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

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona units the stage for a ‘David vs Goliath’ Serie A conflict between Napoli and Cremonese. Friday’s fixture might formally extinguish the house facet’s title hopes, whereas the guests can not afford a slip-up in the event that they’re to maintain their heads above water.

Antonio Conte’s hopes of main Napoli to back-to-back Serie A titles for the primary time within the membership’s historical past are all however gone. Certainly, the reigning champions path runaway leaders Inter by a whopping 12 factors, with solely 5 video games left till the tip of the season.

Something aside from a victory right here would permit the Nerazzurri to raise the trophy on Sunday. However, it’s prone to solely postpone the inevitable. Napoli will nonetheless look to return to profitable methods after going winless in two consecutive league outings, together with a irritating 2-0 house defeat to mid-table strugglers Lazio final weekend.

However, Cremonese sit narrowly away from the underside three regardless of choosing up only a single level from their final three league video games, courtesy of a scoreless house draw towards Torino. Marco Giamapolo’s expenses head into proceedings degree on factors with 18th-placed Lecce however are forward by advantage of a superior head-to-head document.

For sure, a defeat in Naples would allow the Giallorossi to overhaul them within the standings, particularly contemplating they face relegation-bound Hellas Verona tomorrow. With that in thoughts, the guests will likely be eager to defy the chances tonight and preserve their faltering pursuit of Serie A survival alive.

Match Preview

Napoli

Along with shattering Napoli’s unbeaten house league document this season (W11, D4), Lazio have uncovered the Partenopei to the danger of dropping back-to-back Serie A matches for the primary time since December 2023. Nevertheless, Conte’s males have just lately reigned supreme on this fixture.

December’s snug 2-0 triumph at Stadio Giovanni Zini prolonged their profitable streak towards Cremonese to 4 matches in all competitions. Moreover, Napoli emerged victorious from the final three league conferences between the perimeters, with every victory coming by multi-goal margins.

It’s additionally price noting that Napoli had gained three successive house league video games earlier than dropping to Lazio. Nonetheless, with all three wins yielding a single-goal margin, it’s truthful to say that they’ve been removed from their dominant finest on the Maradona Stadium.

Nonetheless, one other win would all however seal Napoli’s top-four end, as they already boast a good-looking eight-point lead over fifth-placed Como.

Cremonese

Desperate to keep away from a right away return to Serie B, Cremonese should discover a option to overcome a full-blown disaster. Certainly, they’ve gained simply considered one of their final 19 matches (D5, L13), although that solitary triumph got here below new supervisor Giampaolo (W1, D1, L2).

With Lecce eager to pounce on their potential slip-up, La Cremo should defy their unimpressive away document towards sides beginning this spherical within the high seven. They’ve claimed simply 4 factors from six such fixtures this season (W1, D1, L4), highlighting the scale of the duty awaiting Giampaolo’s lads at the moment.

Including to this sentiment, Cremonese’s final top-flight win over Napoli got here all the way in which again in September 1994. Furthermore, they’ve didn’t beat the Partenopei away from house in all 12 earlier encounters throughout both Serie A or Serie B (D2, L10).

It’s nearly inconceivable to think about Cremonese turning their fortunes round now, on condition that they’ve misplaced seven of their eight away league video games because the begin of the calendar 12 months (W1).

Staff Information

Napoli welcomed beginning center-back Amir Rrahmani again to the bench final weekend after a seven-game absence. Nevertheless, Conte remains to be unable to name upon his captain, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, and star striker Romelu Lukaku. Quicksilver ahead David Neres and rising expertise Antonio Vergara are additionally unavailable for choice, with Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay anticipated to start out behind Rasmus Hojlund.

As for Cremonese, veteran goal-getter Jamie Vardy stays on the sidelines with a muscle damage. Antonio Sanabria is prone to lead the road alongside Federico Bonazzoli within the Englishman’s absence. In the meantime, Michele Collocolo gained’t return earlier than the beginning of subsequent month, with Faris Moumbagna and Morten Thorsby dealing with minor health issues.

Napoli vs Cremonese Potential Beginning Lineups

Napoli (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Rrahmani, Good morning, Olivera; Politano, Anguissa, Lobotka, Spinazzola; De Bruyne, McTominay; Hojlund.

Cremonese (4-4-2): Audero; Terracciano, Baschirotto, Luperto, Pezzella; Zerbin, Grassi, Maleh, Vandeputte; Bonazzoli, Sanabria.

Napoli vs Cremonese Prediction

Regardless of being on the verge of surrendering the Scudetto to Inter, Napoli ought to nonetheless bow out in type. Conte’s expenses boast far superior high quality and a dominant latest document on this fixture, which ought to see them declare a routine victory and preserve their top-four push firmly on monitor.

Prediction: Napoli to Win

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