Preview: Napoli vs. Sassuolo - prediction, team news, lineups

Napoli play host to Sassuolo on Saturday evening looking for the victory which will keep them in the hunt for a top-six spot in the Serie A table.

Meanwhile, after three games without success, the visitors are focused on trying to hold onto eighth position until the end of the campaign.

Match preview

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Having earned a thrilling 3-3 draw with Juventus earlier this month, Sassuolo would have hoped to build on that result in a bid to earn a spot in Europe next season.

However, recording just two points from their last three fixtures has left Roberto De Zerbi's team out of the running, instead needing to focus on retaining their grip of eighth spot.

Only seven points separate Sassuolo to 14th-placed Sampdoria, highlighting that they can ill-afford to take their foot off the gas over the next 10 days.

Aside from failing to defeat 10-man Cagliari at the weekend, there has been little indication that I Neroverdi will not be able to claim at least one victory from a closing triple-header against Napoli, Genoa and Udinese.

While Napoli sit just one place above the visitors, Gennaro Gattuso and his players have ambitions to end the season in fifth position.

Although a Europa League spot has already been secured via the Coppa Italia route, Gattuso will want to finish the campaign on a high after one of the club's worst years in Serie A in recent memory.

If reports are to be believed, there will be a significant overhaul with regards to players, while Victor Osimhen is on course to strengthen the team's attack.

However, after only recording a draw at Bologna and losing to Parma, Napoli require some momentum to show their rivals that they can contend for the Champions League places over the next 12 months.

Napoli Serie A form: WWDDWL

Sassuolo Serie A form: WWWDDL

Team News

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Arkadiusz Milik is expected to return to the Napoli starting lineup after serving a one-match ban.

Hirving Lozano may drop down to the substitutes' bench, while Jose Callejon could get the nod over Matteo Politano.

Having remained as an unused substitute in the last game, Dries Mertens is also in contention for a recall.

After his dismissal against AC Milan, Mehdi Bourabia is missing for the visitors.

Veteran Francesco Magnanelli may be named as the Moroccan's replacement in the centre of the pitch.

Having lasted just 22 minutes after being introduced as a substitute in the same match, Jeremie Boga is expected to be unavailable.

Napoli possible starting lineup: Meret; Lorenzo, Maksimovic, Koulibaly, Rui; Ruiz, Demme, Allan; Callejon, Milik, Insigne

Sassuolo possible starting lineup: Consigli; Muldur, Santos, Peluso, Rogerio; , Magnanelli, Locatelli; Berardi, Raspadori, Haraslin; Caputo

© Sports Mole / SM

We say: Napoli 2-1 Sassuolo

Gattuso will be determined for his first season at Napoli not to end in a damp squib, and this feels like an opportunity to get the club back on track. Although Sassuolo have shown recently that they have the quality to trouble their hosts, they will require a much-improved display to return to winning ways.