Matchday 16 in the Serie A pitted second to fifth against one another. Inter’s 4-0 win away to Udinese means they are set to profit immensely from the fallout of these fixtures as Napoli host Roma and Fiorentina travel to a recovering Juventus. Napoli and Roma have both been sides to take advantage of Juventus’ slow start to the season to top the table at different stages, but now they face off against one another, but who comes out on top in a combined XI?
Maurizio Sarri’s men have been in stunning form over the last two months and they unsurprisingly dominate this combined XI, although there were signs in their shock 3-2 defeat to Bologna that fatigue and an over reliance on moments of brilliance from Gonzalo Higuain could prove their undoing in their quest to land their first Serie A title since 1989/90.
Higuain’s stunning form ranks him as the highest player among both players by some distance in this combined XI. The Argentina international has scored at least four more goals than any other player in Serie A this season (14) and his performances must be making those that passed on the chance to sign him over the summer watch on with regretful eyes. In fact, he is also the highest ranked player in Serie A, according to WhoScored.com’s statistically calculated rankings (7.90).
He is joined in the team by passing master Jorginho. The 23-year-old would have left Napoli had Rafa Benitez remained in charge, but he is now flourishing under Sarri and must be one of the first names on the team sheet. Jorginho is averaging at least 21.7 passes more than any other player in the division per game this season (96.5).
Not only do they have the magic of Higuain or the control of Jorginho, but they also have the creativity of Lorenzo Insigne in their ranks. The 24-year-old may have seven goals to his name, but no player has registered more assists than the Napoli winger (5), making this Napoli outfit a very dangerous outfit, which Roma may find too hard to overcome.
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