Football Bet of the Day: The Rossoneri are supreme road men

Serie A serves up a high-quality clash this evening as Napoli welcome AC Milan (20:00 BST, DAZN). The two sides sit third and second respectively in the Italian top flight, with leaders Inter Milan pulling away comfortably.

Who wins the battle to be the best of the rest? Read on for my pick in Football Bet of the Day.

Napoli vs AC Milan Odds

In another season, Milan would be well in the title race. Their 63 points after 30 games has equalled their total for the entirety of an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign. The Rossoneri have lost just three times all season. An abundance of draws has been the main issue in the red half of the city, with Milan racking up nine stalemates so far.

Napoli are the defending Serie A champions, but a slow start has put paid to any realistic hopes of retention. Antonio Conte’s side lost four league games before Christmas as they crawled out of the blocks. But the Naples side have lost just one Serie A match since as they look to finish strong.

Milan are nine points off Inter in the top spot, while Napoli are 10 points removed from the summit. Realistically, barring a colossal collapse for the Nerazzurri, this match is for the right to be runners-up and nothing more. Of course, the victors have an outside chance of a late title tilt, but Inter look unlikely to allow such a Rocky Balboa job to take place.

Napoli are in slightly better form than their guests, having won their last four consecutive matches. Milan lost to Lazio last month before holding on to beat Torino 3-2. So why opt for Massimiliano Allegri’s boys?

Firstly, an away team usually offers great value in any evenly-matched contest. Milan are well worth backing due to their 2/1 price and supreme away form. The red-and-black lads have the second-best away record in the league, after rivals Inter. This makes them well-placed to take a result home from Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Milan beat Napoli 2-1 in the reverse fixture, though the champions did win their Supercoppa Italiana semi-final clash 2-0. But in the league, AC Milan have shown a ruthless streak. 

The Rossoneri have done the double over Inter with dual 1-0 victories. Ex-Real Madrid icon Luka Modric handed them a last-gasp 2-1 victory away at Pisa. Como’s good start was wiped out with a devastating second-half display in a 3-1 trip to Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. Allegri’s men might not be title favourites, but they have proven time and again that they can make up for a misstep.

Milan will view the Lazio loss as such a misstep. Torino gave them plenty to think about, but victory was claimed in a dogged display. Napoli will fancy this and could land a blow or two. But their illustrious opponents have shown a devastating, match-ending counter-punch this season. I expect Allegri to employ it again as his side run out winners at 2/1.