03 December 2021, 16:32 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The Serie A fixture, S.S.C. Napoli vs. Atalanta B.C., kicks off at 20:45 (GMT+1) on Saturday, December 4, at Stadio San Paolo.
Preview Napoli Serie A, Dec 4, 2021
Preview Napoli leads the table by a single point after a 2-2 draw with Sassuolo in the four-goal thriller at the Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore on Wednesday. After a goalless draw at the break, Fabian Ruiz (51') bagged the opener six minutes after the restart, to put Napoli in front with the lead. Eight minutes later, Dries Mertens (59') increased Napoli’s lead with a remarkable close-range effort. But a spectacular effort from Scamacca (71') saw Sassuolo back in the game with roughly twenty minutes left on the clock. Napoli had kept Sassuolo at bay until the final moments of the game, when a towering header from Ferrari (89') broke hearts at the Mapei Stadium. An apprehensive moment followed when Sassuolo hit the net for a third time, but luckily for Napoli, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review. 2-2! It finished. The draw leaves Napoli with 8 points from a possible 15, WDLWD, and a total of 36 points after 11W, 3D, and 1L. Blighted by injuries, Luciano Spalletti could be forced to settle for another point on Saturday. In Wednesday’s game against Sassuolo, the Napoli boss lined up a 4—3—3 formation with Insigne, Mertens, and Hirving Lozano in the attacking end. However, following fresh injury concerns, several changes are expected in Saturday’s line-up. Kalidou Koulibaly (hamstring) is ruled out for the rest of the year, while both Lorenzo Insigne (calf injury) and Fabian Ruiz remain doubtful. Dries Mertens is set to keep his place at the center of the attacking trio, replacing Victor Osimhen, who is sidelined with a broken cheekbone.
Preview Atalanta Serie A, Dec 4, 2021
Preview Atalanta put Venezia aside in a 4-0 win at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on Tuesday. A hattrick from Mario Pašalić (7’, 12’ & 67’), coupled with a goal from Teun Koopmeiners (57'), put the game well beyond the reach of the Winged Lions. The Bergamo-based side are in 4th place, having picked up 31 points from 9W, 4D, and 2L. Unbeaten in five Serie A games, DWWWW, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side enter this duel of ninety minutes with an average goal ratio of 2.13 goals scored per game, having bagged 32 goals after 15 Serie A games. The Nerazzurri have conceded 17 goals so far this season and have a G.D. of +15. An average of 1.13 goals per match. Gian Piero Gasperini may opt for three at the back in the 3—4—3 formation once more, with Duván Zapata expected to return to the starting lineup in the middle of the attacking trio. A plague of hamstring injuries could keep Matteo Lovato and Robin Gosens out of this Saturday's fixture.