Foreshadowing the clubs’ clash on Europe’s grandest stage, runaway Serie A leaders Napoli and reigning champions AC Milan meet at Stadio Maradona on Sunday.
Soon set to fight it out for a place in the Champions League semi-finals, two giants of Calcio convene in Campania, with the home side edging ever closer to prising the Scudetto out of Milan’s hands.
Team News
Napoli
- Victor Osimhen sustained an adductor injury while representing Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The star striker has therefore been ruled out for at least a fortnight.
- The Capocannoniere leader has averaged a goal every 91 minutes in Serie A this season, but should be replaced by his patient deputy Giovanni Simeone, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia starting on the left flank and either Matteo Politano or Hirving Lozano on the right.
- Luciano Spalletti’s only other change could come at left-back, where Mario Rui is pushing to play instead of Mathias Olivera who started against Torino last time out.
AC Milan
- Milan, meanwhile, will also be without their most famed frontman, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who had only just returned from a long layoff – picked up a thigh injury on international duty.
- Fellow veteran Olivier Giroud will lead the line at Stadio Maradona, having scored in both of his last two league games against Napoli.
- With Pierre Kalulu also out injured, Stefano Pioli is pondering a return to a four-man defence; such a switch would most likely see captain Davide Calabria Davide Calabria recalled at right-back, while Simon Kjaer could slot into the central pairing.
Possible Lineup
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Kim, Rrahmani, Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Simeone, Kvaratskhelia
AC Milan: Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernandez; Bennacer, Tonali; Diaz, Krunic, Leao; Giroud
Prediction Analysis
Napoli last drew 23 games ago – with 21 wins being piled up in the intervening period. Yet, the absence of their attacking focal point and the disruption of the international break may prove enough to help Milan escape with a point.
Our prediction is Napoli 1-1 AC Milan