Serie A Preview: Atalanta vs Napoli – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction | OneFootball

Saturday’s Serie A action rounds off with a Scudetto six-pointer between title-bidding Atalanta and table-topping Napoli. The outcome of this blockbuster contest at the Gewiss Stadium could determine the title fate, even though we’re only at the halfway point of the 2024/25 campaign.

Atalanta spent Christmas at the top of the pile. However, their form has since fallen off a cliff. In addition to a dismal 2-0 defeat to Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana semifinals, Gian Piero Gasperini’s charges have drawn their last three league matches against Lazio, Udinese, and Juventus.

Mateo Retegui’s 13th Serie A goal this season was merely enough for a point against the record-time Italian champions during midweek, demoting Atalanta to third in the standings. Yet, they’re still within striking distance of upcoming rivals Napoli, with only four points separating the sides ahead of the kickoff.

For Napoli, this meeting represents the start of a new era. Star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is on the verge of penning a multi-year contract at Paris Saint-Germain, with the Partenopei set to earn around €70 million from the Georgian’s mega-money transfer to the Parc des Princes. Kvaratskhelia’s exit midway through the season could undermine Napoli’s title quest.

However, Antonio Conte’s men head into proceedings in scintillating form. A 2-0 home win against relegation-threatened Hellas Verona last Sunday extended Napoli’s winning streak in Serie A to five matches, keeping them three points clear of runners-up Inter, albeit having placed a game more than the reigning champions.

Match Preview

Atalanta

Atalanta’s form decline has plunged their hopes of lifting a first-ever Scudetto into chaos. However, Gasperini’s men still have enough time to make amends. Atalanta thumped Napoli 3-0 in November’s reverse fixture but haven’t beaten them at home since February 2021.

But they’d be forgiven for expecting that narrative to change this weekend after racking up an eye-catching 89% unbeaten streak on home turf this season (W7, D1, L1). Indeed, Atalanta had been on a five-game winning league streak in Bergamo before being held by Juventus last time out.

That draw forms part of the club’s longest winless streak in Serie A since going winless in five consecutive games between February and March 2024. Sluggish openings have been responsible for Atalanta’s recent slumps, with Gasperini’s team failing to score first in their last five competitive outings (W1, D3, L1).

Napoli

Kvaratskhelia has been a focal point of Napoli’s attack. His imminent departure threatens to derail the visitors’ questionable scoring capacity. Indeed, Napoli have only scored 32 league goals this season, with only Milan (29) netting fewer among the current top-eight teams.

For comparison, visiting Atalanta have bagged 44. However, Conte has based his early success in Naples on a rock-solid backline. Napoli have conceded a league-low 12 goals while keeping 12 clean sheets – at least two more than any other team.

Needless to say, 11 of Napoli’s 15 top-flight victories have come ‘to nil,’ highlighting the significance of drawing first blood. Furthermore, they’ve excelled on the road, picking up more away points (23) than any other club in Italy’s elite division.

Only title-defending Inter (five) have conceded fewer league goals on the road than Napoli’s six, suggesting a fourth consecutive away win against Atalanta could be on the cards. It would be a fitting way to avenge a catastrophic result in the reverse fixture.

Team News

This game will come too soon for long-term absentee Gianluca Scamacca. Recent injury victim Odilon Kossounou is also on the sidelines, but Atalanta may welcome veteran winger Juan Cuadrado back from a layoff. Sead Kolasinac is also out after accumulating yellow cards.

Meanwhile, after Kvaratskhelia bid farewell to Napoli, David Neres will likely have to fill the void, at least until the club finds an appropriate alternative in the market. Conte cannot call upon star defender Alessandro Buongiorno for this trip, but the Italian ace is the only notable absentee in the traveling camp.

Atalanta vs Napoli Potential Starting 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 could benefit from this encounter, especially if the game ended level, which is a distinct possibility. Atalanta have been a force to be reckoned with in Bergamo, while Napoli rarely drop points on the road.

This makes us believe Gasperini and Conte could share the spoils.