SERIE A LINE-UPS: NAPOLI VS. MILAN
It’s the top of the table showdown between common leaders Napoli and Milan, as Victor Osimhen and Lorenzo Insigne take on Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao, with Stanislav Lobotka and Franck Kessie stepping in.
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| NAPOLI VS. MILAN |
It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at19.45 GMT.
You can follow all the figure-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
These sides went into the round together in top spot, with Napoli ahead on thing difference, but it'll be head-to- head record that eventually decides position.
Inter, who still have a game in hand, also leapfrogged them both by thrashing Salernitana 5-0 on Friday evening.
Hirving Lozano is back in training, so only Kevin Malcuit and Axel Tuanzebe are still out for Napoli, fresh from a last- rustle 2-1 win away to Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio.
Insigne, Piotr Zielinski and Matteo Politano addict out behind Victor Osimhen, with Stanislav Lobotka returning to midfield after his injury lay-off alongside Fabian Ruiz.
Milan have braked down vastly in recent weeks and played a 0-0 Coppa Italiasemi-final draw with Inter midweek.
Alessio Romagnoli picked up an injury, joining Simon Kjaer in the daises, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic is on the bench for the first time in over two months.
That means Giroud and Leao lead the way again, with Franck Kessie in a more advanced part next to Junior Messias.
Ismael Bennacer returns from suspense in midfield.
Napoli have won their last two Serie A meetings with Milan 1-0, but both of those were at San Siro, losing then 3-1 in November 2020.
There was famously contestation before this season, with Kessie’s last- rustle equaliser disallowed for Giroud’s offside position.
The Rossoneri are unbeaten in Naples since a 3-2 suspenser in August 2018, arising with a 2-2 draw and 3-1 palm.
Napoli Ospina; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Fabian Ruiz, Lobotka; Politano, Zielinski, Insigne; Osimhen
.Milan Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Kalulu, Theo Hernandez; Tonali, Bennacer; Messias, Kessie, Leao; Giroud
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After Inter Milan went top of the table after beating Salernitana on Friday, Napoli and AC Milan have the occasion to come Serie A leaders formerly again when they meet in one of the most intriguing matches of the Serie A season. The game will take place at the Stadio Armando Maradona in Naples, where the winning side will have a boost in the title race, jumping into sole possession of first. Napoli and AC Milan met on December 19th, with Napoli winning 1-0, and both are presently tied in alternate. Napoli are coming off a 2-1 road palm against Lazio while AC Milan have drawn three matches in a row. Then is what you need to know
Team news
Napoli Luciano Spalletti has the occasion to be back at the top of the Serie A table, and confidence is high.
"Who's better? I don't know. The match will tell us. We're at the top of our possibilities to play. My passions are good. I don't know about the others, but they can not be more motivated than us", he said during thepre-match press conference.
Napoli have gained the most points in the alternate part of the current Serie A season (18 points in eight games), while Milan rank fourth in this period (15 points from eight games). The Azzurri started the season with eight triumphs in the first eight games, followed by the Rossoneri in the standings (seven triumphs, one draw)
AC Milan Stefano Pioli can count again on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is back after further than forty days out. The Swedish striker is doubtful to be part of the starting eleven, but he is available. Milan won their last down match in Napoli (3-1 in 2020) but haven't threaded together two triumphs in a row at the Azzurri's home ground in Serie A since 1981. The Rossoneri have drawn their last two games in the league but have not drawn three in a row in Serie A since September 2018, with Gennaro Gattuso as trainer (three draws against Cagliari, Atalanta and Empoli).