Napoli vs Atalanta – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | Serie A 2021-22

Victor Osimhen-Napoli

Napoli will welcome Atalanta to the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona this weekend for the 16th Round of the 2021/22 Italian Serie A

Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Key Statistics

Napoli have the best defensive record in the league this season, having conceded just nine goals.

The hosts are one of the two teams without a league loss at home this season (W6, D1).

They also have the best home record in the league so far but have scored less than 50% of their total league goals at home so far (15 goals at home).

Spalletti’s side have conceded only two goals at home this season. 

Atalanta have the best away record in the league this season, having taken 19 points from seven games (W6, D1).

They have conceded the least number of goals on the road (six goals) and have scored 15 of their 32 league goals away from home.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are unbeaten in nine games (W5, D4). 

Head to head

Atalanta have been superior in recent meetings between both sides. They are unbeaten in the last three meetings with Napoli and have won seven of the last 15 head-to-head encounters. Napoli recorded six wins in those 15 games while two ended all square.

Latest Performances in all competitions

Napoli: D-W-L-L-D

Atalanta: W-W-D-W-W

Napoli

After re-establishing a three-point lead at the top with a comprehensive 4-0 win against Lazio last weekend, Napoli came crashing back to earth in midweek as they were held to a 2-2 draw with Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium. 

Despite going two-goal up, Luciano Spalletti’s side were forced to settle for a point, reducing their lead at the top to just one point.

They will return to the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona looking to make amends and get back to winning ways. The host’s home stadium has been their stronghold for much of this year and they enter this tie with the best home record in the division.

Since losing to Spezia at the start of 2021, Spalletti’s side have posted 14 wins and four draws in their subsequent league fixtures at home, including six victories this term.

Although they have conceded just two goals at home this season, they will be concerned about a faltering defensive record that has seen them keep just one clean sheet in their last six competitive outings.

They will know that they cannot afford to switch off at the back as Atalanta are one of the most attacking sides in Europe.

Possible Napoli starting line-ups

David Ospina; Mario Rui, Juan Jesus, Amir Rrahmani, Giovanni Di Lorenzo; Stanislav Lobotka, Piotr Zielinski, Fabian Ruiz; Hirving Lozano, Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens.

Injured: Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Victor Osimhen, Kalidou Koulibaly, Alessandro Zanoli.  

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Atalanta 

Atalanta made it four straight Serie A wins in midweek when they defeated Venezia 4-0 thanks to a Mario Pasalic hat-trick.

The win followed a 1-0 win over Juventus last weekend – their first win against the Bianconeri in Turin for more than 30 years – and was Atalanta’s fourth win in the last five games, making them the most in-form team in the Italian top flight at the moment.

La Dea have scored an impressive 22 goals from their last nine outings. They are second only to Bayern Munich in terms of domestic strikes registered throughout 2021. They are unbeaten in those nine games and come into this tie sitting comfortably in the top four and with a six-point lead over AS Roma in fifth.

However, their aim is to be closer to the top and within the title mix. They are not so far from that though as they are currently five points behind Napoli making this match a must-win for them if they want to secure the top spot soon.

Possible Atalanta starting line-ups

Juan Musso; Rafael Toloi, Merih Demiral, Jose Palomino; Davide Zappacosta, Martin de Roon, Remo Freuler, Joakim Maehle; Mario Pasalic; Josip Ilicic, Duvan Zapata.

Injured: Matteo Lovato, Robin Gosens

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Prediction

Napoli 2-3 Atalanta