Sassuolo vs Napoli Prediction: Out-of-form sides to share the spoils

Wednesday night’s Serie A action sees two teams in need of an up-turn in fortunes go toe-to-toe as Sassuolo host reigning Scudetto champions Napoli.

Five defeats in their last six games forced the Sassuolo hierarchy to take action and sack manager Alessio Dionisi, with the Neroverdi now only above the relegation zone as they beat 18th-placed Verona 3-1 earlier in the season - that could change after the reverse fixture on Sunday.

Napoli meanwhile look a shell of their former selves as they lie in ninth in Serie A, 29 points adrift of league leaders Inter Milan and in real danger of missing out on European football altogether.

Team news

Sassuolo caretaker manager Emiliano Bigica must do without influential forward Domenico Berardi as he has yet to recover from a knee issue, whilst injuries will also see Mattia Vita and Martin Erlic miss out on the matchday squad.

There is some good news for Bigica, however, as defender Jeremy Toljan will be in contention to feature after recovering from a hamstring injury to make the bench last weekend.

Napoli boss Francesco Calzona has an almost fully-fit squad to choose from, with the only expected absentee being Cyril Ngonge.

Plenty of last season’s title winners are likely to feature again on Wednesday night to drag Gli Azzurri back into European contention, with the pivotal strike force of Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia expected to lead the line.

Match odds

The hosts are the underdogs for this encounter at 10/3, while Napoli are favourites at 4/5 to take all three points back to Naples.

The draw is on offer at 11/4, while the under 2.5 goals market is at 11/10.

Draw and Both Teams to Score @ 7/2

There is rarely a winner when these sides come to a head at the Mapei Stadium, with five of the last seven encounters ending all square.

Napoli were victorious in the other two meetings, but their form this season would not point to further dominance this time around, with Gli Azzurri without a win away from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in any of their last seven in all competitions, losing five.

Twelve of Sassuolo’s 20 Serie A points have come at home, making them only marginally better in front of their own fans, but they have picked up four points across their last three home games.

Five of their last six home games have seen both teams find the net, while the same can be said in four of Napoli’s last five in all competitions, so backing the both teams to score market could be a worthwhile.

Victor Osimhen to score anytime @ 23/20

Napoli’s downturn in form was further hampered by the absence of key striker Victor Osimhen as he helped his Nigeria side reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.

He has come back with a bang with two goals in two games for Napoli and he is more than capable of continuing his fine goalscoring form on Wednesday.

Football betting tips from Betfred Insights.