Napoli will play host to Sassuolo on Saturday afternoon with the goal of extending their winning streak after setting a new club record with their 12th straight victory.
The mid-table team is desperately looking for consistency as the Serie A leaders, who defeated Rangers 3-0 in midweek, continue their Scudetto pursuit at Stadio Maradona.
As Luciano Spalletti’s team continues to improve, it was almost inevitable that Napoli’s perfect record in Champions League Group A, which saw them affirm qualification for the knockout rounds after just four matches, continued on Wednesday.
Despite resting a number of their regular starters, the Partenopei defeated Rangers once more as Giovanni Simeone’s quick-fire first-half brace put them on the road to another three points. If they can avoid losing to Liverpool next week, they will be assured of first place.
With European competition secured for the post-World Cup period, Napoli can focus entirely on their quest for their first Serie A championship in over three decades. Last weekend, the Derby del Sole was won thanks to a crucial late goal from recently-returned Victor Osimhen.
The Paternopei avoided dropping points for the first time since August by defeating Roma at Stadio Olimpico, and they now lead reigning champions Milan by three points at the top of the Serie A standings.
Spalletti would now match his best winning streak as Napoli coach if they defeat Sassuolo on Saturday after defeating his former club in the capital. Spalletti won his first eight league games as manager at the beginning of last season.
Under his leadership, the Campanian club is the only unbeaten team in Serie A, and only Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have gone the first few weeks of the season without losing in the top five European leagues. They are courageous at the back and fearsome up front.
Napoli have won 13 of their last 15 matches in the top flight, going unbeaten overall. This incredible run of form dates back to a 6-1 victory over Sassuolo in April.
Sassuolo will face a challenge when they visit the Stadio Maradona because they have only triumphed in two of their previous 18 Serie A encounters with Napoli, and they have only once kept a clean sheet against the hosts on Saturday.
After 11 rounds, Alessio Dionisi’s current squad, which has four wins and four losses so far, is tucked behind Calcio heavyweights Inter and Juventus in ninth place in the standings.
The Neroverdi recently suffered consecutive losses to Atalanta and Inter, but they had previously defeated Salernitana 5-0. Most recently, they handled business against another team from the bottom half, coming from behind to defeat Verona 2-1 at home on Monday.
At the Mapei Stadium, where Sassuolo has performed well this season, in-form midfielder Davide Frattesi scored the game-winning goal. Sassuolo has only won once on the road thus far, which includes an early Coppa Italia exit at Serie B side Modena.
But with five shutouts already, Dionisi has built a stronger defence this season; Sassuolo and Napoli are two of the three Serie A teams with the fewest shots on goal.
Napoli have, unsurprisingly, also made the most shots on goal for themselves, so their newfound tenacity will undoubtedly be put to the test in Naples.
Victor Osimhen has the chance to be recalled by Luciano Spalletti on Saturday after another European victory in midweek. Last Sunday, the Nigerian striker scored his second straight winner since returning from injury, but he was sitting out because Giovanni Simeone and Giacomo Raspadori started against Rangers.
In addition, Matteo Politano, who made his Serie A debut for Sassuolo against Napoli seven years ago, might make a comeback. The small winger scored 20 goals in 96 league games for the Neroverdi, but hasn’t scored or provided an assist in eight matches against them since leaving.
Hirving Lozano would have to make room if he were to be added, and Leo Ostigard would like to keep his spot ahead of Juan Jesus because Amir Rrahmani, Kim Min-regular jae’s center-back partner, is still injured.
Zambo Anguissa, a regular in Spalletti’s starting lineup this season, can contend with Eljif Elmas and Tanguy Ndombele for a midfield spot after returning to training last week following a thigh injury.
Sassuolo will be hoping that their head coach Domenico Berardi can make a full recovery from a muscle injury this week, but 18-year-old Luca D’Andrea is prepared to fill in once more. Emil Konradsen Ceide and Hamed Traore are two other options for the visitors to assist Andrea Pinamonti up front.
Kaan Ayhan might have to make way because captain Gian Marco Ferrari is back from suspension while Mert Muldur and Gregoire Defrel are both out until after the World Cup.
Italy midfielder Davide Frattesi, who is on the radar of several bigger clubs after upping his threat level in the opponent’s half, has already matched his season-long goal total from last year in 25 fewer games.
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Kim, Jesus, Olivera; Ndombele, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Victor Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Consigli; Toljan, Erlic, Ferrari, Rogerio; Davide Frattesi, Lopez, Thorstvedt; D’Andrea, Pinamonti, Lauriente
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