MILAN (AP) — Napoli is back.
And just in time, the defending champions visited Serie A leaders Roma on Sunday, with just two points separating them.
After a string of disappointing results in Serie A and the Champions League, Napoli bounced back with a 3-1 win over Atalanta and a 2-0 win over Qarabag on Tuesday.
“We’ll have fun and then we’ll put our helmets back on because on Sunday we play against Roma,” Napoli coach Antonio Conte said.
Napoli began to struggle due to injury problems to key players. Romelu Lukaku, kevin de bruyne and frank anguissa Extended games and short sideline games are excluded.
Conte’s side have not won since the end of October, but last weekend’s victory over Atalanta ended that winning streak.
Conte said: “Napoli is not dead. It’s not a question of whether we are alive or not, but whether we will always continue to give our all and work.” “Whether or not we win the game is different, but we know that we must always give our best.
“These are very difficult times for players… We have to start from the assumption that the players will be on the pitch. If they are not available, we need to find another solution… We are moving forward. We played two great games.”
major matches
AC Milan will be hoping to take advantage of Roma’s blunder.
Milan are level on points with Napoli on points and will play Lazio on Saturday. The Rossoneri will be brimming with confidence after defeating city and title rivals Inter Milan at the derby last weekend.
Inter and Bologna are three points behind Roma. Inter visit relegation-threatened Pisa on Sunday, while Bologna host Cremonese the next day.
At the other end of the table, there is an important relegation battle ahead as bottom club Hellas Verona visit Genoa, who are also in the drop zone and only have two points more than their opponents.
The other team in the bottom three, 19th place Fiorentina, will face Atalanta.
Featured players
Substitute Kenan Juventus came on in midweek and contributed to all three goals as the team secured their first Champions League win of the season with a 3-2 win over Bodø/Glimt.
Juventus host relegation-threatened Cagliari on Saturday, seven points behind Roma.
Scott McTominay scored and scored an own goal in Napoli’s win over Qarabag, and the Scotland international will again be a key player against Roma.
Roma’s often-injured playmaker Paulo Dybala could make a comeback after his recent setbacks.
Activity suspended
Christian Pulisic recently returned from the US national team from injuryHe is likely to miss Milan’s game against Lazio.
Pulisic has suffered a muscle strain and his condition is being assessed daily, but it is unlikely that Milan will put one of their top players at risk.
Pulisic made his first start since returning from a hamstring injury and scored the only goal in Sunday’s derby win.
off the field
Italian media reported that the Asian Football Confederation has given approval to host the Serie A match between Milan and Como in Perth, Australia, in February.
FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, would still need to give permission.
Both Milan and Como fans have voiced their opposition to traveling so far for matches between clubs less than an hour apart.
___
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
