Raffaele Palladino is set to lead Atalanta against Serie A champions Napoli this Saturday. Despite receiving other offers, he waited for Atalanta, eager to start his journey with them. Appointed after Ivan Juric's departure, Palladino aims to revive Atalanta's fortunes. "I didn't hesitate to say yes, as we have the same objectives," Palladino stated during his introduction.
Napoli, currently fourth in the league, are two points behind leaders Inter. They have not won in their last three matches across all competitions. Their recent 2-0 loss to Bologna added pressure before the international break. Despite rumours about Antonio Conte's future, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis dismissed any speculation regarding his position.
Palladino previously
led Fiorentina to their best Serie A finish since 2015-16 but left in May despite a recent contract extension. Now at Atalanta, he is focused on European qualification. "Our target is European qualification," he said. "The squad is strong, and I think this team must do more. " His first challenge will be against Napoli at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Napoli's Matteo Politano praised Conte's influence on his development and believes they can overcome their current slump. "Conte absolutely improved me as a player," Politano noted. He acknowledged that Atalanta would be a formidable opponent under new management.
For Napoli, Scott McTominay stands out after helping Scotland reach the World Cup with a stunning bicycle kick against Denmark. However, he has not contributed to any goals in his last three Serie A appearances for Napoli. Meanwhile, Atalanta's Ademola Lookman hopes to regain form after struggling under Juric this season.
Un nuovo capitolo A new chapter #Palladino #GoAtalantaGopic.twitter.com/cFprG7N45B
- Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) November 19, 2025
Lookman has scored five of his Serie A goals against Napoli, making them one of his favoured opponents alongside Empoli. His performance could be crucial for Atalanta in this match.
Match Prediction: Napoli Win
The last draw between Napoli and Atalanta occurred in 2019; since then, Napoli has won six of their 11 league meetings. Despite this record, Atalanta has scored at least two goals in each of their last three games against Napoli.
Napoli remains unbeaten in their last 16 home matches in Serie A (W12 D4). They are the only team among Europe's top five leagues without a home league defeat since late 2024. However, they have struggled offensively recently, failing to score in three of their last five league games.
Atalanta has not won any of their last seven Serie A matches (D5 L2), marking their longest winless streak since 2015-16. Yet they have enjoyed success at Naples recently, winning their last two away games against Napoli by a 3-0 scoreline.
| OPTA Win Probability | |
|---|---|
| Napoli | 43% |
| Draw | 27.8% |
| Atalanta | 29.2% |
This weekend presents an exciting clash as both teams aim for victory amidst contrasting forms and ambitions.
