Napoli vs Atalanta: Preview, Prediction & Lineups | Serie A 2025/26
Napoli vs Atalanta — Match Preview
The eyes of Italy turn to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this Saturday for a tantalizing Serie A showdown. Napoli, currently sitting 4th and looking to reignite their Scudetto charge under Antonio Conte, host an Atalanta side in desperate need of a spark.
The headline story is in the dugout: this match marks the official debut of Raffaele Palladino as Atalanta manager. After a dismal start to the season that sees La Dea languishing in 13th place, the club has turned to the former Monza boss to save their campaign. He faces the ultimate baptism of fire against Conte’s intense, vertical Napoli side. Will the “new manager bounce” stun Naples, or will Conte’s men pile more misery on their visitors?
Napoli vs Atalanta — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Napoli vs Atalanta
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 12)
- Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples
- Date: Saturday, 22 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 20:45 CET / 19:45 GMT / 01:15 IST (Sunday)
- Referee: Marco Di Bello
- TV Channel (UK): TNT Sports 1, OneFootball
- TV Channel (USA): Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
- TV Channel (India): Galaxy Racer (GXR), JioStar
- Live Stream: Paramount+ (USA), GXR (India)
Napoli vs Atalanta — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Napoli:
- Position: 4th in Serie A (22 Points).
- Form: Inconsistent. While they beat Inter 3-1 recently, a shock 2-0 loss to Bologna before the break raised questions about their focus.
- Current Challenge: Finding consistency. Conte’s side oscillates between brilliant (vs Inter) and flat (vs Lecce/Bologna). They need to turn their home stadium into a fortress again.
Atalanta:
- Position: 13th in Serie A (13 Points).
- Form: Dismal. They have won just one of their last 5 league games, including a painful 0-3 home loss to Sassuolo which led to the managerial change.
- Current Challenge: The “Palladino Reset.” The new manager has had only a few days to instill his ideas. His priority is stopping the flow of goals conceded (11 in 11 games isn’t terrible, but they aren’t scoring enough).
Napoli vs Atalanta — What’s at Stake
For Napoli:
- Title Ambitions: With Inter and Milan setting a relentless pace, Napoli cannot afford to drop points at home. A win keeps them in the title conversation; a loss could see them drift 7-8 points off the top.
For Atalanta:
- The Shock Factor: A win in Palladino’s first game would instantly lift the gloom over Bergamo. It would prove that this squad—talented on paper—is still capable of fighting for Europe.
Napoli vs Atalanta — Team Form
Napoli (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Bologna (0-2)
- D vs Eintracht Frankfurt (0-0 – UCL)
- D vs Como (0-0)
- W vs Lecce (1-0)
- W vs Inter (3-1)
Atalanta (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Sassuolo (0-3)
- W vs Marseille (1-0 – UCL)
- L vs Udinese (0-1)
- D vs AC Milan (1-1)
- D vs Cremonese (1-1)
Napoli vs Atalanta — Team News
Napoli:
- Romelu Lukaku: Out (Thigh Injury – A massive blow for Conte).
- Kevin De Bruyne: Out (Thigh Injury – The marquee summer signing is still sidelined).
- Frank Anguissa: Out (Thigh Injury).
- Billy Gilmour: Out (Groin Injury).
- Alex Meret: Out (Foot Injury).
- Leonardo Spinazzola: Questionable (Groin Injury).
- Rasmus Højlund: Available (Expected to start against his former club).
Atalanta:
- Gianluca Scamacca: Out (Knee Injury – Long term).
- Mitchel Bakker: Out (Knee Injury).
- Nikola Krstović: Available (The €25m summer signing starts upfront).
- Ademola Lookman: Available (The danger man is fit).
Napoli vs Atalanta — Head to Head
- 19 Jan 2025: Atalanta 2–3 Napoli
- 03 Nov 2024: Napoli 0–3 Atalanta
- 30 Mar 2024: Napoli 0–3 Atalanta
- 25 Nov 2023: Atalanta 1–2 Napoli
- 11 Mar 2023: Napoli 2–0 Atalanta
Napoli vs Atalanta — Predicted Lineups
Napoli (3-4-2-1):
With Lukaku out, former Atalanta man Rasmus Højlund leads the line. Miguel Gutiérrez continues at left wing-back.
- GK: Vanja Milinković-Savić
- RCB: Giovanni Di Lorenzo (C)
- CB: Amir Rrahmani
- LCB: Alessandro Buongiorno
- LWB: Miguel Gutiérrez
- CM: Stanislav Lobotka
- CM: Scott McTominay
- RWB: David Neres (Playing a very offensive wing-back role)
- CAM: Matteo Politano
- CAM: Elif Elmas
- ST: Rasmus Højlund
Atalanta (3-4-2-1):
Palladino sticks to a familiar shape for his debut but introduces Nikola Krstović as the focal point.
- GK: Marco Carnesecchi
- RCB: Odilon Kossounou
- CB: Isak Hien
- LCB: Berat Djimsiti
- RWB: Raoul Bellanova
- CM: Éderson
- CM: Mario Pašalić
- LWB: Davide Zappacosta
- CAM: Lazar Samardžić
- CAM: Ademola Lookman
- ST: Nikola Krstović (#90)
Napoli vs Atalanta — Impact Bench Options
Napoli:
- Giacomo Raspadori: Without Lukaku, he is the main alternative if Højlund struggles. His low center of gravity works well against Atalanta’s giant defenders.
