Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour’s probabilities of a second Italian title in a row may rely upon Napoli beating in-form Atalanta on Sunday – and you’ll watch the motion stay on the BBC.
The second of our stay video games from Serie A that includes Scotland internationals kicks off at 14:00 GMT, with protection on BBC Alba, iPlayer and the BBC Sport web site and app beginning at 13:50.
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Defending champions Napoli head to Bergamo, having fallen 14 factors adrift of leaders Internazionale – and 4 behind AC Milan – and hoping influential midfielder McTominay can return from two video games out by means of harm.
Having picked up an harm in a goalless draw with Como in November, Gilmour made his personal first look as a 78th-minute substitute in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at house to fourth-placed Roma.
However it was McTominay’s flip to overlook that sport – and final Tuesday’s penalty shootout defeat following a 1-1 draw at house to Como within the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.
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Such is the significance of McTominay – final season’s Serie A participant of the 12 months and Ballon d’Or nominee – that Napoli have not gained any of the three video games he has missed this season, shedding two of them.
The 29-year-old informed Corriere dello Sport: “I nonetheless do not know if I am going to play on Sunday. I’ve a tendon drawback that must be managed; it is not simple.
“I am giving it my all to be there. As a participant, it is powerful to get to the coaching centre and never have the ability to prepare along with your team-mates. I desperately wish to play, however it’s a must to make sure of my situation.”
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McTominay, who has 67 Scotland caps, at the least appeared to finish off-the-field uncertainty about his Napoli future.
His type since a 2024 transfer from Manchester United has constantly led to hypothesis a couple of Premier League return, along with his outdated membership and Tottenham Hotspur linked amid solutions he had discovered it tough to settle in Italy.
Nevertheless, McTominay revealed: “My agent hasn’t informed me something about my future. He solely talks to the membership and me. He has informed the Press nothing.
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“I am extraordinarily comfortable right here, I am a Napoli participant and it is all I am fascinated with. I may see myself right here for a very long time.
“I like this place. Difficulties have been minimal, my household is comfortable and I am comfortable.”
Napoli are additionally reported to be eager to increase the contract of a participant who has supplied 23 objectives and 10 assists in 70 appearances for them.
A brand new mural immortalising Scott McTominay’s well-known World Cup qualifying overhead kick towards Denmark has been painted on Somerville Drive exterior Hampden Park, Glasgow [SNS]
McTominay has blossomed within the extra attacking position handed to him by head coach Antonio Conte.
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“At Napoli, I’ve grown each from a tactical viewpoint and a bodily one,” he added. “Tactically, Italy is totally different from the Premier League. I needed to adapt and be taught in a short time the right way to play, what actions to make… the right way to grow to be an issue within the opponent’s space and in addition the right way to defend.
“Antonio is a superb coach, very robust, passionate, he is aware of soccer very effectively. He’s totally different from anybody else I’ve had up to now.”
He additionally pointed to Napoli’s prolonged harm record as a consider why they’ve slipped additional behind the leaders in current weeks however is just not giving up on the title simply but.
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Ought to he miss out on Sunday, it’ll enhance the probabilities of 24-year-old Gilmour making solely his seventh begin in 14 appearances this season as he seems to be for sport time and so as to add to his personal 43 caps at this summer season’s World Cup.
With solely three wins in 11 outings, 9 of them in Serie A, Napoli can’t afford any extra slip-ups if they’re to retain the Scudetto.
Certainly, Inter’s 2-0 win away to Lecce on Saturday heaps extra strain on the Scots’ facet earlier than going through a troublesome check towards the group that completed third within the standings final season.
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Hosts Atalanta have been overwhelmed 2-0 away to Borussia Dortmund within the first leg of their Champions League knockout spherical play-off on Tuesday and misplaced November’s reverse fixture 3-1 in Napoli.
Sunday’s opponents additionally gained 3-2 on their final go to in January, with McTominay scoring one of many objectives.
Nevertheless, Raffaele Palladino’s seventh-placed facet have gained three in a row domestically, are unbeaten in eight in Serie A since shedding at house to leaders Inter on the finish of December, and are solely eight factors adrift of Napoli.