Atalanta v Napoli: Serie A Action on Match-day 13

Atalanta to welcome League Leaders, Napoli to the Gewiss Stadium – Saturday 6:00pm GMT.

Both Atalanta and Napoli currently share Champion’s League qualification hopes, as they sit second and first in the League, respectively.

This season’s Serie A campaign, has so far seen Atalanta achieve 27 points

Whilst Atalanta need a positive result from this fixture, they cannot afford to throw caution to the wind. Another successive defeat for The Goddess after losing against Empoli and Lazio would represent a worrying sign of where they are just now.

Also, Atalanta keep finding ways to win, having secured eight victories in their last 12 fixtures is astonishing this season and they are looking worthy of the aspiration to qualify for Champion’s League football. With an second position in the league and 8 wins, 1 losses and 3 draws, they currently have 27 points in the League having won eight matches, drawn three meetings, and lost one game.

When Atalanta host Napoli, they will do so on the back of three victories, two darts, and one losses on their own ground.

Victory for Atalanta would take their points tally to 30 so far this season.

Good atacking and defensive team

Atalanta’s defence has been rock solid so far, only conceding eight goals in their previous fixtures. They have a good scoring stats of 18 goals (15 from open play and three penalties). This is largely down to the efforts of their stand-out attackers – Ademola Lookman (5), Teun Koopmeiners (4), and Rafael Toloi (1).

Atalanta’s squad has depth, but even so, Gian Piero Gasperini is likely to be missing three of they key players when they start Saturday’s game.

To retain first position in the Serie A is Napoli’s target this week

Napoli will be buoyant, following a 4-0 home win against Sassuolo in their last fixture.

Also, League leaders Napoli’s League position speaks for itself, as Gli Azzurri continue their rich vein of winning form. Their last win, was the 8th in a row, worthy of Champion’s League qualification. They are the current League leaders with 32 points, that is, 10 wins, 0 losses and 2 draws having won 10 matches and drawn two games.

Playing away from home, Napoli have won five games and drawn one game.

Napoli will want to keep the pressure on their rivals as they sit at the top of the table, a win will take them to 35 points and keep their momentum going forward.

A solid defensive team

Defence begins with attack and Napoli have defended well as a team, borne out by conceding nine goals in their previous matches. Every player has contributed to them delivering a solid defensive display this Serie A season. Napoli’s goal scoring stats this season are among the best in the League (30). Their stand out attacking players have been Victor Osimhen (7), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (6), and Matteo Politano (3).

Luciano Spalletti will be forced to make changes to the plans for his squad, as injury or illness has depleted him of one of his Napoli players.

Atalanta v Napoli – Head-to-Head.

Regarding their historical duels it’s unlikely that this game will result in a draw, or at least that is what the form book would tell us, Atalanta have played Napoli 48 times in the past seasons, with both sides enjoying victory 17 victories times each. In addition, Napoli have won all three of the last four meetings played against Atalanta. April 2022 was the most recent time these two clashed in this competition and Gli Azzurri took all three points winning 1-3 away.

Other standout players for Atalanta are Ademola Lookman and Teun Koopmeiners with five goals each and for Napoli are Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano with six goals and three goals respectively.