Expect Entertaining Contest When Napoli Faces Atalanta

Game: S.S.C. Napoli vs Atalanta B.C.
Location: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy
Date/Time: Saturday, 2:45 p.m. ET

Napoli vs Atalanta Betting Preview

Head to Head

Napoli vs Atalanta was a common fixture last season as they met four times. In the Coppa Italia semifinals, they played to a 0-0 draw in Naples. Then, Atalanta beat Napoli 3-1 in the second leg to go through to the final.

The Serie A meetings were split as Napoli won 4-1 over Atalanta at home last October. Atalanta got revenge with a 4-2 win in Bergamo. This was a high-scoring fixture last season, averaging 3.8 goals per game.

Leaders Napoli Facing Adversity

Overall, this has been an excellent season for Luciano Spalletti and his Napoli side. The Partenopei are at the top of the Serie A table and have been a great pick for betting online. There are, however, some concerning signs that have emerged in recent weeks.

Napoli have won one of their last five matches in all competitions and expect to be without key striker Victor Osimhen until February. Even if he returns before then it’ll be for Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations, which key defender Kalidou Koulibaly will also participate in and presumably miss all of January.

Both Milan clubs are hot on their heels and Napoli need to get back to their winning ways to stay in the title challenge.

Winning with defense in the early stages of the season, Napoli have conceded a lot of goals as of late. They conceded just four goals in their first 12 Serie A matches but have allowed five in their last three. Without Osimhen, Napoli’s best shot at staying in the title race is by keeping clean sheets at the rate they were previously.

As predicted, Napoli didn’t have the easiest time vs Sassuolo midweek and gave up a two-goal lead in the second half. They came away with a point but will undoubtedly be frustrated with their performance.

Dries Mertens got on the scoresheet for a third straight Serie A match and his goal-scoring prowess has been much needed in Osimhen’s absence. It’s still easy to wonder if Napoli have enough creativity to stay in the title race, though.

Atalanta Gaining Steam

With an impressive four-game Serie A win streak, Atalanta have emphatically put themselves in the title race. They’ve been one of the best soccer picks of the last few weeks and are coming off a morale-boosting win.

Following an exhausting 1-0 win over Juventus last Saturday, Gian Piero Gasperini rotated his squad a fair bit vs Venezia midweek. It didn’t matter as Atalanta thrashed the newly promoted side 4-0 behind a hat-trick from forward Mario Pasalic.

Interestingly enough, Atalanta have been better on the road than they’ve been at home. They’ve only dropped points once away from home, managing a 2-2 draw vs defending Champions Inter Milan.

Defense had previously been an issue for Gasperini’s side but they have managed two consecutive shutouts for the first time all season. With one of the Serie A’s top scorers in Duvan Zupata, Atalanta are perfectly capable of building on their momentum.

Prediction

This is a must-see match between two of Serie A’s best teams and it remains to be seen whether Atalanta’s defensive progress is for real.

Atalanta are a decent value to win, at +210 sportsbook odds, and I think they’re being somewhat disrespected here.

After blowing a lead midweek, expect Napoli’s focus to be on keeping out a dangerous Atalanta attack. This was a high-scoring fixture last season in three of four matches but I think this one could be closer to the scoreless draw we saw in the Coppa Italia.

Atalanta have a must-win Champions League match the following Wednesday and Gasperini could be a little cautious with his team selection here. Bet under three goals in what should be the match of the week.

Pick: Under 3 Goals (-120)