- Cyril Ngonge: Offers chaotic energy on the wing late in games.
Atalanta:
- Charles De Ketelaere: Surprisingly benched for Palladino’s debut, but the Belgian has the quality to unlock any defense in the final 20 minutes.
- Mateo Retegui: Another physical option if they need to chase a goal with direct crosses.
Napoli vs Atalanta — Tactical Outlook
Napoli:
- Playing Style: “Vertical Conte-Ball.” Conte will look to bypass Atalanta’s press quickly. Expect Lobotka to drop deep and fire vertical passes to McTominay (making late runs) or Højlund (holding up play). With David Neres as a wing-back, Napoli’s right side will basically be a second winger, pinning Atalanta back.
- Weakness: Left Flank Defense. Miguel Gutiérrez is brilliant going forward but leaves gaps. If Bellanova exploits that space, Napoli could be in trouble.
Atalanta:
- Playing Style: “Controlled Aggression.” Palladino is less chaotic than Gasperini. While they will still man-mark, expect them to be more patient in possession, using Samardžić and Lookman in the “half-spaces” to turn and drive at Napoli’s defense.
- Strength: Physicality. The spine of Hien-Éderson-Krstović is incredibly strong. They will try to bully Napoli on set-pieces.
Napoli vs Atalanta — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Alessandro Buongiorno vs. Nikola Krstović | The Physical War: Krstović is a tank. Buongiorno is Italy’s best rising defender. This will be a pure wrestling match for 90 minutes. | Napoli |
| Scott McTominay vs. Éderson | Box-to-Box Engines: Two powerhouse runners. Whoever has the stamina to track back in the 80th minute wins the game for their team. | Tie |
| Miguel Gutiérrez vs. Raoul Bellanova | Speed vs. Speed: Bellanova is one of the fastest players in the league. Gutiérrez loves to attack. This flank will be a highway all night. | Atalanta |
Napoli vs Atalanta — Spotlight Players
Rasmus Højlund (Napoli):
Facing his former club is always special. With Lukaku injured, the pressure is on the Dane to deliver goals. He has looked sharp in flashes since his loan move from Man Utd, but he needs a “signature performance” to win over the Naples crowd completely.
Lazar Samardžić (Atalanta):
The Serbian playmaker was heavily linked with Napoli for years but ended up in Bergamo. He has the keys to the attack under Palladino. His ability to shoot from distance is Atalanta’s best weapon against a deep block.
Napoli vs Atalanta — Fan Reactions
Napoli Fans:
“No Lukaku and no KDB? We need the Stadio Maradona to be the 12th man tonight.”
“Palladino on debut is scary… new manager bounce is real. We have to score early.”
Atalanta Fans:
“Finally, a new era begins. I hope Palladino plays Lookman centrally.”
“Krstović #90 needs to start scoring. We spent €25m for goals, not just hold-up play!”
Napoli vs Atalanta — Where to Watch
- UK: TNT Sports 1
- USA: Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
- India: GXR, JioStar
- Italy: DAZN
Napoli vs Atalanta — Match-Defining Factors
- Palladino’s “Surprise” Tactics: Since this is his first game, Conte has no tape to study. If Atalanta plays a system Napoli doesn’t expect (e.g., a 4-man defense), it could cause chaos in the first 20 minutes.
- Set-Pieces: Napoli has struggled to defend corners without Kim Min-jae’s height (historically). Atalanta’s giants (Hien, Djimsiti, Krstović) will target every dead ball.
- David Neres’ Defensive Work: Playing Neres as a RWB is a massive risk. If Lookman isolates him, Napoli’s right side will collapse.
Napoli vs Atalanta — Prediction
Score Prediction: Napoli 1–1 Atalanta
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Draw (High risk of a stalemate with Napoli’s injuries and Atalanta’s new manager caution).
- Total Goals: Under 2.5 Goals (Conte will be cautious; Palladino will prioritize defense first).
- Card Market: Over 5.5 Cards (Di Bello is the ref, and both teams are aggressive).
Analysis: Napoli are missing their two biggest stars (Lukaku & De Bruyne), which severely blunts their attack. Atalanta will be energized by the new manager and desperate not to lose. Expect a gritty, tactical battle where a 1-1 draw feels like the most logical outcome.
Napoli vs Atalanta — Final Word
This feels like a trap game for Napoli. Missing their spine and facing a motivated Atalanta under a new manager is the perfect recipe for dropped points. Raffaele Palladino will be desperate to make a statement in his hometown of Naples. While Conte’s men are favorites on paper, the absences of Lukaku and KDB level the playing field significantly. Don’t be surprised if La Dea leaves with a point.
Napoli vs Atalanta — FAQs
When is the Napoli vs Atalanta match?
The match is on Saturday, 22 November 2025, at 20:45 CET (Sunday 01:15 IST).
Is Romelu Lukaku playing?
No, Romelu Lukaku is out with a thigh injury. Rasmus Højlund will replace him.
Who is Atalanta’s manager?
Raffaele Palladino is the new Atalanta manager, making his debut in this match after replacing the previous coach earlier this week.
Where can I watch Serie A in India?
You can watch the match live on Galaxy Racer (GXR) and JioStar.
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