Napoli vs Sassuolo
Napoli’s Serie A title defence is slowly slipping away, as they’ve inexplicably dropped points in their last three games. The Partenopei are undefeated in their previous five league games. However, three consecutive draws have dropped them to third in the Italian top-flight table with 40 points, as Inter Milan and AC Milan have overtaken them at 46 and 43 points, respectively.
Following their goalless draw against Parma yesterday, Napoli will face Sassuolo for their second straight game at the Diego Maradona Stadium on Saturday, and this is their fourth game in 10 days. This is a must-win for Antonio Conte’s men after Inter Milan and AC Milan took three points from their respective games yesterday.
This looks like a winnable game for the hosts, as Sassuolo’s winless run is extended to six games, following their 2-0 setback against AS Roma last weekend. Fabio Grosso’s side stayed at 11th in the table with 23 points.
Talking Points
McTominay puts Napoli on his back
Scott McTominay’s influence in Naples continues to grow, as he’s been their driving force since his debut season. The former Manchester United midfielder has been productive again, notching five league goals and three assists, including three goals in his past three appearances. With the way he’s been going, don’t be surprised if he becomes Serie A Player of the Year for the second consecutive time.
After scoring against Hellas Verona and Inter Milan (brace), McTominay found the back of the net against Parma, but was called for offside in the tightest possible angle. Napoli piled the pressure on Parma, which included near-goals from Alessandro Buongiorno and Rasmus Hojlund, but to no avail.
The Partenopei hope that McTominay continues to deliver, as they’re still without several key players, namely Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, Romelu Lukaku, and Alex Meret. David Neres, Eljif Elmas, and Leonardo Spinazzola could draw starts after coming off the bench against Parma. Juan Jesus is back after the Brazilian centre-back served his one-match ban.
Napoli have been relatively quiet in the winter transfer window. However, according to local reports, Antonio Conte’s side is eyeing Fenerbahce’s Youssef En-Nesyri, but the team must sell Lorenzo Lucca or Noa Lang to make a deal happen.
Sassuolo have a worrying absentee list
Sassuolo will face one of their toughest tests this season, taking on the defending champions. However, the Neroverdi’s form and absence list leave much to be desired. Much has been said about their ongoing drought, and they’ll continue to be without several key players on Saturday.
Kristian Thorstvedt and Domenico Berardi remain on the sidelines, while Fali Cande recently sustained a torn ACL. Head coach Fabio Grosso hopes to have Woyo Coulibaly and Filippo Romagna back in the mix, with the former having returned from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Besides this, the Neroverdi are growing worried about Andrea Pinamonti and Armand Lauriente, as neither has scored since mid-December.
History
Napoli won 2-0 against 10-man Sassuolo during the opening matchday of the 2025-26 Serie A campaign last August, as Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne were on the scoresheet at the Mapei Stadium. Before this, Napoli completed a league double over Sassuolo in the 2023-24 campaign, winning the matchup with an aggregate tally of 8-1, before the Neroverdi were demoted to Serie B.
Overall, these two teams have faced off 24 times, with Napoli having the upper hand. The Partenopei recorded 15 wins, while Sassuolo have two wins and seven draws. At the Diego Maradona Stadium, Napoli have nine wins in 12 matches against Sassuolo (D2, L1).
Saturday marks only the second meeting between Antonio Conte and Fabio Grosso. Conte has eight wins, one draw, and two losses in his previous 11 games against the Neroverdi.
Betting Tip
The Serie A 2026 odds have Napoli poised to claim maximum points this weekend. The Partenopei are 1.42 favourites to win, while Sassuolo are 6.70 underdogs, and a draw is at 4.00 in the 1X2 market. A draw or a loss will put a dent in the hosts’ title aspirations. Napoli will likely rotate their squad, but they should have enough quality to see this through. Besides our recommended bet, SBOTOP bettors can add Total Goal 2-3 at 1.98, Over 2.25 at 1.79, Over 2.50 at 2.03, and Over 2.75 at 2.31 to the parlay since new Serie A 2026 highlights are inevitable. On the other hand, the Correct Score of 2-0 in favour of the Partenopei – the result of their previous league encounter – offers a solid payday of 5.80 your bet.
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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