Napoli are on a two-match winless streak in Serie A ahead of Sunday’s game versus Sampdoria at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The Partenopei are six points back of Inter Milan and need to start winning once more to continue challenging for the Serie A title.
Sampdoria are seven points off of the bottom three in Serie A. Coach Roberto D'Aversa are winless in five of their last six matches in Serie A and are also desperate for points, but for the opposite reasons to Napoli.
Napoli’s form has been poor with just five points taken from the last 18 points on offer in Serie A. They were outscored 8-6 across those six games. The Partenopei were on course to defeat Juventus in Turin on Thursday night, but conceded a second half goal as the game ended 1-1.
Sampdoria took just five points from the last 18 points available as well. They were outscored 11-8 in those last six games in Serie A. Sampdoria have not defeated Napoli since the 2018-19 season. Napoli are on a six-match winning streak versus Sampdoria in Serie A.
The last two meetings between Napoli and Sampdoria finished as wins to nil for the Partenopei. Earlier this season Napoli claimed a 4-0 win with goals from Victor Osimhen and Fabian in the first half followed by scores from Osimhen and Piotr Zielinksi in the second period.
Four of the last six games between these teams finished as wins to nil for Napoli. The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona has been a graveyard for Sampdoria over the years. It has now been over two decades since Sampdoria collected a competitive win versus Napoli in Naples.
Napoli were left reeling by captain Lorenzo Insigne this week. The forward agreed to a $13 million a season contract with Major League Soccer team Toronto FC. Insigne will leave Napoli in July on a free transfer to become MLS’s highest-paid player.
Coach Luciano Spalletti will be without several players for the match. Defender Mario Rui is suspended for Napoli while Alex Meret, Fabian Ruiz, Valerio Boffelli, Kevin Malcuit, Osimhen, and Hirving Lozano all tested positive for COVID-19.
Andre Anguissa, Adam Ounas, and Kalidou Koulibaly are at the AFCON tournament. Sampdoria coach D’Aversa without Antonio Candreva due to a suspension. Omar Colley is at the AFCON tournament and will miss the game.
Sampdoria’s Tommaso Aguello and Wladimiro Falcone both tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the match. Valerio Verre and Mikkel Damsgaard are both ruled out through injuries.
Napoli are on a six-match winning streak in Serie A versus Sampdoria. After Thursday’s draw with Juventus, the Partenopei should crack on with a win versus Sampdoria and reignite their title hope.