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SportsSerie A Matchday 13: Top two face off as Atalanta host Napoli

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Serie A Matchday 13: Top two face off as Atalanta host Napoli

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Unbeaten league leaders Napoli could be set for their toughest test of the season — a trip to second-placed Atalanta.

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s Roma host Lazio in the first Derby della Capitale of 2022-23.

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Juventus face Inter Milan in yet another titanic clash as the pair look to maintain their recent strong form and climb up the table.

Elsewhere, reigning champions AC Milan host Spezia, while relegation-threatened Lecce travel to Udinese.

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Game of the week: Atalanta vs Napoli (Saturday, 5pm)

Napoli are flying high and sit five points clear at Serie A’s summit.

Luciano Spalletti’s side have won eight league games in succession, including each of their last four away from home.

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Additionally, the Partenopei have trailed for the fewest minutes of any team this term (46).

However, their next opponents Atalanta have only been behind for 84 minutes themselves — the fourth-best record in the division.

Furthermore, the Bergamo-based outfit have found the net in each of their last eight league games against Napoli, so will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet this Saturday.

Roma vs Lazio (Sunday, 5pm)

No Serie A player has registered more assists than Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's seven in 2022-23
No Serie A player has registered more assists than Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s seven in 2022-23

Roma and Lazio head into this derby separated by just a point and a place in the table.

Encouragingly for the Giallorossi, they have only lost twice at home to their rivals in their last 24 Serie A meetings (14 wins, eight draws).

In the era of three points for a win, this fixture has produced more red cards than any other in Italy’s top tier (35). However, only one of those has come in the last six clashes.

Juventus vs Inter Milan (Sunday, 7.45pm)

Nicolo Barella has been a key creative figure for Inter Milan this term
Nicolo Barella has been a key creative figure for Inter Milan this term

Both these teams come into this heavyweight clash in excellent form after disappointing starts to their respective seasons.

Juventus have won each of their last three Serie A games without conceding, while Inter Milan are on a four-match league winning streak — scoring at least twice in each of those victories.

Sunday’s hosts have been much more solid at the back than their counterparts, though. In Europe’s top five leagues, only Barcelona have shipped fewer goals (four) than the Bianconeri’s seven, while the Nerazzurri have conceded 17 times.

However, Inter boss Simone Inzaghi has beaten Juventus seven times in 18 games as a manager since April 2016 (two draws, nine defeats) — more than any other head coach in that period.

AC Milan vs Spezia (Saturday, 7.45pm)

Spezia shocked AC Milan when they visited the San Siro last season
Spezia shocked AC Milan when they visited the San Siro last season

Third-placed AC Milan have made a solid start to their title defence.

In 2022, they have kept nine league clean sheets at home. Only Liverpool and Real Sociedad (both 10) have managed more in Europe’s top five leagues.

Spezia, meanwhile, have lost each of their six Serie A away games in 2022-23 without scoring — Sampdoria are the only other side in the competition who have failed to score in half their league outings this term.

Udinese vs Lecce (Friday, 7.45pm)

Udinese have failed to win any of their last four Serie A outings after a strong start to the campaign — though a clash with struggling Lecce offers a good chance to end that run.

Le Zebrette have won 11 of their 14 home league encounters with Friday’s opponents (three defeats) and the Giallorossi have taken fewer shots (101) than any other side in the division.

This fixture has a lower percentage of draws than any other Serie A clash to have been played at least 12 times (3.6% — one out of 28).

The weekend’s other games

Empoli vs Sassuolo (Saturday, 2pm)

Salernitana vs Cremonese (Saturday, 2pm)

Bologna vs Torino (Sunday, 11.30am)

Monza vs Verona (Sunday, 2pm)

Sampdoria vs Fiorentina (Sunday, 2pm)

Source: Livescore

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