Sunday’s Serie A motion closes out at Stadio Diego Maradona as Napoli and Milan go head-to-head in a heavyweight conflict. Each groups desperately want three factors to get nearer to reaching their final objectives this season.
Napoli’s pursuit of a second Scudetto in three years has taken a collection of blows in 2025. Certainly, a disheartening 0-0 draw at relegation-battling Venezia on the stroke of March’s worldwide break noticed Antonio Conte’s costs lose floor on pacesetters Inter.
Inter’s 2-0 win at Atalanta opened up a three-point hole on the desk’s summit, highlighting the significance of successful in entrance of their house followers tomorrow night time. Nevertheless, the Partenopei can’t take something with no consideration as they headed into this spherical thirteenth within the Serie A kind desk because the begin of February.
But, Napoli’s latest struggles pale compared to Milan’s epic downfall. Regardless of the membership’s commendable effort within the final two switch home windows, one thing is seemingly stinking behind the scenes. Again-to-back comebacks towards Como and Lecce earlier than the worldwide break had restored a feel-good issue on the San Siro.
Nevertheless, the scenario is way from best, with Milan trailing fourth-placed Bologna by six factors pre-round. The chance of lacking out on European qualification altogether is equally actual, as 4 factors separate the Rossoneri from six-placed Lazio. Subsequently, this fixture has all of the makings of a must-win conflict for the visiting aspect.
Match Preview
Napoli
Because the Serie A season enters its decisive section, Napoli will deal with each match as a ‘make or break’ of their relentless quest to chase down Inter. A collection of attracts in latest weeks has hindered their title ambitions, with Conte’s staff pulling off just one win of their final seven league outings (D5, L1).
That poor run of kind positioned Napoli thirteenth within the league’s kind desk because the begin of February earlier than this spherical. On a optimistic notice, the hosts head into proceedings on a six-game unbeaten league run on house soil (W4, D2). But, conceding precisely as soon as in every of the final 4 highlights Napoli’s defensive vulnerability.
A comparatively favorable run of seven fixtures to shut out the season retains their title hopes alive. Nevertheless, they need to break a six-game house winless streak towards AC Milan (D3, L3) earlier than dealing with a difficult journey to top-four contenders Bologna subsequent week. As such, this might show a season-defining recreation for Napoli.
Milan
Over that very same seven-game stretch the place Napoli have faltered, Milan picked up 13 factors, suggesting the guests ought to take the sector in a greater temper. Sadly, regardless of their resurgence, they nonetheless have a mountain to climb to keep away from a primary end exterior Serie A’s high 4 since 2019/20.
It has been a difficult marketing campaign for Milan, as their 47-point tally is decrease than what that they had at this stage in eight of the final 9 Serie A seasons. Nevertheless, the one exception noticed them stage a late push to safe a top-six end. Current performances point out a repeat could possibly be on the playing cards this time period.
After seeing off Como and Lecce, Milan can submit three successive league triumphs for the primary time since September. They’ve gotten used to doing issues the onerous means, particularly below Sergio Conceicao, with 4 of their six league wins because the ex-Porto boss’ arrival seeing them struggle again from a deficit to assert three factors.
Impressively, Milan have discovered the online in 15 of their final 16 away video games towards Napoli, registering a good 62.5% unbeaten ratio in that sequence (W4, D6, L6).
Group Information
Regardless of David Neres’ return to full coaching, Giacomo Raspadori will possible accomplice up with Romelu Lukaku on the coronary heart of Napoli’s assault. Extra importantly, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa is again from a latest layoff and can dislodge Billy Gilmour from the beginning line-up.
In the meantime, Emerson Royal is the one notable absentee within the Milan camp after Alessandro Florenzi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek recovered from accidents. Nevertheless, Yunus Musah is unavailable for choice for gathered yellow playing cards. Warren Bondo will most likely take his place within the double pivot.
Napoli vs Milan Potential Beginning Line-ups
Napoli (3-5-2): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Raspadori, Lukaku.
Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker, Thiaw, Gabbia, Hernandez; Bondo, Fofana; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Abraham.
Napoli vs Milan Prediction
Napoli eased previous Milan 2-0 in October’s reverse fixture on the San Siro, and we wouldn’t be stunned in the event that they accomplished a league double over the Rossoneri for the primary time because the 2010/11 season. Nevertheless, Milan’s latest upturn in kind and a powerful scoring file in away conferences recommend this could possibly be a tightly contested affair.
Prediction: Draw
| Comply with us on Google News for extra updates on Serie A and Italian soccer |
