Napoli and Atalanta: A Rivalry Renewed

The History

The rivalry between SSC Napoli and Atalanta BC is one of the most heated in Italian football. The two clubs are located in different parts of the country, with Napoli in the south and Atalanta in the north. However, they have a long history of competing for trophies and have developed a fierce rivalry over the years.

The first meeting between the two clubs was in 1929, and Napoli won 2-0. Since then, the two teams have met 161 times in all competitions, with Napoli winning 65 times, Atalanta winning 57 times, and 39 draws.

The Rivalry Today

In recent years, the rivalry between Napoli and Atalanta has been renewed due to the success of both clubs. Napoli have won the Coppa Italia twice in the last three years, while Atalanta have finished in the top four of Serie A in each of the last three seasons.

The two clubs are set to meet again in Serie A on 19 March 2023, and the match is sure to be a hotly contested affair. Napoli will be looking to continue their good form and close the gap on league leaders AC Milan, while Atalanta will be looking to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Key Players

Napoli have a number of key players who will be looking to make a difference in the match against Atalanta. These include:

• Victor Osimhen: The Nigerian striker is Napoli's leading goalscorer this season with 12 goals in 21 Serie A matches.
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: The Georgian winger has been one of the breakout stars of the season for Napoli, scoring 8 goals and providing 9 assists in 21 Serie A matches.
• Piotr Zielinski: The Polish midfielder is a key part of Napoli's midfield and has scored 5 goals and provided 5 assists in 21 Serie A matches this season.

Atalanta also have a number of key players who will be looking to make a difference in the match against Napoli. These include:

• Ademola Lookman: The Nigerian winger has been in excellent form for Atalanta this season, scoring 9 goals and providing 4 assists in 21 Serie A matches.
• Rasmus Hojlund: The Danish striker has also been in good form for Atalanta this season, scoring 8 goals in 21 Serie A matches.
• Teun Koopmeiners: The Dutch midfielder is a key part of Atalanta's midfield and has scored 5 goals and provided 4 assists in 21 Serie A matches this season.

Prediction

The match between Napoli and Atalanta is sure to be a close and exciting affair. Both teams are in good form and will be looking to take all three points. Napoli will be the slight favorites, but Atalanta have shown that they are capable of beating anyone on their day.