Serie A: Can Napoli Be Best of the Rest?

Napoli vs Sassuolo

Hands up – who thought this clash in early October would be a meeting between the sides placed second and fifth in Serie A?

Ok, now be honest, SBOBET fans, and let me ask you the question again.

The truth is, few people expected Sassuolo, the small club based in the province of Modena, to be this high, even accounting for their rapid progress and notable victories in recent seasons.

Talking Points

That they are is one of the Serie A 2018 highlights so far, although how much last week’s home humbling by Milan will affect them remains to be seen.

The Neroverdi would actually have leapfrogged Napoli had they won, which shows just how well they have done in the early stages of the new season.

Their 100 per cent home record may be gone, but they will travel to Naples with little to lose and as distinct underdogs.

Roberto De Zerbi is in doubts for Sassuolo as they face Napoli in the Serie A without their midfielder Afred Duncan — Sassuolo coach Roberto De Zerbi giving orders from the touchline

Coach Roberto De Zerbi felt his players lacked experience in that 4-1 defeat, and that is understandable given their squad, although they have proven experience in the likes of Kevin-Prince Boateng and Andrea Consigli and the exciting potential of Domenico Berardi and Manuel Locatelli.

They have relished punching above their weight, and it’s easy to forget their only other defeat this season so far was a narrow reverse to champions Juventus, who were far too strong for Napoli last weekend as they set a new club record for their best start to the season.

Mario Rui was sent off in that game and will miss this encounter, and coach Carlo Ancelotti has urged his men to ‘learn lessons’ from that defeat.

It seems already that the Juventus juggernaut will be too strong for any of their leading rivals this season, and the ‘Old Lady’ of Turin are already six points clear.

However, Napoli want to be, at the very least, the best of the rest for the third time in four years.

Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne, Jose Callejon and Piotr Zielinski are among their danger men and, on paper, should be too strong for their opponents. Ancelotti knows it will not be easy to juggle both Serie A and Champions League commitments, though, particularly if injuries and/or suspensions hit a fairly small squad.

Yet their last-gasp Champions League triumph over Liverpool in midweek will be an enormous boost for their confidence.

Ancelotti’s tactical adjustments in that game surprised many but it helped them to a deserved victory at the Stadio San Paolo, and they will come into this encounter full of confidence.

Mertens and Zielinski are likely to start after being used from the bench in Europe, and it will be interesting to see whether the experienced Italian manager selects Nikola Maksimovic who was a shock starter in midweek and made only his 20^th appearance for the club, more than two years after his move from Torino.

History

Napoli ran out 3-1 winners in this fixture last season at a time when they were unbeaten and their opponents, struggling.

Yet they needed a late Jose Callejon goal to earn a point in the return fixture last Easter, a result which signalled a wobble in their title charge.

The two games the seasons previous both ended level.

Sassuolo held them to a 1-1 draw in Naples, and the sides then drew 2-2 in the return.

In their 10 meetings in the Italian top-flight since Sassuolo were promoted for the first time ever in 2013, Napoli have triumphed five times with four draws and a sole Sassuolo success.

That came in August 2015 when Nicola Sansome was the home hero with a late goal in a 2-1 win.

Betting Tip

	Napoli vs Sassuolo	Total Goal 4-6 @ 2.36
	October 8, 12:00 AM (GMT+8)

Napoli are overwhelming favourites with Serie A 2018 betting odds.

The 1X2 favours the hosts 1.33 with Sassuolo priced at a very distant @ 8.00.

Even the Emilian side is out @ 5.20 to get a draw.

Napoli -1.50 @ 1.97 is one of the best Asian Handicap bets you can get on Ancelotti’s side, contrasting with Sassuolo + 1.25 @ 2.20 with Asian Handicap.

Goals are likely, and that is reflected in over 3.25 goals which only pays out @ 1.98 and under three goals @ 2.23.

The Double Chance Sassuolo or Draw @ 3.15 will appeal to backers of the visitors and those who believe their fifth place in the table is no fluke.

And remember, three of their last four meetings have ended all square.