Napoli and AC Milan, the last two champions of Italy, are set to face off on Sunday evening at Stadio Maradona.
Match Preview
While Napoli has had a rocky start to their title defense, Milan was leading Serie A until their recent defeat. Both teams have had contrasting fortunes in European competitions as well.
Napoli’s head coach, Rudi Garcia, faced criticism after back-to-back losses before the international break.
However, victories against Hellas Verona and Union Berlin have alleviated some pressure.
The team showed resilience with a 3-1 win against Hellas Verona, followed by a crucial victory over Union Berlin in the Champions League.
Napoli currently holds the second spot in Champions League Group C after defeating Braga with a late own goal and suffering a home defeat to Real Madrid.
Giacomo Raspadori’s lone goal in Berlin secured their six points at the halfway stage.
As they prepare for the reverse fixture against Berlin and a match against Salernitana in Serie A, Napoli aims to close the gap with the league leaders.
In their recent encounters with Milan, Napoli has had mixed results, winning three and losing three out of their last nine meetings.
However, their most recent clash resulted in elimination from the Champions League quarter-finals, following a 4-0 league defeat.
Milan, on the other hand, has won their last three away matches against Napoli in Serie A, marking their best run in history.
Milan enters the match after two challenging defeats, including a 1-0 loss to Juventus and a 3-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
They have struggled to find the net in their last five European matches.
Currently trailing behind Inter in Serie A, Milan aims to bounce back and secure three points against Napoli.
Team News:
Napoli will be without Victor Osimhen due to a hamstring injury, forcing them to adapt their attacking options.
Giacomo Raspadori is likely to lead the line, while Frank Anguissa nears a return from a thigh problem.
Piotr Zielinski, who has a strong record against Milan, will play a crucial role in midfield.
Milan’s attacking options are boosted by the return of Noah Okafor, but Luka Jovic may not be fit in time for the match. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Samu Chukwueze, Ismael Bennacer, Marco Sportiello, and Malick Thiaw are unavailable. Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez will return from suspensions.
Predicted Lineups:
Napoli:
Meret;
Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Natan, Rui;
Cajuste, Lobotka, Zielinski;
Politano, Raspadori, Kvaratskhelia
AC Milan:
Maignan;
Calabria, Tomori, Kalulu, Hernandez;
Musah, Adli, Reijnders;
Pulisic, Giroud, Leao
Prediction:
Napoli has struggled to defeat Milan at home in recent years, and their current form and absence of their main striker could hinder their chances.
However, Milan’s Olivier Giroud tends to perform well in big matches, and Rafael Leao has a history of scoring against Napoli.
- We predict a 1-1 draw between Napoli and AC Milan.
