Napoli will host Lecce at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Sunday, aiming to end their dreadful campaign on a high.
Napoli are tenth in the league table ahead of the visit of Lecce, and it has been a disappointing season for the outgoing Serie A champions. The Parteopei managed to win the league title last season, and they have been close to finishing in the bottom half this term.
Francesco Calzona’s men need a win here to ensure a ninth-placed finish, as there is a chance the position gets its placeholder a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League next season. So, they will look to pick up a positive result here and give the fans something to cheer about. Napoli are winless in their last six league games, and they will have to raise their performance levels here.
Meanwhile, he visitors are 14th in the league table, and they are coming into this game on the back of two consecutive defeats. Lecce will look to take advantage of Napoli’s vulnerabilities and grind out a positive result away from home.
It remains to be seen whether they can pull off an upset. Napoli picked up a 4-0 win away from home when the two teams meet in September, and it remains to be seen whether Lecce can avenge that defeat here.
Team News & Tactics
Napoli
Star striker Victor Osimhen is ruled out with physical discomfort. Piotr Zielinski misses out with a thigh problem and has played his final game for Napoli. Meanwhile, Mario Rui has a muscle injury.
Napoli are likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation against Lecce, with Alex Meret in goal. Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Mathias Olivera will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Amir Rrahmani and Juan Jesus will start at the heart of the defence.
In the midfield, Jens Cajuste will start alongside Stanislav Lobotka and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa. They will look to add defensive cover and drive to the midfield. Giacomo Raspadori will lead the line for Napoli against Lecce, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Olivera; Cajuste, Lobotka, Anguissa; Politano, Raspadori, Kvaratskhelia
Lecce
The visitors will be without Nicola Sansone due to muscle injury, Lameck Banda due to knee surgery, Mohamed Kaba due to knee injury, and Kastriot Dermaku due to ACL damage.
Lecce will start in a 4-4-2 formation against Napoli, with Wladimiro Falcone in goal. Valentin Gendrey and Antonino Gallo will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things compact defensively and help out during transitions. At the heart of the defence, Marin Pongracic will start alongside Federico Baschirotto.
In the wide areas, Pontus Almqvist will start along with Patrick Dorgu. They will look to help create goalscoring opportunities in the final third with their pace, flair and movement. Ylber Ramadani will start in central midfield alongside Alexis Blin. They will look to shield the back four and keep things tight in the middle of the park. Finally, Roberto Piccoli will lead the line for Lecce alongside Nikola Krstovic.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Falcone; Gendrey, Pongracic, Baschiroto, Gallo; Almqvist, Ramadani, Blin, Dorgu; Piccoli, Krstovic
Key Stats
- Napoli have won five of their last seven matches against Lecce in all competitions.
- There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Lecce’s last four games in Serie A.
- Napoli have scored at least two goals in six of their last seven matches against Lecce in all competitions.
- Both teams have winless in their last four matches in the league.
- Napoli have conceded ten goals in their last six matches in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Embed from Getty Images
The 23-year-old winger has done quite well despite Napoli’s poor form, and he has 11 goals and six assists in all competitions. The Georgian has been exceptional in his recent outings against AS Roma and Fiorentina.
Kvarastskhelia will look to continue in his impressive run of form and influence the game in the final third with his pace, flair and goalscoring ability. Napoli will need him to step up and deliver if they want to grind out all three points here.
Prediction
Napoli 2-1 Lecce
Napoli are the better team on paper, and they have better players as well. Despite their recent form, they will be the favourites heading into this game. Lecce are lacking in confidence and form right now after losing two on the bounce and this will be another tricky contest for them.
Both teams will play for the three points, and this is likely to be a close contest. However, Napoli have the quality to edge this one eventually. A narrow 2-1 win for the home team is on the cards.