milan suburbs has made a splash with some big-name signings. Italian international midfielder Matteo Pessina is back on loan captaining his boyhood club. Monza has also signed Italy forward Gianluca Caprari and former Italian international center back Andrea Ranocchia. Monza has slightly favored in a pick’em.

Salernitana went on an incredible run to stay in Serie A last season, losing just one of their last eight Italian Serie A matches. Meanwhile, Roma won the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League in May and added Paulo Dybala in the offseason. Roma is seen as likely to sneak into the top four this season under Jose Mourinho and are -210 favorites on Sunday.