Napoli will play top-of-the-table rival Atalanta BC on Saturday looking for an immediate response after finally suffering their first loss of the year.
Both teams have surpassed the traditional Calcio giants in the first third of the season, and they are now separated by just five points at the top of the Serie A standings, with the visitors holding the advantage.
Napoli finally had their incredible run ended by Liverpool on Tuesday night, losing their perfect record in the Champions League this season and losing for the first time since April.
Even though his team was virtually guaranteed to finish first in Group A, Luciano Spalletti started them at Anfield with a strong lineup, only to watch them lose due to two late goals from their underperforming hosts.
But Napoli aren’t just a squad to be feared when the final 16 draw is made the next week; they are also undefeated at home following their most recent triumph at the formidably strong Stadio Maradona, a 4-0 thrashing of Sassuolo.
Victor Osimhen’s first Serie A hat-trick provided motivation for the Partenopei last Saturday, and their subsequent dominant performance led to victory and a five-point lead in the standings.
Spalletti’s team can concentrate on their pursuit of a first Scudetto in over 30 years as they host Empoli and Udinese in their final two matches before Qatar 2022 interferes, after first travelling to Bergamo this weekend. European football has been confirmed for after the World Cup break.
Spalletti, who is also pursuing his first Italian championship of a lengthy and largely fruitful career, can surpass his best run as Napoli’s head coach if they defeat Atalanta, and he’s aiming for nine straight wins in Serie A..
The Partenopei won 3-1 on their most recent trip to the Gewiss Stadium, back in April, and now hope to repeat that performance on Saturday night, despite the recent advantage that their hosts have had in this matchup.
Atalanta’s loss to Napoli was one of several defeats on home soil in the previous campaign, and it occurred at a time when it appeared Gian Piero Gasperini may have finally lost his magic formula as La Dea started to falter after several years of overachievement.
But one transfer window later—after also utilising free midweeks to concentrate on practise rather than continental competition—”Gasp” is undeniably back in business.
The Bergamaschi’s impressive unbeaten streak came to an end late last month when they lost 2-0 to Lazio in their most recent home game, but they are still ahead of both Milan clubs, Juventus, and their Roman rivals in the race for a top-four spot.
Atalanta quickly recovered from the disappointment of that first loss last Sunday, defeating Empoli 2-0 at Stadio Carlo Castellani with goals from Hans Hateboer and in-form forward Ademola Lookman, who has assimilated to Serie A with ease since joining in the summer.
Their final three games before the World Cup are undoubtedly difficult, starting with a trip to the league leaders—who have amassed about 30 league goals so far—then trips to Lecce on Wednesday and Lombardy rivals Inter the following weekend.
Atalanta Team News
Gian Piero Gasperini is probably going to stick with the same lineup on Saturday after beating Empoli the previous weekend.
Despite being scheduled to return from suspension, Luis Muriel is currently sidelined due to an adductor issue. Duvan Zapata might therefore start now that he has recently returned from injury. In fact, the latter made his Serie A debut with Napoli, appearing in 37 away league games from 2013 to 2015; in his last six league encounters with the Partenopei, he has been directly involved in six goals.
Due to his recent success, Ademola Lookman is a lock to stay, so the young Rasmus Hojland and the Colombian striker will compete to partner the ex-Everton forward up front. Marten de Roon and Davide Zappacosta are still out injured for Gasperini, and the former’s absence should result in Mario Pasalic maintaining his position in midfield.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Musso; Toloi, Demiral, Djimsiti; Hateboer, Pasalic, Koopmeiners, Soppy; Ederson; Lookman, Luis Muriel
Napoli Team News
Victor Osimhen may be rested by Napoli given his recent exertions, but both of Luciano Spalletti’s alternate strategies haven’t fared well against Atalanta in the past.
Giacomo Raspadori has faced La Dea five or more times without scoring or dishing out an assist. La Dea are also one of Giovanni Simeone’s bogey teams; the Argentine striker has played more minutes against Atalanta than any other team in Serie A against which he has not scored more than once.
Only Amir Rrahmani is expected to miss this weekend’s games due to injury, so Leo Ostigard or Juan Jesus will step in for defensive stalwart Kim Min-jae, and Piotr Zielinski, who was benched in midweek, should start in midfield.
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Kim Min-Jae, Jesus, Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Lozano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Read More;
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | Juventus 1-2 PSG : Bianconeri lost but secured place in Europa League
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | Milan 4-0 Salzburg : Rossoneri secured knockout round with a dominating win