Napoli vs Bologna

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As Napoli prepares to face Bologna in the Italian Serie A, they aim to maintain their aspirations for European competition. Despite being a challenging season, Napoli currently occupies the eighth position after 35 matches, contrasting with Bologna's fourth-place standing. Last season at this juncture, Napoli was celebrating a league triumph, but this time around, they've encountered considerable setbacks. Accumulating 51 points thus far, their chances of securing a top-four finish seem remote, leaving them vying for any opportunity in European football. Recent form is concerning, with Napoli failing to clinch victory in their past four matches.

Their position on the table is precarious, with the looming possibility of sliding to ninth, having played more games than Fiorentina, who are only a point behind. In their most recent encounter with Udinese, Napoli conceded a stoppage-time goal, resulting in a 1-1 draw, marking their third draw in the last four matches and only one win in the past nine. Confidence at home isn't soaring either, despite having lost only once in eight home games, they've only managed two wins in that stretch.

On the other hand, Bologna has witnessed a steady ascent in recent seasons, inching closer to European football. Although recent matches have hinted at a loss of momentum, they view the upcoming clash as a potential victory. Currently boasting 64 points, they sit four points ahead of the fifth and sixth-placed teams, Atalanta and Roma.

Italy's allocation of five Champions League spots for the next season offers reassurance for Bologna, yet the competition remains fierce. Encouraged by their commendable performance this season, they aim to conclude on a high note. Their recent encounter with Torino culminated in a goalless draw, extending their unbeaten streak to seven games.

Despite this, it marked their fourth draw in five matches, with three of those matches ending goalless. Bologna's sole defeat in their last 15 matches came against Inter Milan in early March. With such a formidable record, Bologna approaches the clash with Napoli with confidence, especially considering their previous two encounters ended in draws, including a recent 0-0 stalemate.

Bologna could potentially secure their spot in the upcoming season's Champions League with another victory, as they face Napoli on Saturday evening, marking another unexpected turn in Serie A.

Despite Bologna's near-certainty of securing a top-five finish, Napoli's recent league performance has been less than stellar, with just one win in their last eight matches, putting their European prospects in jeopardy.

Napoli's hopes were dashed by Udinese's late equalizer in their previous match, marking their sole triumph since early March. The team, once Italian champions in the 2022-23 season, is struggling to maintain form as the current season draws to a close.

Although Victor Osimhen managed to put Napoli ahead shortly after halftime against Udinese, they failed to hold onto their lead, conceding a goal in stoppage time to a team fighting relegation in Serie A.

Napoli's defensive frailty is evident, having conceded at least one goal in their last 14 consecutive league matches, with their most recent clean sheet dating back to a goalless draw against Lazio in January. This streak represents one of the club's worst defensive performances in Serie A history.

From being the champions just a year ago, Napoli now find themselves in eighth place in the Serie A standings, trailing by five points from securing a guaranteed spot in UEFA competition for the next season.

In the previous encounter back in September, a goalless draw hinted at the possibility of a narrowing gap between these clubs in the ongoing season. However, the current scenario, with Bologna leading Napoli by a surprising 13 points with only three matches remaining, surpasses expectations.

Bologna currently holds the fourth position in Serie A, positioning themselves well for a Champions League berth through a top-five finish. Despite a recent goalless draw against Torino, Thiago Motta's squad maintains their standing above both Rome clubs and Atalanta BC.

Drawing inspiration from influential figures like Jose Mourinho during his playing days at Inter Milan, Motta has instilled a strong defensive structure within the Bologna squad, which has been pivotal in their progress this season.

Since February, Bologna has showcased defensive prowess by securing eight clean sheets, a feat only surpassed by Arsenal across Europe's top five leagues. This solid defense has resulted in Bologna avoiding defeat in all but one of their last 14 Serie A matches.

Moreover, Bologna has capitalized on their formidable home record by clinching victories in four out of their last six away matches, with the remaining two ending in draws. Such impressive form on the road instills confidence in their ability to secure victory as they journey south to face Napoli.

A triumph in Naples would hold significant implications, especially if Roma fails to secure at least a point in their upcoming crucial match against Atalanta on Sunday. In such a scenario, Motta and his team would have reason to celebrate their achievement of ascending to Europe's elite competition.

Despite Giacomo Raspadori nursing an ankle injury and Piotr Zielinski struggling with a calf issue, both are unlikely to recover in time for Napoli's upcoming match against Udine. However, there's a glimmer of hope for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who might be fit enough to make a return to the field this weekend.

Should Kvaratskhelia be deemed fit for play, it's anticipated that he'll take Jesper Lindstrom's spot in the starting lineup alongside Victor Osimhen and Matteo Politano in the attacking trio for the home team.

Politano has been a standout performer for Napoli this season, having contributed to the most goals in Serie A among Italian players, tallying a total of 14 goal involvements, matching Gianluca Scamacca's record. His impressive stats include eight goals and six assists in the league so far.

On the other side, Joshua Zirkzee is expected to lead the attacking line for the visiting team, with support likely to come from Alexis Saelemaekers, who has a history of scoring at Stadio Maradona, having found the net during his previous visit with AC Milan in April 2023. Saelemaekers has also been instrumental in Bologna's recent Serie A outings, scoring both of the team's last two goals.

Lewis Ferguson, the esteemed recipient of the Bulgarelli Number 8 Award for his exceptional midfield displays, has been sidelined for an extended period due to an ACL injury. Another key player, Adama Soumaoro, is also yet to make his return from a similarly serious knee injury, leaving Bologna without their influential captain and defensive stalwart.