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

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan against Torino
Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan against Torino - IMAGO / Shutterstock

Title-chasing Napoli and AC Milan will square up this Sunday in the biggest fixture of game week 28 in the 2021/22 Serie A season.

Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona (Naples) 

Key Statistics

Napoli have lost three of their last six home SA matches (W2, D1), compared to losing none of the first seven this campaign (W6, D1).

The hosts possess the best league defence with just 19 goals conceded.

They are unbeaten in eight Serie A games (W5, D3).

Napoli have only lost once in their last 14 top-flight meetings (W8, D5).  

AC Milan are unbeaten in their last seven competitive matches (W3, D4).

The visitors are the only SA team to score in all their away matches this term, making them the league’s highest away scorers.

They are undefeated in six on the road (W4, D2) and collecting more points on their travels than at home.

Head to head

Napoli have performed better in recent head-to-head meetings between both sides. The hosts have won eight times against their visitors in the last 15 meetings. AC Milan have two wins in that period (D5).

Latest performances in all competitions

Napoli: W-L-D-D-D

AC Milan: W-W-D-D-D

Napoli 

Napoli will look to increase the distance between them and AC Milan when both sides meet in Naples this Sunday.

The hosts have so far, in the second half of the season, accumulated the most points and conceded the fewest goals in Serie A. But two draws their last two league games, and a loss to Barcelona in the Europa League cast some doubts on their title credentials.

However, they gave a good account of themselves last weekend when they beat Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.

In what was a must-win game, the Partenopei needed a 94th-minute goal by Fabian Ruiz to claim all three points after Pedro had volleyed home a brilliant equaliser in the dying moments.

The result extended Napoli’s unbeaten run in the league to eight games (W5, D3). It also took them to the top of the league and level on points with AC Milan but with a superior goal difference.

A win in this game will increase the distance between them and Milan to three points, while a loss could see them end the weekend sitting in third. And so, they will be desperate to avoid losing this game. 

Meanwhile, Luciano Spalletti will be without the services of Frank Zambo Anguissa, who is missing through a muscle injury. But Hirving Lozano, Axel Tuanzebe and defender Kevin Malcuit are all injury doubts.

Possible Napoli starting line-up

David Ospina; Amir Rrahmani, Kalidou Koulibaly, Juan Jesus; Mario Rui, Fabian Ruiz, Diego Demme, Politano; Piotr Zielinski, Dries Mertens, Victor Osimhen.

Injured: Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Hirving Lozano, Axel Tuanzebe and Kevin Malcuit

Doubtful: None 

Suspended: None 

AC Milan 

While Napoli found a way to win their game last week, AC Milan could not find their way past a very determined Udinese side over the weekend.

With Napoli and Inter Milan dropping points recently, the visitors could have gone top of the table last weekend but blew their chance as they were held 1-1 at home by Udinese.

They followed that result with a goalless draw with Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday. The latest result extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games and also saw them record their fourth clean sheet in the least seven games.

‘I Rossoneri’ will now travel to Naples looking to get a win that will put them at the top of the table. The last time they came to this stadium, they left with a 3-1 win. And so, confidence will be high this time that they can replicate that result. 

Stefano Pioli’s boys are undefeated in six on the road (W4, D2) and collecting more points on their travels than at home (the same scenario as Napoli). They are also the only Serie A team to score in all their away matches this term, making them the league’s highest away scorers.

Such a record will put them in good stead for a win here.

However, they will have to win without the services of legendary striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, Denmark defender Simon Kjaer and Italian defender Alessio Romagnoli.

https://twitter.com/acmilan/status/1499754329242320900

Possible AC Milan starting line-up

Mike Maignan, Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Pierre Kalulu, Theo Hernandez, Franck Kessie, Sandro Tonali, Alexis Saelemaekers, Brahim Diaz, Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud.

Injured: Zlatan Ibrahimović, Simon Kjaer

Doubtful: Alessio Romagnoli

Suspended: None 

Prediction

Napoli 1-0 AC Milan