The 28th matchday in the Italian Serie A takes place this weekend. Here, the Napoli vs. AC Milan clash on Sunday at 20.45 represents the crowning finale. For: The leader meets the second-placed team at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, whereby both teams took 57 points. Daniele Orsato is the referee for this match.
Napoli moved to the top of the table on Sunday with a 2-1 away win over seventh-placed Lazio. It was Luciano Spalletti’s fifth success in seven league games. January ended for the team from the city at the feet of Mount Vesuvius with a 4-1 home win over relegation-threatened regional rivals Salernitana. Then the previous month began with a 2-0 at third-last Venezia. This was followed by two 1-1 at home to third-placed Inter Milan and fourth-last-placed Cagliari.
AC Milan, on the other hand, won just two of their last six Serie A appearances, the first of which came in the derby at Inter Milan and immediately after a 0-0 draw at home to fourth-placed Juventus. Eight days later, Stefano Pioli’s team celebrated a 1-0 home win against 15th-placed Sampdoria. However, this was followed by a 2-2 draw at Salernitana and a 1-1 draw at home to 14th-placed Udinese on 25 February. And on 1 March, AC Milan had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan in the first leg of a Coppa Italia semi-final.
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What speaks for Napoli?
- Playing in front of a home crowd
- Won five of their last seven league games so far
- Did not play in the Coppa Italia this week and could therefore focus on the championship
- Opponents have two central defenders out
What speaks for AC Milan?
- Opponents conceded at least one goal in four of their last five Serie A matches so far
Our betting tip:
- Bet: Both teams score goals – Yes
- Bookmaker: Betway
- Odds: 2.00
Expert analysis Napoli
Napoli celebrated their fifth win in seven league games on 27 February with a 2-1 away victory over seventh-placed Lazio. Fabián Ruiz scored the second goal for the visitors in the 94th minute. The Spaniard lifted the team from the city at the feet of Mount Vesuvius to the top of the table.
Furthermore, Luciano Spalletti’s team tanked up on self-confidence after the Europa League elimination against Barcelona. More precisely, the southern Italians experienced a 1-1 away draw and a 2-4 home defeat.
But the previous month was not necessarily satisfactory for Napoli in Serie A either. After all, at home against third-placed Inter Milan and at fourth-last-placed Cagliari, the team from the city at the feet of Vesuvius drew 1-1. Moreover, Victor Osimhen only pulled the chestnuts out of the fire in the 87th minute in Sardinia.
Before that, January ended with a 4-1 home win against regional rivals Salernitana. The latter team is in last place, but it made two league appearances less. On top of that, Salernitana strengthened themselves in the winter transfer market. This was followed initially by a 2-0 away win against third-bottom Venezia. And it represented the only encounter Napoli had played since mid-January in which both teams did not score.
From today’s perspective, Spalletti will certainly be without two players. By that, we mean right-back Kévin Malcuit as well as offensive man Hirving Lozano. On the other hand, the defensive midfielder André Zambo Anguissa could make his comeback.
Expert analysis AC Milan
Unlike their opponents in the Napoli vs. AC Milan clash, the Diavolo qualified for the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia. There, Stefano Pioli’s side had to settle for a 0-0 draw against city rivals Inter Milan on 1 March.
Furthermore, the Rossoneri remained winless in four of their last six appearances in the Serie A so far. First, in the second half of January, AC Milan experienced a 1-2 home defeat against fifth-last-placed Spezia and a 0-0 against fourth-placed Juventus.
All the more unexpected was a 2-1 away win against Inter Milan on 5 February. The Rossoneri turned the game around after being behind at the interval thanks to a double strike by Olivier Giroud (75th, 78th). Eight days later, Pioli’s team followed up with a 1-0 home win against 15th-placed Sampdoria.
But thereafter, they lost points against two teams in the second half of the table. After a 2-2 at Salernitana, AC Milan failed to go beyond a 1-1 draw against 14th-placed Udinese on 25 February. This marked the fourth time in six Serie A matches for AC Milan that both sides scored.
Moreover, Pioli must do without three players. The attacking star Zlatan Ibrahimović is out with Achilles’s tendon problems, as he was for the whole of February. In addition, the centre-backs Alessio Romagnoli and Simon Kjær are absent.
Head-to-head comparison Napoli – AC Milan
The first Napoli vs. AC Milan match in Serie A 2021/2022 took place on 19 December. Here, the team from the city at the feet of Mount Vesuvius managed a 1-0 away victory. However, a regular goal by Franck Kessié was denied. In the 2020/2021 season, Napoli experienced against AC Milan a 1-3 home defeat and a 1-0 away win.
Our betting tip and the best odds
Napoli celebrated their fifth win in seven league games with a 2-1 win at Lazio, but the decisive goal came in the 94th minute. Moreover, the team from the south of Italy had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home against Inter Milan and at Cagliari immediately before.
Moreover, AC Milan are unbeaten in five league appearances, including a 2-1 at Inter Milan. Consequently, we advise against three-way bets and would instead wager on the fact that both teams will score. After all, this event has occurred in four of Napoli’s last five league matches to date and in four of AC Milan’s most recent six league appearances.
Napoli vs. AC Milan – betting tip: Both teams score goals – Yes, odds 2.00 at bookmaker Betway
