Serie A Week 23 – 4 Feb 2017 (19.45 UK)
Bologna – Napoli
Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
Arkadiusz Milik could make his comeback on the bench as Napoli must react to dropping their first points of 2017 with a trip to Bologna.
The Partenopei could’ve caught Roma in joint second place with a victory over relegation battlers Palermo, but instead just scraped a 1-1 draw thanks to a Josip Posavec howler. In fairness, they had dominated the match, hit the woodwork and forced several saves, but the fact remains they couldn’t put the ball in the net.
Leonardo Pavoletti is still finding fitness and Manolo Gabbiadini has gone to Southampton, so the timing is perfect for Milik to make his return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in late September. He’s expected to be on the bench at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Saturday, leaving Dries Mertens as the False 9 with Jose Callejon and Lorenzo Insigne. Kalidou Koulibaly is still at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Lorenzo Tonelli and Ivan Strinic are carrying knocks.
Bologna showed a real clinical edge when holding Cagliari to a 1-1 draw in Sardinia last week, making the most of practically their only chance of the game. Blerim Dzemaili bagged a brace in the victory over Torino and he returns from suspension to bolster the midfield. However, Federico Viviani and Emil Krafth are both banned after their red cards in Cagliari, while Saphir Taider, Filip Helander and Daniele Gastaldello are in serious doubt due to injury.
Keep an eye on: Dries Mertens (Napoli) – From emergency back-up to hugely impressive False 9, the little Belgian has discovered a whole new side to his game. If Milik does return, or Pavoletti starts, he can simply slot into his old position on the left of the trident attack, giving Lorenzo Insigne some much-needed rest.
Form Guide: Bologna (D W W L W) Napoli (D W W W D)
Last season: Napoli
Stat fact: The last eight meetings between these sides, home and away in all competition, provided a total 33 goals.
Top tip: Over 3.5 Goals
Bologna (probable): Mirante; Torosidis, Oikonomou, Maietta, Masina; Donsah, Dzemaili, Nagy; Di Francesco, Destro, Krejci
Suspended: Krafth, Viviani
Napoli (probable): Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Maksimovic, Ghoulam; Zielinski, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Mertens, Insigne
Suspended: None
