Preview: Napoli vs. Sassuolo - prediction, team news, lineups

The Serie A leaders continue their Scudetto quest at Stadio Maradona, where they crushed Rangers 3-0 in midweek, and now face a mid-table side desperately seeking some consistency.

Match preview

Almost inevitably, Napoli's 100% record in Champions League Group A - which saw them confirm qualification for the knockout stages after just four matches - continued on Wednesday, as Luciano Spalletti's men go from strength to strength.

Despite resting several regular starters, the Partenopei followed up back-to-back wins over Ajax by brushing aside Rangers for a second time, as Giovanni Simeone's quickfire first-half brace put them on the road to another three points - they can guarantee top spot by avoiding defeat to Liverpool next week.

With European football assured for after the World Cup break, Napoli can concentrate fully on their pursuit of a first Serie A title for over three decades, and that journey continued last weekend, with a crucial late winner from recently-returned Victor Osimhen securing victory in the Derby del Sole.

Edging out Roma at Stadio Olimpico ensured the Azzurri did not drop points for the first time since August, and sees them sit three points clear of reigning champions Milan at the summit of the Serie A standings.

After getting the better of his former club in the capital, Spalletti would now equal his best winning streak as Napoli coach if they turn over Sassuolo on Saturday, having won his first eight league matches in charge at the start of last season.

Brave at the back and fearsome up front, under his watch, the Campanian club are the only unbeaten side in Serie A, and only Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have also traversed the opening weeks without defeat across the top five European leagues.

In all, Napoli have not lost in their last 15 top-flight matches while winning 13 times in the process, and such a scintillating streak started back in April, with a 6-1 victory against Sassuolo.

Having won only two of their 18 Serie A meetings with Napoli to date, Sassuolo will be up against both form and precedent when they arrive at Stadio Maradona, and only once before have the Emilian club even kept a clean sheet against Saturday's hosts.

Alessio Dionisi's current crop occupy ninth spot in the table after 11 rounds, tucked in behind Calcio giants Inter and Juventus, after posting both four wins and four losses so far.

Though the Neroverdi recently lost to Atalanta and Inter in successive games, they had beaten Salernitana 5-0 beforehand, and most recently they took care of business against another bottom-half side: fighting back to win 2-1 at home to Verona on Monday.

In-form midfielder Davide Frattesi scored what turned out to be the decisive goal at the Mapei Stadium, where Sassuolo have fared well this season, but they have only won once on the road to date - including an early Coppa Italia exit at Serie B side Modena.

With five clean sheets already, though, Dionisi has forged a more sound defensive unit this year: along with Napoli, Sassuolo are among the three Serie A teams to have faced fewest shots on target. Unsurprisingly, the Azzurri have also landed the most attempts on target themselves (72), so that new-found fortitude will surely be put to the test in Naples.

Napoli Serie A form:

W

W

W

W

W

W

Napoli form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Sassuolo Serie A form:

L

W

W

L

L

W

Team News

After another European success in midweek, Luciano Spalletti has the opportunity to recall Victor Osimhen on Saturday - last Sunday, the Nigeria striker scored his second successive winner since returning from injury, but was rested as Giovanni Simeone and Giacomo Raspadori started against Rangers.

Matteo Politano could also return to the lineup, having made his Serie A debut seven years ago for Sassuolo, against Napoli. The diminutive winger netted 20 goals in 96 league appearances for the Neroverdi, but has faced them eight times since leaving without ever scoring or laying on an assist.

His inclusion would see Hirving Lozano make way, while Leo Ostigard will hope to retain his place ahead of Juan Jesus - Kim Min-jae's regular centre-back partner Amir Rrahmani remains sidelined by injury.

Another fixture in Spalletti's favoured XI this term, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa returned to training last week after being ruled out by a thigh problem, so can compete with Tanguy Ndombele and Eljif Elmas for selection in midfield.

Meanwhile, Sassuolo will hope chief creator Domenico Berardi can return from a muscular injury this week, but 18-year-old Luca D'Andrea stands ready to deputise again - Emil Konradsen Ceide and Hamed Traore are among the visitors' other options to support Andrea Pinamonti up front.

Though Mert Muldur and Gregoire Defrel are both out until after the World Cup, captain Gian Marco Ferrari is back from suspension, which means Kaan Ayhan may have to make way.

On the radar of several bigger clubs, after becoming a greater threat in the opposition area, Italy midfielder Davide Frattesi has already matched his goal-haul from the entirety of last season (four) in 25 fewer games.

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Kim, Jesus, Olivera; Ndombele, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia

Sassuolo possible starting lineup:

Consigli; Toljan, Erlic, Ferrari, Rogerio; Frattesi, Lopez, Thorstvedt; D'Andrea, Pinamonti, Lauriente

We say: Napoli 2-0 Sassuolo

Previews by email