Champions League

Serie A preview: Napoli vs. AC Milan – Crew information, opposition perception, stats and prediction

An necessary conflict, which you may describe as a Champions League decider, awaits Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in opposition to Napoli. 

Milan managed to clinch two consecutive wins earlier than the worldwide break and thus boosted their confidence, whereas additionally bringing the top-four purpose again to life. As highlighted by Sergio Conceicao , nonetheless, tomorrow’s sport will likely be a really robust one.

Sport date: Sunday, March 30Kick-off time: 20:45 (CEST)Venue: Stadio Diego Armando MaradonaReferee: Simone Sozza (VAR: Meraviglia)

Crew information

It’s been a superb interval for Milan in the previous couple of weeks with two wins, each comebacks, and renewed hope within the top-four race. The worldwide break additionally wasn’t too dangerous for the Rossoneri as there have been no accidents, whereas a number of gamers boosted their respective confidence.

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Emerson Royal continues to be out injured, and Yunus Musah will likely be serving a suspension, however other than that Conceicao have a totally wholesome squad. Ruben Loftus-Cheek got here off the bench in opposition to Como and has been doing effectively in coaching, whereas Alessandro Florenzi is getting there as effectively.

In response to the most recent experiences, the supervisor will play it secure for the massive sport, persevering with with a backline of Kyle Walker, Matteo Gabbia, Malick Thiaw and Theo Hernandez. At this level, getting outcomes is all that issues and consistency ought to assist with that.

Picture by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photos

In midfield, followers will maybe have just a few extra query marks as Youssouf Fofana has seemed respectable recently. Nonetheless, it appears Conceicao will go for Warren Bondo and Tijjani Reijnders within the tandem, permitting Loftus-Cheek to play from begin within the No.10 position.

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The Englishman and Reijnders, now a should within the XI, will probably change positions all through the sport based mostly on how the assaults look. On the flanks, it needs to be Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao regardless of experiences earlier in the present day of a begin for Joao Felix, who’s but to impress totally.

For the No.9 position, Tammy Abraham has arguably been the very best in latest weeks and he ought to thus get the prospect over Santiago Gimenez. The Mexican will likely be an necessary useful resource off the bench however by way of collaborating in open play, the Englishman has been loads higher.

Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker, Gabbia, Thiaw, Theo Hernandez; Bondo, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Abraham.

The opponents

After bringing in Antonio Conte as the brand new head coach, whereas making some good reinforcements (together with Alessandro Buongiorno), many anticipated Napoli to at the least be up there this season. To not point out the dearth of European soccer, which clearly helps with relaxation.

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It has ended up being the case, with Napoli at present in second place, and their power grew to become clear already after the primary ten video games as they gained eight of these. That being stated, the sensation can also be that the state of affairs may have been significantly better at this level.

Certainly, within the final seven video games, the Partenopei have picked up simply eight factors following one win, 5 attracts and one defeat. There are some harder video games included in that run and so they have at the least not misplaced a lot, but it surely’s equally true that they simply may have been in first place now.

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Inter at present have a three-point cushion on the high and whereas Napoli can positively get better that between now and the tip of the season, the phrase ‘bottle’ involves thoughts on this case. But it surely stays to be seen what is going to occur within the season finale, after all.

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Having a look at accidents and suspensions, that Leonardo Spinazzola will miss the sport altogether attributable to an harm. Frank Anguissa returned from worldwide obligation in a sub-optimal situation and Noah Okafor continues to be struggling along with his bodily situation.

Okafor left Milan for the Partenopei on mortgage with choice to purchase in January as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia left for Paris Saint-Germain. One can perceive the frustration of Conte in that sense because the Swiss worldwide hasn’t been wherever close to pretty much as good.

Predicted Napoli XI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Gilmour, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Raspadori.

Face to face

It is a traditional fixture in Italian soccer, with Milan and Napoli having taken on one another 176 occasions thus far. The Rossoneri have 70 wins to their title whereas the Partenopei have 52, with the remaining 54 video games ending in attracts (in different phrases, a somewhat widespread consequence).

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The away document is somewhat optimistic for Milan as effectively, at present on an unbeaten run of six video games. Their final defeat at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona got here within the 2018-19 season, when Gennaro Gattuso’s facet bottled a 2-0 lead within the second half.

The final encounter on the stadium, in the meantime, ended 2-2 after Napoli got here again from two targets behind to grab one level. Olivier Giroud scored each targets for the Rossoneri, in a quickfire method we must always add.

