Napoli vs AC Milan
Third plays second in the Serie A match of the weekend when Napoli host AC Milan on Monday at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Neither team has given up on the title just yet. With eight games to go leaders Inter Milan are six points clear of AC Milan and seven ahead of Napoli, and it is the men of Naples who have been particularly strong in recent weeks, winning their last four games. Manager Antonio Conte is the man for the big occasion, a master tactician who loves to take on Napoli’s biggest rivals.
Conte’s opposite number in the Milan dugout is another serial winner. Max Allegri’s Rossoneri are the only side of the Italian elite not to be in European competition this season, and they are ready to fight it out over the next few weeks in the hope of chasing down I Nerazzurri.
The latest Serie A 2026 betting odds are squarely behind Inter Milan, but the leaders have a serious test of their Scudetto credentials at home to AS Roma on Sunday and, if they do slip up, then the winners of Napoli versus AC Milan will make up some ground.
So let’s take a look at the stars which can make a difference in this classic six-pointer.
Talking Points
Scott is hot for Napoli
The 2025 Scudetto winners have gathered some serious momentum in recent weeks and, if they are to chase down Inter Milan then they will need their Player of the Season from last term to do the business again. Scott McTominay has been one of the big stories in the Italian top flight since his £25 transfer from Manchester United in 2024, playing in a more advanced role than he did at Old Trafford and scoring a host of often spectacular goals.
Following on from a brilliant debut campaign McTominay has already scored seven goals this season, latterly the winner in a 1-0 victory over Cagliari. And that strike made it 19 Serie A goals since his arrival in Naples, the same tally as he managed in seven seasons at Manchester United, 178 games. Only Rasmus Hojlund, on loan from the Red Devils has scored more with ten. And the Danish striker is another star who will play a big role over the next few weeks, particularly as Belgian centre forward Romelu Lukaku is out of sorts.
The 32-year-old was called up for Belgium’s international clash with the USA last week but did not feature and he has not returned for training at Napoli, saying he is staying in Belgium for his rehab…and that has not gone down well with I Partenopei. But Conte has plenty of additional firepower up front with skipper Mateo Politano on target in Napoli’s clash with Torino last month.
Pavlovic is Milan’s man
The visitors will have to be resolute in the face of the Napoli attack and will have to be dominant in defence, and in 24-year-old Serbian star Strahinja Pavlovic, I Rossoneri have just the man in the right form. Milan’s standout performer in March has received great plaudits for his all action performances and calmness in the big moments, scoring goals in recent wins over Cremonese and Torino, while playing a huge part in I Rossoneri’s Milan Derby victory, his efforts keeping a clean sheet to enable Pervis Estupinan to score the winner.
At 6ft 4in Pavlovic is a powerful presence, picking up 54 caps for his country and scoring six goals in 50 games for Milan and he will have a good battle with Hojlund on Monday.
Christian Pulisic and Luka Modric will relish this match too; both have the ability to win the game with a moment of genius, and have bags of experience of the biggest occasions.
History
Napoli lead the head-to-head results, with 16 wins to Milan’s 12 and there have been 13 draws over the past 41 games.
In Naples, the tally is nine wins to four and I Partenopei won this fixture last season 2-1 while I Rossoneri won by the same score line at the San Siro Stadium in September this season. But in the most recent meeting, a Super Cup tie in December Napoli won 2-0
Napoli have won four, lost one and drawn one of their last six games while Milan have won three, drawn one and lost two.
Betting Tip
With Napoli at SBOTOP odds of 2.45, Milan at 3.10 and the draw at 2.87 this is a high stakes clash with chances for either team to make their move on the top. Both clubs have put together a strong set of Serie A 2026 results since the turn of the year, but Napoli have been in superb form and, so for an alternative bet I’d look at a 2-1 home win at a price of 9.25.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
