Preview: Napoli vs Sassuolo – Team News, Lineups & Prediction

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona units the stage for a high-stakes Serie A showdown between defending champions Napoli and mid-table Sassuolo. Either side desperately want three factors right here for various causes, which guarantees an intense contest on the south coast.

Scott McTominay’s brace that helped Napoli keep away from defeat at Inter final Sunday was in useless as Parma held Antonio Conte’s aspect to a scoreless draw at this stadium on Wednesday. Consequently, the hosts entered the weekend six factors adrift of the table-topping Nerazzurri.

Evidently, failure just isn’t an possibility right here. Three consecutive league attracts have considerably compromised Napoli’s hopes of defending the title for the primary time in membership historical past. There’s an intense strain on the Partenopei to get again to profitable methods towards a aspect they’ve defeated of their final six conferences.

Sassulo could have already staved off relegation fears, steering 9 factors away from 18th-placed Fiorentina. Nonetheless, their faint hopes of securing European qualification are in tatters after an underwhelming six-game winless run (D3, L3) left them 11 factors behind sixth-placed Como.

Regardless of placing up a valiant effort on the Stadio Olimpico final weekend, Sassuolo conceded twice in fast succession en path to a 2-0 defeat at Roma. Extra importantly, that marked their second consecutive multi-goal margin loss to Serie A’s conventional high 4 after a 3-0 rout by the hands of Juventus.

Match Preview

Napoli

Napoli can not afford to lose additional floor on Inter, and there’s no higher place to encourage their return to the win column than the Maradona Stadium. Certainly, Conte’s males have pieced collectively a jaw-dropping 20-match unbeaten Serie A run on house turf  (W14, D6), although their final two outings right here ended all sq..

That imperious run appears to be like more likely to proceed, contemplating Conte has been a bogey coach for Sassuolo, avoiding defeat in his final eight managerial appearances towards this opposition (W7, D1). Additional confidence stems from Napoli’s three-game profitable house streak towards the Neroverdi. Throughout that sequence, they scored 12 objectives and conceded only one in return.

A gradual begin could not essentially interrupt that dominant stretch, figuring out Napoli averted defeat in each house league matches this season when conceding the opening purpose (W1, D1). That’s hardly stunning, provided that 62.5% of Napoli’s house objectives this season arrived within the second half of play (10/16).

Sassuolo

In distinction to Napoli’s well-documented combating spirit, Sassuolo have proven little or no ‘bounce again’ means. Certainly, they’ve suffered 4 defeats in 5 away league video games after conceding the opener (D1). With that in thoughts, falling behind might spell the top of the guests’ plan to upset the chances in Naples.

Nonetheless, this has not been a cheerful searching floor for Sassuolo traditionally. For context, they’ve solely received one in every of their 12 earlier away conferences with Napoli (D2, L9), maybe finest illustrating the magnitude of the duty forward. Defying that undesirable piece of custom appears unlikely, as they head into proceedings on a four-game winless away league run (D2, L2).

Furthermore, Sassuolo’s defensive woes have seen them concede exactly twice in three of their final 4 Serie A matches on the highway. It’s additionally price noting that they’ve misplaced all seven top-flight fixtures when trailing at halftime this season,  highlighting the significance of a strong first-half efficiency.

Group Information

Along with long-term absentees Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, Napoli may also be with out Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Billy Gilmour, in addition to Italian goalkeeper Alex Meret. On the intense aspect, Juan Jesus returns from a one-game ban. David Neres additionally rejoined the squad in midweek.

Alternatively, Sassuolo boss Fabio Grosso can not depend on star ahead Domenico Berardi. Moreover, Kristian Thorstvedt, Daniel Boloca, Fali Cande, and Cristian Volpato are additionally on the sidelines. With Berardi and Thorstvedt, Andrea Pinamonti and Armand Lauriente are anticipated to guide the road.

Napoli vs Sassuolo Potential Beginning Lineups

Napoli (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Jesus; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Vergara, Elmas; Hojlund.

Ssals are welcome (44-3-3): Ye; Amp and continual, Mussre, Mus, Lasuch, Mac, rupe; Faira, Preen, Lishu is again.

Napoli vs Sassuolo Prediction

It might be an excessive amount of to anticipate Conte to drop factors in 4 consecutive league video games. Regardless of Napoli’s tough patch, this recreation has all of the makings of a ‘must-win’ conflict, and the hosts undoubtedly have what it takes to get again to profitable methods.

Prediction: Napoli to Win

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