4th placed Atalanta racked up a sixth win on the trot in the Italian top flight on the weekend when they grabbed a 3-2 win away from home at Udinese, which in turn helped Atalanta maintain their bid for a top four finish and Champions League football next season.
Thursday’s hosts now hold a commanding nine-point cushion over 5th placed Roma and having won their last six matches on the trot, Atalanta will no doubt be in confident mood that they can further extend their winning streak when Napoli come to town.
Goals have featured on a prominent basis too in recent times as the six victories have seen the goal-tally rise to a massive 30 goals in total where Atalanta have been involved.
While at home, the hosts have also won their last three matches on the trot at their Gewiss Stadium.
Indeed, Gewiss Stadium has been the place to be if looking for goal action as 13 of Atalanta’s 14 home matches have produced three goals or more, while the likes of midfielder Ilicic (15 goals) along with forwards Muriel (15 goals) and Zapata (8 goals) will be keen to fire their side to a seventh win on the bounce here.
Napoli currently occupy 6th place on the Serie A ladder and hold an important three-point cushion ahead of 7th placed AC Milan but the visitors know that they must get something from this trip to Atalanta in order to keep the chasing pack below them at arms length.
Having won their last five matches on the trot, Napoli will also fancy their chances of grabbing the all-important three points here in order to not only cement their current 6th place spot but could also put them in the frame for an automatic spot in the Europa League.
The visitors have also won their last four matches on the trot away from home as they’ve registered wins on the road at Sampdoria, Cagliari, Brescia and Hellas Verona, so they won’t be too fazed by a trip to face an in-form Atalanta here, especially with the likes of forwards Milik (10 goals), Mertens (7 goals) and Insigne (5 goals) in their attacking personnel.
This upcoming clash involving Atalanta and Napoli has also produced goals in previous exchanges with five of the last six meetings resulting in over 2.5 goals.