AC Milan vs Napoli

One of the most enthralling match-ups in the Serie A calendar pits AC Milan and Napoli against each other at Stadio San Siro in the first midweek round of 2024/25.

With their weekend match against Bologna postponed due to bad weather, Milan got an extra-time rest but will have to make do without Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders, who’re out suspended. The latter bagged a second-half brace to inspire ‘I Rossoneri’ to a 3-1 UEFA Champions League triumph against Club Brugge last weekend, helping them build on a gutsy 1-0 home win against Udinese in their most Serie A outing. Paulo Fonseca’s men have racked up four victories across their last five league matches (L1) and have yet to lose a league fixture on home turf this season (W3, D1). It should boost Milan’s confidence ahead of this showdown as they aim to extend a three-game unbeaten top-flight run against Napoli (W2, D1) and whittle down an eight-point pre-round gap.

On the other hand, Napoli squeezed past perennial strugglers Lecce 1-0 at home over the weekend to extend their unbeaten league run to eight games (W7, D1) and solidify their place at the top of the Serie A table. Four points clear of second-placed Inter Milan, Antonio Conte’s men take this trip in high spirits, with the Italian manager seeking to uphold his unbeaten H2H record against Fonseca as a manager (W1, D3). He has every reason for optimism, considering his charges have gone three consecutive Serie A travels without conceding (W2, D1) since a 3-0 opening-day thrashing at the hands of Hellas Verona. Adding to his confidence, Napoli had won three straight league visits to Milan before slipping to a narrow 1-0 loss in this corresponding fixture last term.