Napoli v Como Betting Markets
Some punters might be surprised that you can get odds of 2.40 about Napoli claiming a victory in this Sunday teatime clash. They are always a difficult opponent when lining up at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with Max Allegri looking for the Azzurri to make this a fortress in their quest to challenge for the Scudetto.
Allegri is a hugely experienced manager who won five Serie A titles with Juventus and he was also successful with Milan. It's clear that he's been hired to bring silverware to the Naples club and the above price looks really fair. The implied probability is 42% and we think that number should be higher when you take everything into consideration.
The Napoli defence stood firm away to Genoa in their opening game of the season. They limited the home side to just two shots on target before finding the net twice and they were late goals. Kevin De Bruyne was able to break the deadlock before Antonio Vergara sealed the deal. Both players came off the bench to score and that squad depth could serve the team well.
As for Como, this is the second of three consecutive away clashes to kickstart the season. They had twice as many shots on target as opponents Udinese, with Tasos Douvikas cancelling out the home side's opener. Cesc Fabregas' side had plenty of possession and corners to try and get the job done although the manager will be confident going into this game.
Last season, the two teams played out three draws including a goalless draw in Naples when clashing in their Serie A encounter. There was then a 1-1 scoreline in the Coppa Italia before another goalless draw when the sides played out the reverse fixture. That is probably why the bookies are prepared to make this an even contest and the odds suggest that there isn't much between the sides.
Goals Under/Over
If you take into account that both Serie A clashes between Napoli and Como last season involved a goalless draw, then it makes sense to plump for a low goal return. That is borne out by the Under 2.5 Goals price which is currently trading at 1.61. That price suggests that there's a 62% chance of there being two goals or less scored.
Napoli's opening clash hints at a low goal count. They were able to run a tight defensive ship and find a way to force a breakthrough with clever substitutions. The Azzurri might be a difficult wall to break down, especially at home, with Como having played out that 1-1 draw at Udinese where they also didn't give up many chances.
There's the option of plumping for Under 1.5 Goals if you think that no more than one goal will be scored in the game. It's an opportunity to get odds-against and another goalless draw certainly isn't out of the question.
BTTS
The BTTS No betting odds are available at 1.80 and that could yield a nice return. We think it's worth considering this selection in a Serie A Bet Builder. After all, this covers a goalless draw along with a win to nil to either team. When the teams met in this fixture last season, Napoli had eight shots on target to their opponents' two.
It's likely that the home side will have a low possession brand of football and they may struggle to have the requisite firepower based on their opening clash. Napoli only managed thirty-three goals across nineteen home games last term, although they conceded an average of less than one across their matches.
As for Como, they were able to find the net thirty times on the road last term, although the most striking statistic is that they conceded just fourteen times away from home. That meant that they were the joint-best defence on the road all season, with this making them more stingy on the road than they were at home.
First Goalscorer
Rasmus Hojlund scored seventeen goals across all competitions last season and the Dane may well be the most likely scorer. The former Manchester United man is still capable of improvement in front of goal at such a young age, with the forward finishing off the previous campaign by scoring in consecutive matches against Pisa and Udinese.
Matteo Politano also started away to Genoa, although the veteran Italian wasn't exactly prolific last term, with Brazilian Alisson Santos having found the net a handful of times last term after completing a move from Sporting. Maybe Antonio Vergara can follow up that goal as a sub with another strike here.
Kevin De Bruyne may also be fielded in this clash, with Como potentially looking for Tasos Douvakis to follow up that equaliser away to Udinese with another goal. The Greek scored a very healthy seventeen goals across all competitions last term. Spaniard Jesus Rodriguez is another player who could be wearing his shooting boots and the twenty-year-old offers a lively threat from a deeper position.