Napoli vs Salernitana

Napoli will be aiming to remain on the upwards trajectory when they face rock-bottom Salernitana in a must-win Serie A match-up.

Napoli have experienced an upturn in form in the build-up to this fixture, going from two consecutive Serie A matches without winning (D1, L1) to back-to-back victories ‘to nil.’ After getting their stuttering league campaign back on the rails, ‘I Partenopei’ will be looking to reduce a seven-point gap on pacesetters Inter Milan and keep their Scudetto hopes alive. Back to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, where they’ve lost three of their last four Serie A games (W1), is not necessarily encouraging. However, Salernitana’s arrival in Naples feels Luciano Spalletti’s men with confidence, as they’ve never lost a top-flight H2H (W1, D2), eking out a narrow 1-0 win in the reverse fixture back in October. Spalletti has based his team’s domestic success this season on a rock-solid backline, with Napoli (15) conceding fewer Serie A goals than any other side so far.

On the other hand, Salernitana look to be sinking without a trace after losing more Serie A matches (16) and conceding more goals (49) than any other side this season. With eight points separating them from safety, the visitors will be looking to build on an unexpected 2-1 win at Hellas Verona last time out, ending a run of five Serie A away games without winning (D1, L4). Particularly vulnerable beyond half-time, ‘I Granata’ have conceded a league second-high 15 second-half goals away from home this term. Their scoring return doesn’t offer much comfort either, with no team scoring fewer first-half goals on the road than Salernitana (2) this Serie A campaign. Home and away, Salernitana’s tally of 13 Serie A goals scored this season is a comfortable league-low as they remain the only side in Italy’s top-flight yet to smash a 20-goal barrier.