Former AC Milan and Italy midfielder Demetrio Albertini admitted he was surprised by the "extremely high level of quality" possessed by Scott McTominay.

The Scotland international was named Serie A MVP last season after helping Napoli win the Scudetto following his move from Manchester United.

He scored 12 goals and registered four assists in the 2024-25 campaign, with only Romelu Lukaku (14) scoring more often for Antonio Conte's side last term.

The 29-year-old has scored five goals and provided three assists this term, but Napoli are six points behind Inter in the Serie A title race.

McTominay will be aiming to help Napoli return to winning ways after three consecutive draws when they host Sassuolo, who have failed to win any of their last six (D3 L3).

"He surprised me with his extremely high level of quality, with the all-round ability he has managed to impose in a year and a half," Albertini told Gazzetta.

"We've seen him do everything: play as a box-to-box midfielder, as a winger, as a forward and then even as a holding midfielder and a playmaker. How many players like him are around?

"That he has been the strongest midfielder in Italy isn't just my opinion; his fellow players said it too, when he was voted MVP at the Gran Gala del Calcio. Those votes come from players like him, and they count for more.

"He scored a lot, and his goals are usually decisive. That's another big difference compared to the norm. I don't know if he's also the best in Europe but he's certainly among the very best and to me that almost feels like a detail."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Napoli – Amir Rrahmani

Rrahmani has been directly involved in three goals in Serie A against Sassuolo (two goals, one assist), his most against an opponent in the competition, with all three involvements coming in his last five appearances against them.

Sassuolo – Armand Lauriente

Since the start of 2022-23, in the league (Serie A and Serie B), Lauriente has scored 33 goals for Sassuolo, more than any other teammate, while he has also provided 18 assists, only fewer than Domenico Berardi (26).

However, Napoli are one of three teams against whom the Neroverdi forward has yet to register a goal involvement despite playing against them at least five times in Serie A (also five games against Lazio and Torino).

MATCH PREDICTION – NAPOLI WIN

Napoli have won their first three Serie A games against newly promoted sides this season, a feat they also achieved last term before picking up just two points from their three such matches in the second half of the campaign.

The Neapolitans have not won four consecutive matches within a single season against teams promoted from Serie B since 2018-19 under Carlo Ancelotti.

Napoli have won all of their last six Serie A matches against Sassuolo, averaging 3.7 goals per game; the Partenopei only have a longer ongoing winning streak against Sampdoria (nine), while they also have six consecutive victories against Crotone.

However, Napoli have drawn their last three Serie A games, as many draws as in their previous 24 matches in the competition (W17 D4); they have not had a longer run of draws since February-March 2013.

Sassuolo have not won in Serie A since December 6 against Fiorentina; since then, they have collected three draws and suffered three defeats. In that period (from MD15 onwards), only Cremonese, Pisa, and the Neroverdi have remained without a win in Serie A.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Napoli – 62.8%

Draw – 21.1%

Sassuolo – 16.1%