Serie A: Atalanta Set for a Backlash in Naples

Napoli vs Atalanta

The Serie A game between Napoli and Atalanta is the Italian match of the weekend folks, as it’s first against sixth and I’m hoping for fireworks.

Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli have had a sensational campaign and hold an incredible 15-point lead at the top, but they went down to a surprise 1-0 defeat to Lazio last week and we can expect a reaction from the Azzurri on Saturday.

They were thwarted by Lazio’s world-class defence but now they come up against an Atalanta side which is strangely out of sorts, with just one win in six.     

Gian Piero Gasperini’s team is on a tricky run and they are in danger of losing touch with the top four places. But the one recent win they achieved was against Napoli’s conquerors, Lazio, and they remain a dangerous side to encounter.   

But at the time of writing, the latest Serie A 2023 betting odds back Napoli at a price of 1.61 and it’s hard to see past a home win.

Talking Points

Napoli’s All- Stars are in demand

Few predicted just how well Napoli would do this year but it has become increasingly evident that the Azzurri is the best side in Serie A by a country mile, and they have some of the most sought after players in Europe at the moment.

The club owners have a few decisions to make in the summer as their stars are worth multi-millions and are probably at the peak of their value, but Spalletti will be reluctant to let go too quickly.

Napoli are the league’s top scorers with 58 goals and they have the tightest defence, conceding just 16 goals.

According to the Serie A 2023 news, Spalletti will just have one change to make on Saturday, replacing the suspended wing-back Mario Rui with Mathias Olivera, but his lethal attack remains unchanged.

Victor Osimhen has been a revelation this term. After suffering a terrible head injury last year, he is now fulfilling his obvious potential and has bagged 19 goals in 21 games. The 24-year-old Nigerian has said he’d like to play in the Premier League some day, but not just yet.    

As well as ripping up the league, Osimhen opened the score in Napoli’s Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt and Giovanni Di Lorenzo made it 2-0, a great lead to bring back to Naples.

And another star who’s wowing in Europe and Italy is Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who has attracted interest from the Premier League’s richest clubs, Newcastle United and Manchester City. And winger Hirving Lozano is also on the radar in England, with big spending Chelsea tracking the Mexican.

Spalletti has put together a sensational unit and other teams can just stand and admire for the moment.     

Big test for Atalanta’s defence  

Under the guidance of Gasperini, Atalanta have built a reputation as an exciting attacking side but it is their defence which will be under scrutiny on Saturday in Naples. 

31-year-old Marten de Roon is the defencive lynchpin, and his pace and awareness make him the key player in stopping counterattacks. He’s a versatile player, able to operate as a wing-back or as a defencive midfielder, and his positional sense allows the wing-backs to advance.

De Roon is an asset at the back as well as supporting Atalanta’s forwards, as is full-back Joachim Maehle. The 25-year-old is a mainstay in the Denmark side with 34 caps and nine goals, and he plays in a more advanced position for the Danes, while in his 68 games for Atalanta he has become an accomplished defender.  

Ademola Lookman with 12 goals is Atalanta’s top scorer and he will lead the line on Saturday, but Gasperini has some new injury problems to contend with. Davide Zappacosta, who scored against Lazio, and Teun Koopmeiners have joined Duvan Zapata on the sidelines, and Ederson and Mateo Ruggeri are set to step in.   

History

The head-to-heads could hardly be closer with the Azzurri nudging ahead by 18 victories to 17 in all competitions since 1993, thanks to a 2-1 victory in Bergamo in November.   

Recent form favours Napoli, who lost to Lazio last week, but they won the previous seven matches in all competitions. But with one win in six and four defeats in that time, La Dea is in a rut she wants to get out of.   

Betting Tip

With a home record of 10 wins, one draw, and a single defeat, the Stadio Diego Maradona has been a fortress for Napoli, and at a short SBOTOP price it’s highly likely that the win tally will reach 11 on Saturday.

Atalanta are priced at 2.08 (Double Chance Win or Draw) to stop the runaway leaders. However, prior to their defeat at the hands of Lazio, the Azzurri were ahead by half time in each of their previous four matches and that’s what I’m backing again.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.