Napoli are at home to Sassuolo in Saturday’s late kick-off, and with both sides having suffered defeats in their last outing, expect this game to live up to billing as a cracker it is poised to be.
Serie A 2019/2020
Date: Saturday July, 24
Kick-off: 21:45
Venue: Stadio San Paolo
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Napoli were left stunned by underdogs Parma last time, with a late penalty from their hosts condemning them to a 2-1 defeat and meant they have registered just a solitary win from their last four games.
Thus, the confidence from winning the Coppa Italia is starting to wear off, and the Partenopei’s dip in form have even allowed AC Milan to leapfrog them into sixth on the standings.
Though they have already secured an Europa League spot via the Coppa Italia route, Gennaro Gattuso will want his team to finish the campaign on a high after one of the club’s worst years in Serie A in recent memory.
Sassuolo, on their part, have hardly done enough to set the pulses racing in recent weeks. After beating Lazio and playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Juventus earlier this month, they have seen their European
hopes fizzle out following a three-game winless run.
I Neroverdi are unlikely to make it to the Europa League, after picking up two points from their last three fixtures, a situation which has left Roberto De Zerbi’s team out of the running, but instead needing to focus on retaining their grip of eighth spot.
While Milan got the better of them 2-1 last time out, Sassuolo will be targeting their second ever victory over Napoli in a competitive game here, and their first since beating them in 2015.
Team news
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Napoli
Dries Mertens is reportedly closing in on full fitness, but this match will come too soon.
Kelvin Malcuit is still unavailable.
Sassuolo
Mehdi Bourabia is missing for the visitors following his sending off against Milan.
Filippo Romagna, Pedro Obiang, Gregoire Defrel, Jeremie Boga and Jeremy Toljan are all sidelined for the visitors due to injuries.
Head to Head
In their 14 recent competitive meetings, Napoli have won eight of them and drawn five, leaving Sassuolo with a solitary victory..
Team form
Napoli last five competitive games: WDDWL
Sassuolo last five competitive games: WWDDL
Betting tips
Despite the cup success of the season, Gattuso will be determined to ensure his first season with Napoli not to end in a damp squib, and this feels like a perfect opportunity to get the club back on track. Although Sassuolo have shown recently that they have the quality to trouble their hosts, they will require a much-improved display to return to winning ways and we do not see that coming against their hosts here.
A home win is prized 4/7 for odds, while you can also back Both Teams To Score for the same value here.
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