The final round of Serie A fixtures serves up a top-against-bottom clash as scudetto winners Napoli host relegated Sampdoria on Sunday.
Having clinched their first Serie A title in 33 years, Napoli find themselves 16 points clear of second-placed Lazio. Luciano Spalletti’s men have lost just four of their 37 league outings this season, picking up 27 wins and six draws along the way.
Led by top scorer Victor Osimhen, who has netted 25 goals in 31 league games, and Georgian playmaker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has racked up 12 goals and 13 assists, the Neapolitans have enjoyed a hugely impressive campaign.
The scudetto winners have been especially strong on home soil this term, registering 13 wins, three draws and two losses at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with 38 goals scored and only 15 conceded in front of their own fans.
Although Napoli have taken their foot off the gas in recent weeks – recording two wins, three draws and one defeat across the past six outings – Spalletti’s men will be confident of finishing the season on a high.
At the opposite end of the table, bottom club Sampdoria find themselves five points adrift and 12 points from safety, having endured one of the worst campaigns in the club’s history.
The Genoa outfit have managed to win just three of their 37 league encounters this season, registering 10 draws and 24 losses in the process. Plus, they have the worst offensive record and the joint-worst defensive record in the division.
Not only have La Samp failed to win any of their last 10 matches – suffering six defeats along the way – but they have also failed to win 20 of their previous 21. As a result, Dejan Stankovic and his players have been planning for life in Serie B for some time.
To make matters worse for Sampdoria, they have lost each of their last eight Serie A meetings with Napoli, while the Genoa outfit have failed to score in six of those defeats.
Given that La Samp have managed to win just one of their previous 23 top-flight matches against the Neapolitans, all the signs point towards another victory for the champions.
Napoli will finish the season without Hirving Lozano and Mario Rui, who both find themselves sidelined through injury. There are also question marks over the fitness of Matteo Politano, who missed last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Bologna.
As for Sampdoria, Emil Audero, Andrea Conti, Ignacio Pussetto and Abdelhamid Sabiri will all miss the final game due to injury, while Mickael Cuisance is a doubt for Sunday’s clash.
Serie A fans in the UK can watch the match on BT Sport 2.
Expert Insight: Anything other than a straightforward Napoli victory would be a huge surprise here. Given the 68-point gulf between the scudetto winners and the basement dwellers, Spalletti’s men are expected to sign off with another dominant victory in front of their adoring fans.
Serie A