Preview: Napoli vs Fiorentina – Team News, Lineups & Prediction

Nonetheless with faint hopes of profitable a second consecutive Serie A title, reigning champions Napoli entertain Fiorentina at Stadio Diego Maradona. Preventing on the other aspect of the desk, La Viola are equally determined for factors as they head into proceedings stranded within the backside three.

Napoli’s season is on the verge of unraveling, although a disappointing UEFA Champions League elimination may show a blessing in disguise for Antonio Conte’s aspect. Chelsea beat the Partenopei 3-2 right here on Wednesday, condemning them to a humiliating Thirtieth-place end in a 36-team desk.

Now that there’s no extra distraction from European soccer, Napoli can concentrate on securing a top-four spot in Serie A on the very least. Even that’s in jeopardy following a dismal run of only one win from their final 5 league matches (D3, L1). Certainly, they’re now solely a degree away from fifth-placed Juventus.

There’s little doubt that Fiorentina would commerce locations with Napoli, as they seemingly face a season-long combat in opposition to the drop. Regardless of beginning the season as perennial European contenders, it’s been one step ahead, two steps again for the Tuscan outfit ever since they bounced again from a 15-game winless begin to the marketing campaign (D6, L9).

Fiorentina have emerged victorious from three of their final six Serie A outings (D2, L1). Nonetheless, they squandered a golden alternative to claw their method out of the relegation zone per week in the past, shedding 2-1 at house to Cagliari.

Match Preview

Napoli

It’s been a tough week for Napoli. Earlier than Chelsea’s triumph on the Maradona Stadium, Conte’s aspect slipped to an embarrassing 3-0 loss to bitter Serie A rivals Juventus. In consequence, they’re staring down the barrel of consecutive league defeats for the primary time beneath the well-known Italian supervisor.

Avoiding that undesirable feat is crucial, contemplating they’re already lagging a whopping 9 factors behind table-topping Inter. Napoli can take coronary heart from the truth that they final misplaced back-to-back league video games in December 2023, to not point out their formidable house file.

The Maradona Stadium has been a fortress, with Napoli but to lose a Serie A fixture at house this season (W7, D3). Nonetheless, it’s price noting that they’ve shared the spoils in three of their final six such contests. That doesn’t bode nicely for the hosts’ hopes of pulling off a fourth consecutive league victory over Fiorentina for the primary time since October 1990.

Fiorentina

La Viola discovered themselves on the receiving finish of a 3-1 scoreline in September’s reverse fixture and want to return the favor. Naples has not been ruthless to Fiorentina lately, with Vanoli’s aspect alternating between profitable and shedding throughout their final seven visits right here (W3, L4).

Nonetheless, the guests’ spirits took one other hit in midweek Coppa Italia motion as Como halted their run within the quarter-finals, courtesy of a 3-1 win at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Leaving the house consolation of their iconic stadium is one more reason for concern, though they beat Bologna 2-1 on their final street journey.

Fiorentina final received successive away league video games in November 2024, whereas they’ve faltered on their Serie A travels this time period. Earlier than eking out an enormous win at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Vanoli’s workforce had picked up simply 5 factors of their first ten Serie A matches on hostile turf (D5, L5), averaging 0.7 objectives per recreation.

Crew Information

Marred by an infinite harm disaster, Napoli can be lacking quite a few first-team stars, together with Kevin De Bruyne, Billy Gilmour, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Amir Rrahmani, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Matteo Politano, and David Neres. Conte has welcomed Alex Meret and Romelu Lukaku again from accidents, with the previous anticipated to begin between the sticks.

As for misfiring Fiorentina, Tariq Lamptey stays the one notable absentee. Discovering the web has been a problem for the guests, however the arrivals of Jack Harrison, Giovanni Fabbian, and Manor Solomon are presupposed to bolster their firepower within the second half of the season.

Napoli vs Fiorentina Potential Beginning Lineups

Napoli (3-4-2-1): Meret; Beukema, Jesus, Good Morning; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Vergara, Elmas; Hojlund.

Fiorentina (4-1-4-1): De Gea; Dodo, Comuzzo, Pongracic, Gosens; Beans; Solomon, Mandragora, Brescianini, Gudmundsson; Small.

Napoli vs Fiorentina Prediction

Napoil could be up the creek with out a paddle and bereft of confidence, however they will at all times depend on their well-known house assist to assist them navigate these troubled waters. Whereas this might really feel like a winnable contest for the guests, it’s unattainable to miss Fiorentina’s infamous journey illness.

Vanoli’s males are doubtless to provide Napoli a run for his or her cash, however they need to finally go down.

Prediction: Napoli to Win

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