Home and Away: Napoli looking to cement place in European elite

 

Jonno Turner profiles action in Turkey and Italy as he looks to secure more winners in his Home and Away column...

 

We're off to Turkey for our first pick of the day - as Trabzonspor host Sivasspor at the Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium, looking to extend the impressive home form which has led them to four wins and a draw from their last five.

 

Tolunay Kafkas' side will be full of confidence ahead of this clash, and desperate to improve on an underwhelming league position of ninth in the Super Lig.

 

The hosts finished third last campaign, and will be disappointed not to be challenging further up the division - but five clean sheets on the bounce at home shows that they are still a formidable force in front of their own fans.

 

A win over seventh placed Genclerberligi last time out will have boosted morale in the Karadeniz Firtinasi camp, and they will be keen to build on that victory with another three points here.

 

Visitors Sivasspor go into this one sitting 13th in the table - just four points from the drop zone - and the pressure is mounting on boss Riza Calimbay - with no wins from their last five on the road.

 

The Yigidolar are in miserable form away from the 4 Eylul Stadium, and that will have knocked confidence ahead of this clash - as they travel to a Trabzonspor side full of momentum and vigour.

 

And no league clean sheets on the road since early October suggests that the away side are likely to present their hosts with a chance or two here.

 

Bet 1: Trabzonspor (HOME) @ 1.99

 

Switching our focus to Italy now, as Napoli travel to Bologna, aiming for their fourth win on the bounce, and eighth outing unbeaten.

 

The Azzurri sit second in Serie A after a cracking campaign, and boss Walter Mazzarri will be keen for his side to get another three points on the board in order to keep some breathing space between themselves and third placed AC Milan.

 

The visitors are set to qualify for the Champions League should they manage to maintain that advantage, and that would be a fantastic achievement for the Stadio San Paolo club.

 

Three unbeaten on the road, and nine goals scored in that time, shows just how dominant the away side have been of late - and they will fancy their chances at a Bologna side which can't seem to buy a win at the moment.

 

Stefano Pioli's side have not tasted victory since early March - and that poor return has left them floundering in 13th place in the division.

 

The Rossoblu are not mathematically safe yet, and will be keen to get something here in order to get that monkey off their back, but a 6-0 thrashing by Lazio on Sunday showed a side low on confidence and belief.

 

Just two wins from seven at home suggests that the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara side are far from formidable on their own patch, and I fancy the visitors here.

 

Bet 2: Napoli (AWAY) @ 1.8

 

Bet HERE

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