Serie A: Can Milan or Napoli Stay with Inter?

AC Milan vs Napoli

The flagging early-season leaders are set to slug it out at the San Siro on Sunday as Milan host Napoli in the Serie A match of the weekend.

To say these two injury-hit teams are struggling for form is no exaggeration, which makes it all the more surprising that they sit second and fourth in the table, just a single point and four behind leaders Inter Milan.

But the latest Serie A 2021 betting odds sound a loud warning. If they’ll lose any more games, then Inter could disappear over the horizon.

The two teams’ slumps in form have been alarming after they each went unbeaten for the first 12 games of the campaign and Milan come into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw with Udinese, while Napoli slumped to a second successive loss at home to Empoli.

Even so, they are both in the group of four teams which have broken away from the pack and they just need to halt their current slides and stop Inter to making it a procession as they did in 2020/21.

Also, let’s not forget third-placed Atalanta who are making a decent fist of it. But for now, let’s take a look at Milan and Napoli.

 

Talking Points

Milan still relying on the 40-year-old

With seven goals from 10 games, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has worked his magic yet again and head coach Stefano Pioli can do little else than rely on the Swedish legend to hold his attack together.

Front men Olivier Giroud, Ante Rebic, and Rafael Leao are all out injured, so the old stager is relying on the young legs of Brahim Diaz to do his running for him and the 22-year-old Spain international is doing a fine job with three goals and three assists to his name. 

Pioli will be looking for more from his attacking midfielder Franck Kessie. The Ivorian has three goals so far but the team needs him to be more dominant.

He’s a powerful unit and can destroy opponents when he’s in the mood, as he has been in recent seasons. And I Rossoneri need leaders on the field with the continued absence of centre-back Simon Kjaer out with injury.

Milan were absent from the Champions League Round of 16 draw having lost their final group game to Liverpool and that was a serious blow to the club’s ambition to continue their progress in recent seasons. So a sustained challenge for the Scudetto is essential.

 

Napoli short on numbers too

Yes, Napoli’s early season Serie A 2021 results were sensational but the Scudetto runs from August to May. Here in the deep mid-winter, the Azzurri has it all to do again and they too will have to recapture their early season momentum without some key players over the next few weeks.

Towering striker Victor Osimhen and Fabian Ruiz are out which weakens the front line, while commanding centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly joins them in the treatment room.

Influential midfielder Piotr Zielinski had to leave Napoli’s defeat to Empoli last week with breathing difficulties. The Pole contracted COVID-19 back in October and tests proved negative, but Napoli are likely to be without him again.       

Zielinski, Ruiz, and Osimhen are the Azzurri’s joint top scorers with five alongside Dries Mertens, while skipper Lorenzo Insigne is on four.

This is a team normally jampacked with attacking quality. But Zielinski in particular is a big miss as he has made four assists, bettered only by Insigne’s five.

Head coach Luciano Spalletti is looking on the bright side, saying: “The Milan game is a great opportunity for us because we can fix a few things. We have a full week of training ahead.”

 

History

Napoli have a slight edge in the head-to-heads, winning 13 of the last 41 games while Milan have won 12 and there have been 16 draws.

Gli Azzurri won at the San Siro in March as Fabian Ruiz scored in a 1-0 victory

Milan’s home record at six wins, one draw, and one defeat is just marginally better than Napoli’s away record at five wins, two draws, and one defeat.

 

Betting Tip

	AC Milan vs Napoli	Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.94
	December 20, 03:45 (GMT+8)

I Rossoneri are at SBOTOP odds of 2.23 to win with Napoli at 3.01 and the draw is at 3.16, though neither team will be happy with a point.

Inter have a chance to stretch their lead when they travel to bottom club Salemitana on Friday night, so both Milan and Napoli will be going for the win.

It’s a case of which depleted team can fight the hardest and take their chances, so this is one match not to miss.

 

 

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