Massimiliano Allegri believes reigning champions Napoli are favourites to win the Serie A title this season.

AC Milan, who host Antonio Conte’s side on Sunday in the league, will be hoping to end Napoli’s perfect start to the league campaign.

The Rossoneri are currently three points behind in third following Juventus’ draw against Atalanta, but could go top of the table if they beat Napoli.

Allegri acknowledged the size of the task ahead at San Siro, but hopes to cause an upset in front of their home fans.

“Tomorrow we face Napoli, who deservedly won the Scudetto last season,” said Allegri.

“They had an important transfer window, and I still believe they’re the favourites for the title. Conte is excellent at getting the best out of players.

“In their last 26 games, they won 18 times. In recent years, Milan have always lost at home against Napoli. We hope to overturn those numbers. It will certainly be a great match.

“It’s a great game, the first big match of the season. It will be an important test.”

Napoli maintained their 100% start to their title defence with a 3-2 win at Pisa last time out, which followed victories against Sassuolo, Cagliari and Fiorentina.

Despite leading the way in the Italian top-flight, Conte refused to be drawn into the conversation about being favourites.

“Personally, I thought it was crazy when people called us favourites given that we had finished 10th, out of European competitions, in the previous campaign,” said Conte.

“I don’t label anyone as favourites. I just know, and I repeat, that Milan, Inter and Juve, because of their history, tradition, wages and financial value, have always written important chapters in football history.

“They are strong teams. As for who is the favourite or not, I’ll leave those games to the media. We just need to stay focused.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

AC Milan – Christian Pulisic

Christian Pulisic has made a strong start to his season, registering three goals and one assist in just two league starts.

Since making his Serie A debut (2023-24), Pulisic has been involved in 44 goals (26 goals, 18 assists); no player has been involved in more goals than the American in the last three seasons of the top flight (Lautaro Martinez also has 44).

Napoli – Matteo Politano

Matteo Politano has scored six goals against Milan in Serie A. Of those six goals, four came at San Siro (two for Sassuolo and two for Napoli).

However, the 32-year-old is yet to find the back of the net in the league this season, providing one assist across four matches.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

Milan have won their last three league games without conceding a goal. The Rossoneri could make it four consecutive wins and a clean sheet for the first time in Serie A since August-October 2020.

Napoli have lost just two of their 21 Serie A away games (W12 D7) under Conte - a record-low for the fewest away defeats among teams in the last two Serie A seasons. They have also kept 11 clean sheets away from home in this period, only Atalanta (12) have more.

Conte is also unbeaten in seven of his nine meetings with Allegri in all competitions, winning each of the last three. This will be the first time the two coaches have met in 11 years and 357 days (3-2 for Antonio Conte in Serie A, on 6 October 2013).

Napoli have won each of their first four Serie A matches this season; only three times previously have they won their first five matches of a Serie A campaign (1987-88, 2017-18, 2021-22), but on none of those occasions did they go on to win the Scudetto.

Milan have won just two of their last 12 Serie A home matches against Napoli (D3 L7), following a 19-game unbeaten run against them in the competition at the Meazza (W10 D9).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

AC Milan – 41.4%

Draw – 27.4%

Napoli – 31.2%