Napoli are fifth in Serie A and just two points off of the top four. The fight for Champions League qualification is so thick in Serie A that just five points separate second-place Atalanta and sixth-place Lazio.
Gennaro Gattuso will take the Partenopei to Spezia on Saturday seeking to keep their unbeaten run going. Napoli are unbeaten in five straight fixtures with three wins and two draws being tallied.
Spezia are 16th in the Serie A standings and relegation is a possibility. Just three points separate Spezia from the bottom three. They have benefitted from Benevenuto’s recent poor run of form.
The Serie A rivals have met twice already this season in league and cup matches. Spezia shocked Napoli in the reverse Serie A fixture with a 2-1 win.
Napoli’s Andrea Petagna scored in the 58th minute but Spezia hit back with goals from M’Bala Nzola and Tommaso Pobega to seal a shock win. Spezia’s Ardian Ismajili was sent off in the second half following a second yellow card.
The sides met again in the Copa Italia with Napoli posting a 4-2 win. All four Napoli goals came before the halftime break. Spezia scored twice in the second half to make things interesting but coulding get any closer than 4-2.
Gattuso has five names on the injury list going into the weekend. Nikola Maksimovic tested positive for COVID-19 and is unlikely to be fit to play. Stanislav Lobotka reportedly has an illness which could keep him out of action.
Defeat Kalidou Koulibaly is likely to miss due to a calf strain. Striker Victor Osimhen is a doubt due to a concussion.
Faouzi Ghoulam has a knee injury that could keep him sidelined. Spezia’s Nzola is suspended for the fixture. He scored a penalty against Napoli in the reverse match.
Napoli took 11 points from the last 18 on offer with 12 goals scored and six allowed. The Partenopei should keep their five-match unbeaten run going this weekend with a sixth straight game without defeat.
Spezia are winless in four straight games. They took just five points from the last 18 available to them. They were outscored 12-7 during those six games.
Napoli may have lost the reverse fixture, but should claim a win this weekend away to Spezia. The Partenopei should claim a win and potentially move into the top four.Spezia, on the other, hand could fall into the relegation zone with a loss.
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