Napoli vs Sassuolo| Series A | Predictions | Alignments | Key statistics and betting tips

Prediction – Napoli 5 – 1 Sassuolo

Recent form

In their Serie A clash at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Napoli and Sassuolo feature contrasting forms and recent histories. Napoli’s recent performances in the league have been underwhelming, with just one win in their last five matches. Their only win was against Udinese by a narrow 1-0 margin. The team has struggled to get the points, evident in two draws against Inter and Hellas Veronaboth finishing 2-2. In addition, Napoli suffered back-to-back defeats against Lazio and Cremonese, each by a score of 2-0. This pattern indicates a team struggling with consistency and defensive vulnerabilities, which could affect their confidence as they prepare to face Sassuolo. In contrast, Sassuolo’s recent league form is a bit more stable, but not without its challenges. They achieved a remarkable 2-0 win against Roma, showing their ability to compete against strong teams. However, this was offset by a heavy 3–0 loss to Juventus and a 0–1 loss to Torino, which highlighted the inconsistencies in their performances. Draws against Parma and Bologna, both of which ended 1-1, suggest that while Sassuolo can hold their own, they struggle to turn draws into wins consistently. Historically, Napoli have dominated the last head-to-head meetings with Sassuolo, winning the last five meetings. These wins have been decisive, with Napoli often keeping clean sheets and scoring multiple goals. That track record gives Napoli a psychological advantage, despite their current form, as they look to build on their home advantage and historic success against Sassuolo.

Napoli Last 5 League games

Napoli’s recent performances in Serie A have been mixed, reflecting a team capable of controlling games but struggling to turn dominance into wins on a consistent basis. In the last five league games, Napoli have only won once, against Udinese with a result of 1-0, while drawing twice and suffering two defeats. This sequence suggests that while Napoli can assert dominance in terms of possession and set pieces, their ability to capitalize on these opportunities and maintain defensive solidity remains inconsistent. The draw against Inter was testament to Napoli’s resilience and ability to compete against top teams, managing a balanced 50% possession and securing two assists. However, the high rates of possession, especially against Hellas Verona (70%) and Lazio (65%), did not translate into wins, indicating a potential inefficiency in breaking down defensive formations. The game against Lazio, where he scored more corners and had more possession but failed to score, highlights a recurring theme of struggling to convert chances into goals. Defensively, Napoli have shown vulnerabilities, as evidenced by conceding two goals against both Lazio and Cremonese. The absence of John Jesus due to the suspension, he could further strain his defensive line-up, which will require adjustments by coach Rudi Garcia. The expected line-up features a mixture of experienced defenders such as Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Amir Rahmanialong with versatile Leonardo Spinazzolathat he may have to take a step in the absence of Jesus. In terms of the tactical approach, Napoli could focus on exploiting their strength in midfield, with the likes of Scott McTominay and Stanislav Lobotka providing stability and creativity. The presence of Rasmus Højlund up front suggests an attacking approach that will look to capitalize on any defensive lapses from the opposition. However, to improve their chances of success against their upcoming opponents, Napoli will need to improve their efficiency in front of goal and strengthen their defensive organisation, using the strengths of their expected line-up to meet the challenges posed by the competitive environment of Serie A.

Sassuolo last 5 league games

Sassuolo’s recent performances in Serie A have been a mixed bag, reflecting both resilience and areas in need of improvement. In their last five league games, they have managed a commendable win against Roma, a game where they were clinical on the counter-attack despite having just 36% possession. This win highlights their ability to take their chances, even when they don’t dominate possession. However, a disappointing 0-3 defeat at home to Juventus followed, where Sassuolo struggled to break down a well-organised defense and failed to register an assist. Their matches against Parma and Bologna ended in 1-1 draws, which pointed to some consistency in securing points, but also revealed their difficulty in turning draws into wins. These matches demonstrated Sassuolo’s ability to maintain competitive possession levels, with 53% against Parma, and their ability to create chances, as seen in their free kick and corner kick stats. However, their inability to convert those chances into goals remains a concern, especially against teams with a good defensive set-up. The recent 0-1 defeat at home to Torino further highlights Sassuolo’s difficulties in finding the back of the net. Despite having more possession, they failed to break down Torino’s defence, highlighting a recurring problem in their attacking play. This lack of finishing ability can be attributed in part to the absence of key players like Kristian Thorstvedtwhose shoulder injury has sidelined him and could affect the team’s attacking dynamic. Heading into their next game, Sassuolo’s predicted line-up suggests a balanced approach, with a strong defensive foundation with players like Arijanet Murić in goal and a defensive line led by Josh Doig i Sebastian Walukiewicz. In the middle of the field, the experience of Nemanja Matic he will be crucial in both controlling the tempo and protecting the backline. In advance, the dependence of attackers such as Armand Laurienté and Andrea Pinamonti it will be vital to convert the chances created into goals. The team’s current form suggests they could take a cautious approach, looking to capitalize on counter-attacking opportunities while ensuring defensive solidity to avoid conceding goals.

Team news and injuries

Napoli injuries and suspensions

• Juan Jesús (Suspension Yellow Card)

Sassuolo injuries and suspensions

• Kristian Thorstvedt (Shoulder Injury)

Head-to-head (H2H) registration and summary.

H2H Last 5

Detailed H2H analysis

The historic head-to-head record between Napoli and Sassuolo in recent years heavily favors Napoli, showing their dominance in these head-to-heads. Napoli have managed to win the previous five meetings with Sassuolo, with notable wins including a 6-1 thrashing in February 2024 and a consistent ability to keep clean sheets in four of those matches. The possession statistics of these matches reveal Napoli’s strategy of controlling the game, as they consistently maintained more than 60% possession in most matches, reflecting their strength in midfield and ability to dictate play. Furthermore, Napoli’s ability to convert possession into goals is evidenced by their high number of goals, often scoring multiple goals against Sassuolo, while Sassuolo have struggled to break down Napoli’s defence. The upcoming match at Estadio Diego Armando Maradona may see these trends continue, especially given the expected lineups and current form of both teams. Napoli’s lineup remains strong despite the suspension of John Jesuswith a solid defensive unit led by captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and the creative presence of Scott McTominay and Stanislav Lobotka in the middle of the field. Sassuolo, on the other hand, faces a challenge with the absence of Kristian Thorstvedt due to a shoulder injury, which could affect his dynamics in midfield. The presence of experienced players like Nemanja Matic provides some stability for Sassuolo, but his recent performances against Napoli suggest he may struggle to earn a place in the game. Napoli’s consistent success in their previous matches, combined with their strong line-up, positions them as favorites to maintain their winning streak, unless Sassuolo can significantly alter their approach and execution on matchday.

Expected lineups

• Formation: 3-4-2-1
• Players: Vanja Milinković-Savić (Goalkeeper),Alessandro Buongiorno (Defender),Amir Rrahmani (Defender),Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Defender),Sam Beukema (Defender),Leonardo Spinazzola (Defender),Scott McTominay (Midfielder),Eljif Elmas (Midfielder),Matteo Politano (Midfielder),Stanislav Lobotka (Midfielder),Rasmus Højlund (attack)

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Players: Arijanet Murić (Goalkeeper),Josh Doig (Defender),Sebastian Walukiewicz (Defender),Jay Idzes (Defender),Tarik Muharemović (Defender),Nemanja Matic (Midfielder),Luca Lipani (Midfielder),Ismaël Koné (Midfielder),Alieu Fadera (attacks),Armand Laurienté (striker),Andrea Pinamonti (forward)