Napoli prevailed fairly comfortably within the reverse fixture this season, although, after targets from Romelu Lukaku and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The San Siro document is certainly loads weaker for Milan, which maybe bodes effectively for tomorrow.

Key details and stats

➤ Within the final 12 Serie A conferences between Napoli and AC Milan, either side gained 4 video games (D4), after the Partenopei had been unbeaten in every of their earlier eight matches in opposition to the Rossoneri within the competitors, profitable six within the interval.

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➤ AC Milan are unbeaten in every of their final six away matches (W3 D3) in opposition to Napoli in all competitions and have they by no means gone seven successive video games on the street with out defeat in opposition to the Azzurri of their historical past.

➤ Napoli (61) have 14 factors greater than AC Milan (47) within the desk: solely in three of the 153 earlier matches between the 2 sides in Serie A historical past have the Azzurri confronted the Rossoneri with a better benefit (+15 on February eighth, 2014; +25 on April fifteenth, 2018 and +23 on April 2nd, 2023).

➤ Solely in opposition to Roma (9) have Napoli misplaced extra matches than in opposition to AC Milan (eight, as in opposition to Inter) after Italian nationwide workforce video games. Total, Azzurri and Rossoneri have met 18 occasions after such video games, with 5 wins for the Partenopei, 5 attracts and eight wins for the Diavolo.

➤ Because the begin of February, Napoli are winless in six of their seven Serie A matches (D5 L1): yet one more than of their first 22 video games within the present top-flight season (D2 L3). Moreover, with solely eight factors earned because the begin of the twenty third matchday, the Azzurri could be thirteenth within the desk on this interval.

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➤ AC Milan have picked up 47 factors in 29 video games within the present league season: since Serie A returned to twenty groups in 2004/05, just one workforce completed the season within the high 4 positions after having obtained a most of 47 factors within the standings with 9 video games remaining, Sampdoria 2009/10 (fourth).

➤ After comeback wins in opposition to Lecce (3-2) and Como (2-1), AC Milan may win three Serie A matches in a row for the primary time since final September: in opposition to Venezia, Inter and Lecce, underneath Paulo Fonseca.

➤ AC Milan and Napoli are two of the 4 groups to have gained essentially the most factors from dropping positions in Serie A this season: 15 for the Rossoneri (together with Atalanta) and 14 for the Azzurri – Bologna first with 16.

➤ Since his debut in Serie A in 2019/20, Romelu Lukaku has been straight concerned in eight targets (6G+2A) in 818 minutes in opposition to AC Milan in all competitions (one purpose or help each 102′): solely Lautaro Martínez (10) has had a hand in additional targets in opposition to the Rossoneri within the interval amongst gamers within the Massive 5 European leagues, however with 621 extra minutes than the Belgian (one each 144′).

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➤ Since he joined the Rossoneri final season, Christian Pulisic (30G+17A) is certainly one of solely two Serie A gamers to have each scored at the least 30 targets and offered at the least 15 assists in all competitions, together with Ademola Lookman (35G+15A).

Ones to observe

For Milan, if the experiences are right, seeing Loftus-Cheek again from begin for the will likely be thrilling certainly. There isn’t a denying his bodily presence on the pitch, however the query is whether or not he will be composed on the ball and make himself recognized contained in the field.

We’ll go along with one other Englishman as effectively, particularly Abraham, given simply how effectively he has performed recently. The help in opposition to Como, for Reijnders, was completely fantastic and he appears to suit Conceicao’s type of play rather well. However then once more, he additionally must be deadly in and across the penalty field…

Picture by AC Milan

For the house facet, Buongiorno was closely linked with Milan earlier than making the transfer to Napoli and he has been very stable this season. It is going to be very attention-grabbing to see how he’ll get on in opposition to the Rossoneri attackers.

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Additional up the pitch, McTominay has been a key participant with seven targets and 4 assists in all competitions. He is aware of the right way to drive ahead with the ball and be on the proper place on the proper time, so Milan must be careful.

Prediction

It is going to be a tough conflict for either side, for my part, and there may be a lot at stake. The final prepare for Champions League vs. the final prepare (or at the least one of many final) for the Scudetto. I believe Milan may give Napoli a correct run for his or her cash, particularly given the optimistic previous couple of weeks, however perhaps it gained’t be sufficient for the win.

Napoli 1-1 AC Milan