Football Betting Tips: Best Bets from Serie A for Matchday 1

The new Serie A season is upon us and once more, we'll get our Italian Football expert to put together his three Best Bets for the action every gameweek.

For opening weekend, he is going odds-against for his opening selection as he expects a good game in Milan. We'll get Daniele take it from here with his Football Betting Tips for Matchday 1 in Serie A...

As Serie A kicks off, we highlight the top three betting picks for the opening weekend.  

With AC Milan's tactical evolution under Paulo Fonseca, Napoli's new era with Antonio Conte, and Lecce's optimism against Atalanta, find out where to place your bets for the best value and insight into the new season. 

• A Fresh Start for the Rossoneri 
• Conte’s Challenge Begins 
• A tricky trip down south
  

*You can check out all of our Football Odds over at betfred.com

AC Milan vs. Torino (Saturday, 19:45) 

Under new manager Paulo Fonseca, who previously led Roma and Lille, AC Milan is embracing a revamped tactical approach focused on high pressing and ball control. Fonseca's influence is evident in Milan's pre-season, where they demonstrated a more controlled and methodical style, highlighted by victories over Barcelona, Manchester City, and Real Madrid.  

Key additions include Álvaro Morata, Spain’s Euro 2024 captain, expected to bolster the attack, and Strahinja Pavlovic, a robust defender aimed at strengthening the backline.  

Despite these improvements, Milan continues to seek a defensively reliable midfielder and additional attacking options.  

Torino, managed by Paolo Vanoli, has undergone significant changes, including new signings like Che Adams and potentially Jaka Bijol. Vanoli’s squad has shown defensive resilience in pre-season, though the attack remains inconsistent.  

Torino hasn’t beaten the Rossoneri in Serie A since 2001 but will aim to exploit Milan’s defensive gaps and maintain their recent unbeaten streak in Serie A openers (three wins, four draws). 

Tip: AC Milan to win and Under 3.5 Goals @ 5/4

*You can check out all of our Serie A Odds over at betfred.com

Verona vs. Napoli (Sunday, 17:30) 

On Sunday afternoon, all eyes will be on the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi for Antonio Conte’s debut as Napoli’s manager. Napoli, coming off a turbulent campaign where they finished tenth and cycled through three managers, is entering the new season with high hopes under Conte.  

The club has reinforced its backline with new signings, including Leonardo Spinazzola and Alessandro Buongiorno, in response to last season’s defensive frailties (55 goals conceded). However, pre-season form has been uneven, with Napoli narrowly defeating Modena on penalties in the Coppa Italia and suffering a 2-0 defeat to Girona, raising concerns about squad cohesion. For Verona, optimism is tempered by significant transitions. 

Under new coach Paolo Zanetti, who replaced Marco Baroni, the team faces the challenge of integrating several new players, including Mosquera and Livramento, both untested at this level. Their recent Coppa Italia defeat against Cesena highlighted defensive issues which Zanetti will need to address swiftly.  

Historically, Napoli has been dominant in recent encounters with Verona, having won ten of their last 14 Serie A matches against them. With Conte’s tactical acumen, Napoli will look to keep it tight but make a strong statement to kick off their season. 

Tip: Under 2.5 Goals @ 5/6 

Lecce vs. Atalanta (Monday, 17:30) 

For the Salentini, the upcoming season brings renewed optimism, spurred by a promising pre-season and significant new signings. Filip Marchwiński, affectionately dubbed "Mark Whisky" by fans, has already made a notable impact, scoring twice in a friendly against Nice despite a narrow defeat.  

Under coach Luca Gotti, Lecce’s solid 4-2-3-1 formation aims to fortify both defence and attack, though their pre-season performances suggest areas for improvement, particularly in finishing.  

Atalanta are missing key players, including striker Gianluca Scamacca due to injury, and faces potential squad disruptions with Teun Koopmeiners’ future uncertain.  

Recent friendlies have raised concerns, with heavy defeats against Parma and St. Pauli exposing vulnerabilities, but La Dea showed their best version, creating plenty of scoring chances in the Super Cup final they lost 2-0 against Real Madrid.  

Atalanta’s robust 3-4-2-1 formation and strong track record, both in Italy and Europe, provide a foundation for their ambitions.  

Historically, Atalanta has enjoyed success against Lecce, winning three of their last four visits to the Via del Mare. 

Tip: Both Teams To Score – Yes @ 4/5 

Daniele Fisichella primarily covers Serie A for us at Betfred Insights. You can check out all of his Football Betting Tips here each week along with those of our other Football writers...