Napoli look to bounce back from their first loss of the season, but it won’t be easy as the Azzurri travel to Bergamo for a battle between the top two clubs in Serie A.
Atalanta BC
Despite losing their first match of the season to Lazio in Round 11, Atalanta are beginning to find their rhythm. La Dea struggled to adapt to a new approach early in the season, but still managed to earn positive results. Atalanta have benefitted from only playing only once a week, having failed to qualify for European Cup competitions last season.
Unlike the Atalanta of previous seasons, who play a hyper-aggressive style and outscored their opponents, this season’s Atalanta is one of the most defensively sounds clubs in the league. Only Juventus have conceded fewer goals than the nerazzurri.
With Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel struggling with injuries, Atalanta have relied on midfielder Teun Koopmeiners and new signing Ademola Lookman to score goals. The pair have combined to score nine of Atalanta’s 17 goals this season.
SSC Napoli
Napoli’s 13-match win streak came to an end on Tuesday after a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on the final Matchday of the Group Stage of the UEFA Champions League. However, the Partenopei are still undefeated in Serie A, and will look to extend that streak in Bergamo.
With a win, Napoli would move eight points clear of Atalanta, who are currently second in the table. They’ll have to do it without one of the most exciting players in the league, as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose car was stolen earlier this week, did not travel with the squad to Bergamo.
Injuries/Suspensions
Davide Zappacosta continues to recover from a muscle injury that will keep him out until 2023. Luis Muriel is also out with a torn adductor. However, Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed in his pre-match conference that Marten de Roon trained with the group this week and will return to the squad on Saturday.
For Napoli, Amir Rrahmani continues to recover from a muscle injury that will keep the defender sidelined until 2023. Meanwhile, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia did not travel to Bergamo due to an episode of acute lower back pain.
Probable Formations
Manager’s Comments
Gian Piero Gasperini:
“I would say something more, even for what they showed in the Champions League, the value shown there is even higher, in a really difficult group. The merits of this team have been listed by everyone, we must do something strong tomorrow and positive to make a result. Tomorrow will depend on how we manage to limit their quality.”
Luciano Spalletti:
“Football is always evolving. Atalanta says a lot about the qualities of their coach. We need to work deeply and seriously. I find Atalanta itself from the point of view of stubbornness and research. It is a team ready to do all the work…From a certain point of view for us it is even better we have to be at that lever there if we want important ambitions. So we too have to be good at improving in the things to improve.”
Previous Meetings
| April 3, 2022 | Atalanta BC | 1-3 | SSC Napoli |
| December 4, 2021 | SSC Napoli | 2-3 | Atalanta BC |
| February 21, 2021 | Atalanta BC | 4-2 | SSC Napoli |
| February 10, 2021 (Coppa Italia) | Atalanta BC | 3-1 | SSC Napoli |
| February 3, 2021 (Coppa Italia) | SSC Napoli | 0-0 | Atalanta BC |
Match Officials
Head Official: Maurizio Mariani
Assistants: Dario Cecconi and Filippo Bercigli
Fourth Official: Simone Sozza
VAR: Massimiliano Irrati and Eugenio Abbattista
