Atalanta and Napoli set for shootout
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Napoli sit second in Serie A and are undefeated in their last six league games. Carlo Ancelotti’s team is playing well in all competitions and go into Monday night’s fixture against Atalanta having defeated Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League.
Atalanta have underperformed this term and haven’t played up to their high expectations from recent years. The black and blue sit 11th with 18 points from 39. Gian Piero Gasperini’s team suffered a shock 3-2 loss to Empoli last time out. The defeat ended Atalanta’s four-match winning run.
Last season, Napoli went to Bergamo and defeated Atalanta 1-0. The two clubs did play three times in 2017-18 with Napoli winning both Serie A games. Atalanta won their Coppa Italia fixture, 2-1.
The Neapolitans will aim for another victory in Bergamo when they meet. Ancelotti has taken 12 of 18 points away from home this season tallying 11 goals while conceding nine. Napoli haven’t had the stout defence they have had in years previous, but they are scoring goals. Napoli have scored the second most goals (26) in Serie A behind Juventus. Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne have combined for 14 of Napoli’s 26 strikes. The deadly duo has scored 54 percent of Napoli’s goals.
Atalanta have also found the back of the net with regularity. La Dea have tallied the third most goals in Serie A (25). However, the team has allowed 17 strikes which has led to five losses from 13 games. Atalanta’s last five fixtures have all ended in more than 2.5 goals scored. They have been brilliant games to watch from a neutral’s prospective and go against the cliché that Serie A is boring and defensive. La Dea average 1.9 goals a game.
Napoli’s games have seen plenty of goals as well. Their last six away games in Serie A have featured over 2.5 goals scored. Ancelotti’s tactics have Mertens playing the best football of his Napoli career. The Belgian struck twice in midweek in the Champions League. He has 10 goals and four assists in 18 games in all competitions. Mertens is Napoli’s most dangerous attacker and Atalanta’s defence must slow him down. Alejandro Gomez continues to be Atalanta’s best player in front of goal. The Argentine has tallied four goals and two assists in 12 games.
Ancelotti already has one eye on Napoli’s crunch Champions League matchday 6 game with Liverpool. Napoli must avoid losing by two goals to the Reds to go through. Ancelotti has already said Napoli’s game against Atalanta will be ‘more difficult’ than their game versus Liverpool. Napoli could have one eye on the Champions League allowing Atalanta to breach their defence. However, Napoli are too good to lose in Bergamo on Monday. The Neapolitans are in great form and will win in a goal-fest that with over 2.5 goals scored.
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