Preview: Sassuolo v Napoli leads game week 23

SERIE A Preview: Sassuolo v Napoli leads game week 23

David Ben 17:10 - 17.02.2023

Sassuolo's clash against league leaders Napoli is the game of the round in Serie A this weekend.

Serie A action returns this weekend with game week 23 starting on Friday, February 17 to Monday the 20th.

The pick of the 10 games in this round is the clash between league leaders Napoli and Sassuolo.

Sassuolo v Napoli on Friday

Sassuolo’s push to secure European football next season continues but they face a tought test on Friday when they host Luciano Spalleti’s men at the Mapei Stadium.

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Spalletti’s men are on a six-game winning streak in the league, whereas, Alessio Dionisi’s men have won  just twice in that period.

Napoli still sit pretty at the top of the summit as they continue their surge for their first Scudetto since 1990.

If this game follows the history books, the encounter should produce goals on this occasion with Over 1.5 goals recorded in their last 10 meetings in all competitions.

Napoli have won five times during that period with the visitors picking up just one win and the remaining four ending in draws - a run that puts the league leaders in pole position to win all three points on Friday night.

The hosts are also heavily armed with their red-hot striker Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian forward who leads the golden boot race with 17 goals in 18 games so far this season, as well as their electric winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who has netted seven times and assisted a further nine times in that run.

a are one of the best duos in Europe this season
Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia are one of the best duos in Europe this season

Giacomo Raspadori has been ruled out for a month with a muscular injury, but Victor Osimhen is expected to start be ahead of Tuesday's Champions League game in Frankfurt.

Sassuolo were unable to get their third win in a row as Udinese held them to an entertaining 2-2 draw last Sunday, but they would be counting on their ability to score against the league leaders on home soil.

The hosts also face a huge blow after Domenico Berardi picked up an injury last weekend with the Italian set be replaced by Nedim Bajrami, but Andrea Pinamonti is once again fit to start up front.

Inter v Udinese on Saturday

Inter play hosts to seventh-placed Udinese on Saturday, February 18, 2023.

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Inter suffered a frustrating result last weekend against Sampdoria on Monday night, denting their slim title hopes, as they were held to a goalless draw which left the Nerazzurri 15 points off Napoli ahead of this matchweek.

However, they hope to get their revenge against  tricky opponent that blew them apart in terms of intensity during the reverse fixture.

On the other hand, Andrea Sottil was pleased with Udinese's attacking performance as the Friulani were unlucky to draw 2-2 against Sassuolo on Sunday.

Saturday action in Serie A

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Saturday begins with Sampdoria hosting Bologna in the Serie A, as the visitors seek to get back to winning ways and improve their position on the summit against the relegation-threatened hosts.

Later on, Monza plays hosts to the defending champions Milan, with the visitors hoping to get a win against the in-form visitors.

The last action on Saturday sees Inter host Udinese.

Roma and Juventus headline Serie A on Sunday

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Serie A on Sunday has five games to offer, the first of which sees Third-placed Atalanta welcome Lecce to the Gewiss Stadium in the early kickoff.

The afternoon game on Sunday is between Fiorentina and Empoli while Salernitana host Lazio.

Ninth-placed Juventus travel to the Stadio Alberto Picco to face Spezia in the evening.

Juventus will be looking to defeat Soezia this weekend.

And in the final game of the night, Jose Mourinhi’s Roma continue their Top 4 quest as they look to defeat relegation-threatened Hellas Verona at the Stadio Olimpico.

Torino v Cremonese headlines Monday Night Football in Serie A

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Relegation-threatened Cremonese are at home on Monday evening to eight-placed Torino.

Another loss for Cremonese would see them edge much closer to relegation.

The last game in round 23 will take place at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino

Expert predictions for Serie A game week 22

In-house betting expert Kolawale Babatunde gives the best predictions from each game in Serie A round 23 with odds from Bet9ja.

Sassuolo vs Napoli: Napoli to win @ 1.60 odds

Monza vs Milan: Monza to win or draw @ 1.69 odds

Inter Milan vs Udinese: Inter Milan to win @ 1.55 odds

Atalanta vs Lecce: Atalanta to win @ 1.55 odds

Sampdoria vs Bologna: under 3.5 goals @ 1.19 odds

Fiorentina vs Empoli: over 1.5 goals @ 1.25 odds

Salernitana vs Lazio: Lazio win or draw @ 1.13 odds

Spezia vs Juventus: home handicap +2 @ 1.32 odds

Roma vs Hellas Verona: Roma to win @ 1.66 odds

on Bet9ja

Torino vs Cremonese: Torino to win @ 1.70 odds

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