Atalanta vs Napoli
Third faces seventh in a fascinating Serie A tussle on Sunday when upwardly mobile Atalanta entertains a stalling Napoli at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.
This is a clash with big implications for the top four race; eight points separate these two clubs, but La Dea are only five points behind fourth-placed AS Roma. And Atalanta have picked up more points, 14, over their past six games than any of these rivals.
The visitors have stumbled in their Scudetto title defence with a mixed set of Serie A 2026 results in recent weeks, while leaders Inter Milan have been relentless in pursuit of the big prize with AC Milan the nearest rival some seven points behind.
Raffaele Palladino’s Atalanta did fall to a 2-0 Champions League play-off defeat away to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, while Antonio Conte’s Napoli, already eliminated, have had a week off since they drew 2-2 at home to Roma last week.
Talking Points
De Ketelaere out for a month
Reports emerging from Bergamo this week have confirmed that star forward Charles De Ketelaere is likely to be out for up to four weeks after undergoing minor surgery on his knee. He has been struggling with a cartilage problem and, while named in the pre-match group for Atalanta’s recent win over Cremonese, he was pulled before the game and the club decided to act in the hope the 24-year-old Belgian star will be fit for the final run-in.
At 6ft 4in De Ketelaere is a strong and skilful runner in an attacking midfield role and he will be missed. But La Dea has a vibrant attacking group, beginning to resemble the Gasperini golden era. Montenegro forward Nikola Krstovic has been in sizzling form with seven goals and four assists, while Gianluca Scamacca has led the line well with six goals and one assist. And 24-year-old wing-back Nikola Zalewski who scored in the 2-0 win over Lazio last week is a real livewire.
Palladino must take some credit for the club’s recovery from a slow start to the campaign. The players were unsettled after the departure of Gasperini to Roma and the new man had to pick them up: “We had to work on the mental aspect,” he says, “revitalising their enthusiasm and finding that self-belief they had perhaps lost along the way.
“The rest comes as a consequence of that, as this is a team with a lot of quality.”
Recent victories over Euro rivals Lazio, in the league, and Juventus in the Coppa Italia show just how far La Dea has come in a short space of time. And Atalanta looks very capable of climbing above Gasperini’s Roma in the coming weeks.
Injury hit Napoli must hold their nerve
The latest Serie A 2026 betting odds are saying what we have known for a week or so, that Napoli’s title defence is as good as over, and all focus is now on securing a top four place, in the hope they can make a better fist of the Champions League next term than they did this season.
I have some sympathy for Conte who has experienced a horrific run of injuries which has seen summer marquee signing Kevin De Bruyne out of the team for most of the campaign, and the Belgian star is joined by striker David Neres, midfielder Frank Anguissa and captain and right back Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Kosovan defender Amir Rrahmani has picked up a hamstring injury and he will miss out as well this weekend.
Conte will see this game as a must not lose but he has the firepower to win it, with an attack led by Rasmus Hojlund with eight goals and two assists, while the other former Manchester United star, Scott McTominay has six goals and three assists. His team still has confidence and the fiery Italian boss will ensure they don’t lose any focus.
History
This relationship has seen many a good battle; Napoli have won 18 to Atalanta’s 15 and there have been eight draws from the last 41 meetings, while at the Gewiss Stadium the tally stands at eight wins each and three draws.
When the two teams last met in Bergamo, Napoli won 3-2 and Conte’s team also came out on top in Naples this season as a David Neres brace inspired a 3-1 victory.
Atalanta have won three, drawn one and lost two of their last six games while Napoli have won two, drawn two and lost two, but I Partenopei are four matches unbeaten.
Betting Tip
The hosts are at SBOTOP odds of 2.35 to win with Napoli at 2.89 and the draw is at 3.25 and I can make a case for either team. But I’m going for goals.
Five of Napoli’s last six games have yielded three goals or more, the exception being a 1-1 draw with Como in the Coppa Italia while the in-form Atalanta have scored twice in each of their last two Serie A games.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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