Napoli are six points away from Serie A’s first-place team Inter Milan ahead of matchday 22. The Partenopei could pull within three points of the Nerazzurri this weekend with a win against Bologna.
Internazionale will visit fourth-place Atalanta on Sunday night and a loss could open the door for Napoli and AC Milan in the Serie A title race. Napoli claimed a 3-0 win against Bologna earlier this season. The last three fixtures between Napoli and Bologna finished as wins for the Naples club.
Bologna are 13th in the Serie A table ahead of the weekend. The Rossoblu have lost four of their last five matches in the league and Sinisa Mihajlovic’s team is trending down.
Eleven points currently separate Bologna from the relegation zone currently. A loss to Napoli would potentially allow the bottom three teams move closer to the Rossoblu.
Napoli’s form hasn’t been great. Luciano Spalletti’s team took just seven points from the last 18 points available in Serie A. They scored a mere five goals across those six games and conceded six times. Spalletti needs the team to improve its form and claim a second straight win.
Bologna took six points from the last 18 points available. The Rossoblu were outscored 9-8 by their last six opponents in Serie A.
Mihajlovic has a laundry list of players on the injured, ill, and absent list. Up to seven players could miss out on the fixture due to positive COVID-19 tests. Musa Barrow and Ibrahima Mbaye are both at the Africa Cup of Nations. Riccardo Orsolini and Jerdy Schouten are both likely out due to injury.
Three Napoli players are at the Africa Cup of Nations including Andre Anguissa, Adam Ounas, and Kalidou Koulibaly. Two players tested positive for COVID-19 and could miss the game. Meanwhile, Lorenzo Insigne is a doubt with a groin injury.
Napoli have won three straight matches versus Bologna. On Mondy night, the Partenopei should claim a fourth straight victory over the Rossoblu. Napoli are on a two-match undefeated run while Bologna have lost four of their last five games.
Bologna’s last two home games ended as losses while Napoli are undefeated in three straight road matches. Napoli are +11 in goals away from home.
Napoli have conceded the league’s fewest goals with just 15. Spalletti’s side should keep a clean sheet and post a fourth straight win over Bologna. Like the teams’ reverse fixture in Serie A, it should be a win to nil for the Partenopei.