Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by Torino last time out, as strikes from Andrea Bertolacci and Carlos Bacca completed a comeback after their opponents had taken a two-goal lead. Vincenzo Montella's charges now find themselves eight points adrift of the table-toppers in top spot, although the former Fiorentina manager’s focus is more likely to be on securing the Rossoneri’s long-awaited return to the Champions League with a top-three finish. Even if they ultimately fall short of that target this term, there are plenty of positives that can be taken from a season in which Milan have rebuilt their team around a core of talented youngsters.
Napoli emerged victorious for the fifth time in their last six matches in the Italian top flight when they last took to the field, beating Pescara by three goals to one in front of their own supporters at the Stadio San Paolo. Maurizio Sarri’s men, who finished as runners-up in 2015/16, are four points adrift of Juventus ahead of the weekend’s action, although it is worth bearing in mind that Max Allegri’s team have a game in on hand on most of the challengers below them. The Scudetto is certainly not out of the question at this stage, but Napoli cannot afford many more slip-ups between now and the end of the campaign if they are to get their hands on the title in May.
Milan will have to make do without the suspended central defender Alessio Romagnoli and injured duo Mati Fernandez and Riccardo Montolivo (both knee) this weekend. Montella will line his players up in a 4-3-3 formation, with gifted academy product Manuel Locatelli anchoring the midfield and M’Baye Niang and Suso providing support to lone frontman Carlos Bacca, who has found the net eight times this term, from the flanks.
Napoli, meanwhile, will be unable to call upon the services of centre-half Kalidou Koulibaly (knee), but striker and summer signing Arek Milik has resumed training and could make his first competitive appearance since October at Serie A. Sarri also tends to prefer a 4-3-3 configuration, with a mobile and fluid front three of Lorenzo Insigne, Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens having excelled in the absence of more traditional centre-forward Milik. In midfield, long-serving captain Marek Hamsik is the most important figure in a creative sense, while Jorginho breaks up play in front of the back four.
Taking everything into account, it is probably worth putting some money behind Napoli in this highly anticipated encounter on Saturday. Milan's form has dipped in the last couple of months, while Sarri's side possess the attacking quality to beat any team in the division as long as they are able to find their rhythm. An away win looks like the best option here, with Callejon an astute choice to score the first goal of the game.
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