Serie A dishes up another titanic clash as second-placed Napoli host AC Milan on Monday.
This match will wrap up the and gives Napoli the opportunity to reclaim the ascendency in Serie A after Juventus were held to a 0-0 draw by Bologna.
Both teams come into this game with some solid form behind them. I Partenopei have just come off the back of an eight-game winning streak after falling to current table-toppers Juventus.
AC Milan have won four of their last six games and have not been beaten since their first game in January. This run has included wins against crosstown rivals Inter and fellow title hopefuls Fiorentina.
Key Battle – Jorginho vs Carlos Bacca
The battle is very much one of creativity versus finishing.
Jorginho, being the Napoli defensive midfielder, is the one that can get the team on a roll going forward or could slow their progress going forward. After being kept scoreless last week with few real chances of key against Juventus, it will be vital for the Napoli midfield to create chance for league top scorer Gonzalo Higuain.
Carlos Bacca is the top scorer for AC Milan and will be looking to keep providing in this match against a tough, improved Napoli defence. With in-form Pepe Reina in goals, it may prove tough to get past him but, based on last week, if the midfield behind Bacca can contain Napoli, one goal may be all that is needed.
Team News
Napoli are expected to maintain the same team that tackled Juventus, with no suspensions or injuries hitting the team.
Expected Napoli XI (4-3-3): Reina (GK); Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Insigne, Callejon, Higuain.
At AC Milan, Aleesio Romagnoli is in some doubt after the club confirmed he missed training due to symptoms of the flu. Mario Ballotelli is also expected to start off the bench again after failing to make an impact in his brief appearance against Genoa last start.
Expected AC Milan XI (4-4-2): Donnarumma (GK); Sciglio, Zapata, Antonelli, Alex; Honda, Montolivo, Boneventura, Bertalocci; Niang, Bacca.
Head-to-Head
From the past 29 match-ups between the two teams, AC Milan lead with 10 wins to Napoli’s eight with 11 draws. Interestingly, in that period, the total score is 33-33.
This fixture has historically seen a lot of cards come out with five of the last 11 match-ups producing a red.
Previous Meeting
The meeting between these two earlier this season saw Napoli romp home to a 4-0 win over the Rossoneri, a performance that included a brace to winger Lorenzo Insigne as well as a standard large amount of yellow cards.
Prediction
This will be a tight match-up, likely separated by one goal one way or the other. Napoli have the advantage being at home and are still yet to be beaten at the San Paolo this season.
Napoli 2 AC Milan 1
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