NAPOLI v AC MILAN: OPPONENT REVIEW

AC Milan's second consecutive big match in Serie A, who visit current league champions Napoli on Sunday 29 October at 20:45 CET. Not an easy game for the Rossoneri who have, on the whole, picked up several big wins at the Stadio Maradona in the recent past in both the league and European cup competitions. After a poor start to the season, the Partenopei have found their rhythm and remain unbeaten in five of their last six league games, collecting eleven points and scoring 14 goals in the process, an average of 2.3 goals a game.

But their home form has been disappointing to say the least: the Azzurri have lost two of their last three Serie A home fixtures (1W), the same number of defeats as in their previous 23 outings on home turf. After the loss to Fiorentina, they could record back-to-back home defeats for the first time in the competition since December 2021 (three on that occasion, against Atalanta, Empoli and Spezia). In addition, the side from Campania have conceded at least one goal in each of their last three games at the Maradona and could go four on the spin for the first time since they went seven without keeping a clean sheet between January and April 2022.

BALL CONTROL, BUT ALSO ATTACKING AGGRESSIVENESS
The numbers speak of a Napoli team that has collected fewer points than it has shown on the pitch at the start of the season. They have won 17 points compared to an Expected Points index of 19.3, the highest in the current campaign, together with current leaders, Inter. Despite the change of coach, it seems they want to keep on retaining the ball as much as possible and to immediately go and win it back after losing possession. In terms of ball possession, the Azzurri have insisted on an eye-catching brand of football, involving all of their key players from a technical point of view. It is no coincidence that the reigning Italian champions are the team that has the most sequences of at least ten passes made so far this season (153) and in general have recorded the highest number of passes on average per sequence (4.47).

Instead, out of possession, Garcia's side like to keep a high line and suffocate the opposition, as seen by the 87 balls won back in the opposition half, which has so far produced a record-breaking 19 shots and two goals. It is surprising in a certain sense that a team who wants to dominate the game is also one of the most effective on the break: Napoli have attempted the most shots following a counter-attack in Serie A 2023/24 (nine), and out of Europe's top-five leagues only Montpellier (five) have scored more than the Neapolitans (four, like Atlético Madrid) in this specific situation in the current year.

KVARATSKHELIA BACK TO HIS LETHAL BEST
Victor Osimhen's absence due to injury is a big loss for the dynamic of this team, who, however, have found Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in excellent form. After not having been involved in any goals for eleven consecutive Serie A matches, the Georgian is back making a big impact with six goal involvements in the last eight games, including a brace in the most recent league outing against Verona. He's also found his feet in the Champions League too, following the assist for Giacomo Raspadori's decisive goal against Union Berlin. Kvaratskhelia has touched the ball in the opponent's area the most number of times in Serie A 2023/24 so far (58), just ahead of matchday opponent Rafael Leão (56), and in the current tournament has been involved in 21 shots following a dribble (14 shots and seven passes setting up a teammate's effort on goal). In Europe's top-five leagues, only Ousmane Dembelé (22) has done better.

Also in great form is Matteo Politano, who has actively participated in multiple goals in this season's Serie A: seven, including four goals (already surpassing the three he scored in 27 matches last season) and three assists. The attacking winger also has a good record against AC Milan, with four career goals to his name: only against Genoa (five) has he scored more in his career in the top flight.

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