For most of the current Serie A season, it seems likely that the Serie A championship in Italy will go to either AC Milan or Napoli. But after dropping points in recent weeks, both are now playing catch-up with leaders Inter Milan. A win in their head-to-head on Sunday is crucial to keep the chase going.
AC Milan host Napoli is having difficulty when the two teams are only 3 points apart near the top of the table. Given Inter’s current form, we can revisit this match as a title elimination contest. A draw also doesn’t serve much.
Milan (2nd, 39 points) appear to have turned the tables after their November loss, although a disappointing draw against 14th-placed Udinese last time around complicated their title value. However, the Rossoneri are only 4 points behind leaders Inter and will advance within 1 point with a win.
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Napoli (4th, 36th), meanwhile, will see their championship hopes hanging by a rope with a seven-point lead over Inter Milan. The Partenopei’s scudetto dreams have faltered after three consecutive winless games, and failing to take all three points at the San Siro could put fourth place and Champions League spot at risk.
Both teams will be looking to prove their early-season blitz is more than just a flash. Each of the clubs in this tournament started their campaign with a 12-match unbeaten streak, only to stumble at the same time to open the door for Inter. AC Milan have collected 8 of the 18 points obtained in the last 6 matches, while Napoli have only 5 points in the same period.
How to watch AC Milan vs. Naples
- Day: Sunday, December 19
- Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Channel: CBS Sports Network
- Spanish TV: – Not available –
- Streaming online: fuboTV , Paramount +
The match will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network, available to live stream on fuboTV . New fans to fuboTV can get it through a 7 day trial .
In addition to broadcasting on CBSSN, the match will also be accessible through the CBS Paramount+ platform.
Broadcasts will include video game and post-game shows with CBS talent at the San Siro field.
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News AC Milan vs. Naples
The hosts have some injuries to face, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic believe a new yard at their Milanello training ground is to blame.
The most notable injury is midfielder Simon Kjaer, who tore his ACL net against Genoa in early December and will miss significant time. Ante Rebic has been injured since mid-October with ankle and thigh problems, and his return is unclear after individual training.
AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud continues to work on his own as he returns from a muscle problem and he is tipped to be available for Napoli in a role from the bench. Three other players Pietro Pellegri, Rafael Leao and Davide Calabria have also trained this week and left-back Theo Hernandez may also be out.
AC Milan predicted starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan (GK) – Fode Ballo Toure, Romagnoli, Tomori, Kevin Malcuit – Kessie, Tonali – Krunic, Diaz, Saelemaekers – Ibrahimovic
Napoli talisman Lorenzo Insigne was back from a brief calf injury last time out in the loss to Empoli, coming on from the bench. That match resulted in the club suffering yet another injury to Piotr Zielinski. The Poland international was ruled out for breathing problems and while the club announced shortly after the game that he was fully released, it is possible Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti will let him rest. .
It is an injury crisis for Napoli. Striker Victor Osimhen has been sidelined and now Lorenzo Insigne will have to skip the game. Defender Kalidou Koulibaly will also miss at least the winter break with a thigh injury. That leaves Serie A cruiser Juan Jesus as his replacement. In two matches without Koulibaly, Napoli conceded four goals, plus a belated equalizer against Sassuolo when the Senegal international was injured. He will be a great loss.
Predicting Napoli’s starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Ospina (GK) – Di Lorenzo, Juan Jesus, Rrahmani, Kevin Malcuit – Demme, Anguissa – Elmas, Zielinski, Politano – Mertens
Predictions and odds AC Milan vs. Naples
Odds by DraftKings
If losing Osimhen to injury wasn’t hard enough in attack, the loss of Koulibaly, as noted above, has devastated the Napoli defence, and against AC Milan’s physically rich attackers like Ibrahimovic, it has could be a different thing.
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Speaking of Zlatan, he has scored four times in his last four Serie A appearances, and he scored a brace against Napoli the last time he faced them, a 3-1 win over AC Milan in October. November 2020. Playing at Napoli is a house of terror For AC Milan of late, but at home, it is not a problem when the away team is missing important pieces.
Pick: AC Milan win & both teams score (+290)
Guess: AC Milan 3-1 Napoli
- Cash flow: AC Milan +125 / Draw +255 / Napoli +220
- Spread: AC Milan -0.5 (+125) / Napoli 0.5 (-140)
- Total goals is O/U 2.5: Above -115/Below -105
- Both teams scored: Yes -150 / No +115
