KAMPALA: Luciano Spalletti has no injuries to worry about as Serie A pacesetters Napoli defend an eight point cushion atop the standings at Inter Milan’s Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on Wednesday evening. The Neapolitans have their best chance to win Italy’s top flight title since Diego Armando Maradona led them to the country’s biggest domestic club honour in 1987 and 1990. They lead Serie A on key metrics – points, goals scored and chances created, with their goal difference of +25, eleven better than that of their nearest rival
Partenopei’s mercurial attack of the division’s best breakout star, Georgian Kvicha Kvaratchkelia, Nigerian speed merchant Victor Osimhen and Azzuri striker Giacomo Raspadori will have their work cut out trying to get the better of Simone Inzaghi’s 19-time champions in front of their fans. The trio are all well rested, having missed out on World Cup action. Nerrazzuri stars Stefan de Vrij and Marcelo Brozovic are both in contention to start along with World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez.
Record champions Juventus begin match day 16 in third place, ten points behind leaders Napoli but are favourites to overcome relegation threatened Cremonese despite a long list of injuries. Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic, Juan Cuadrado, midfield metronome Paul Pogba and veteran skipper Leonardo Bonucci all face late fitness tests before being considered for selection by Old Lady boss Maximilliano Allegri.
Reigning champions AC Milan commence the action at unpredictable Salernitana fully aware that any slip up will witness Stefano Pioli’s side surrender their title. An equally engrossing encounter takes place in Sassuolo when the free scoring hosts welcome 1991 Serie A champions Sampdoria. The visitors begin the match day second from bottom with a paltry six points but coach Dejan Stankovic will summon the spirit of class of 91 stars Gianluca Vialli, Roberto Mancini and Attilio Lombardo as they seek points to stave off the relegation monster.
WEDNESDAY
Salernitana v AC Milan,
Sassuolo v Sampdoria,
Spezia v Atalanta Bergamo,
Torino v Hellas Verona,
Lecce v Lazio,
AS Roma v Bologna,
Cremonese v Juventus,
Fiorentina v Monza,
Inter Milan v Napoli,
Udinese v Empoli.