Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuaín (in red shirt) in action against Juventus. (Photo : Getty Images)
Two of the 2015-2016 Serie A season's top contenders, SSC Napoli (17-3-5, 56 points) and AC Milan (12-6-7, 43 points), are scheduled to meet on Monday, Feb. 22nd at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples for a high-profile Italian top flight matchup.
Napoli just recently held league leadership after going on an eight-game winning streak, but they surrendered the top spot to Juventus FC when they lost to the defending champions, 0-1, during their most recent game on Feb.13th at the Juventus Stadium, as per Goal.
Juve forward Simone Zaza scored the lone goal of the match two minutes right before the full time whistle, which is highly crucial as last year's winners passed Partenopei and finally took over the league table after a dismal start to the season.
Maurizio Sarri's boys were left stunned by the almost last minute connection from the Italian striker as it boosted Juve's title defense while it endangered Napoli's own campaign for the trophy.
The game had been scoreless from the start up to Zaza's goal as La Vecchia Signora failed to penetrate the tough I Ciucciarelli defense amidst their relentless attacks on Pepe Reina's goal.
Napoli relied too much on Gonzalo Higuaín to find a goal, but the Argentine striker was kept silent by Juventus defenders Andrea Barzagli and substitute Daniele Rugani.
Meanwhile, Milan nipped Genoa, 2-1, at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in San Siro last Sunday to stay unbeaten in their last seven outings, as per SkySports.
Colombian striker Carlos Bacca opened the scoring right at the fifth-minute mark before Japanese winger Keisuke Honda drilled in another one at the 63rd to make it 2-0 for the hosts.
Genoa midfielder Alessio Cerci, on loan from Atletico Madrid, scored a consolation goal in injury time to put I Rossoblu on the board and avoid a shutout.
Siniša Mihajlović's team is now in the sixth spot of the league table, four points behind fifth-running AS Roma and 15 points clear off Juventus.
The predicted result is a 3-1 win for Napoli. Gli Azzurri is eager to return to its winning ways and challenge Juve for the title and Milan is just one of the teams in their way.
Napoli starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Reina; Soderlund, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Higuaín, Insigne
AC Milan starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Donnarumma; De Sciglio, Alex, Romagnoli, Antonelli; Honda, Montolivo, Bertolacci, Bonaventura; Niang, Bacca
