Saturday’s Serie A motion rounds off with a Scudetto six-pointer between title-bidding Atalanta and table-topping Napoli. The result of this blockbuster contest on the Gewiss Stadium might decide the title destiny, although we’re solely on the midway level of the 2024/25 marketing campaign.
Atalanta spent Christmas on the prime of the pile. Nonetheless, their kind has since fallen off a cliff. Along with a dismal 2-0 defeat to Inter within the Supercoppa Italiana semifinals, Gian Piero Gasperini’s expenses have drawn their final three league matches in opposition to Lazio, Udinese, and Juventus.
Mateo Retegui’s thirteenth Serie A aim this season was merely sufficient for some extent in opposition to the record-time Italian champions throughout midweek, demoting Atalanta to 3rd within the standings. But, they’re nonetheless inside putting distance of upcoming rivals Napoli, with solely 4 factors separating the perimeters forward of the kickoff.
For Napoli, this assembly represents the beginning of a brand new period. Star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is on the verge of penning a multi-year contract at Paris Saint-Germain, with the Partenopei set to earn round €70 million from the Georgian’s mega-money switch to the Parc des Princes. Kvaratskhelia’s exit halfway by way of the season might undermine Napoli’s title quest.
Nonetheless, Antonio Conte’s males head into proceedings in scintillating kind. A 2-0 house win in opposition to relegation-threatened Hellas Verona final Sunday prolonged Napoli’s profitable streak in Serie A to 5 matches, preserving them three factors away from runners-up Inter, albeit having positioned a recreation greater than the reigning champions.
Match Preview
Atalanta
Atalanta’s kind decline has plunged their hopes of lifting a first-ever Scudetto into chaos. Nonetheless, Gasperini’s males nonetheless have sufficient time to make amends. Atalanta thumped Napoli 3-0 in November’s reverse fixture however haven’t crushed them at house since February 2021.
However they’d be forgiven for anticipating that narrative to vary this weekend after racking up an attention grabbing 89% unbeaten streak on house turf this season (W7, D1, L1). Certainly, Atalanta had been on a five-game profitable league streak in Bergamo earlier than being held by Juventus final outing.
That draw varieties a part of the membership’s longest winless streak in Serie A since going winless in 5 consecutive video games between February and March 2024. Sluggish openings have been accountable for Atalanta’s latest slumps, with Gasperini’s crew failing to attain first of their final 5 aggressive outings (W1, D3, L1).
Napoli
Kvaratskhelia has been a focus of Napoli’s assault. His imminent departure threatens to derail the guests’ questionable scoring capability. Certainly, Napoli have solely scored 32 league objectives this season, with solely Milan (29) netting fewer among the many present top-eight groups.
For comparability, visiting Atalanta have bagged 44. Nonetheless, Conte has primarily based his early success in Naples on a rock-solid backline. Napoli have conceded a league-low 12 objectives whereas preserving 12 clear sheets – at the least two greater than every other crew.
Evidently, 11 of Napoli’s 15 top-flight victories have come ‘to nil,’ highlighting the importance of drawing first blood. Moreover, they’ve excelled on the highway, choosing up extra away factors (23) than every other membership in Italy’s elite division.
Solely title-defending Inter (5) have conceded fewer league objectives on the highway than Napoli’s six, suggesting a fourth consecutive away win in opposition to Atalanta might be on the playing cards. It might be a becoming technique to avenge a catastrophic consequence within the reverse fixture.
Group Information
This recreation will come too quickly for long-term absentee Gianluca Scamacca. Current harm sufferer Odilon Kossounou can also be on the sidelines, however Atalanta might welcome veteran winger Juan Cuadrado again from a layoff. Sead Kolasinac can also be out after accumulating yellow playing cards.
In the meantime, after Kvaratskhelia bid farewell to Napoli, David Neres will possible should fill the void, at the least till the membership finds an applicable various available in the market. Conte can’t name upon star defender Alessandro Buongiorno for this journey, however the Italian ace is the one notable absentee within the touring camp.
Atalanta vs Napoli Potential Beginning Line-ups
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Pasalic; Lookman, De Ketelaere.
Napoli (4-2-3-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka; Politano, McTominay, Neres; Lukaku.
Atalanta vs Napoli Prediction
Inter may gain advantage from this encounter, particularly if the sport ended degree, which is a definite chance. Atalanta have been a power to be reckoned with in Bergamo, whereas Napoli not often drop factors on the highway.
This makes us consider Gasperini and Conte might share the spoils.