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

Como’s shocking push for a maiden top-four end in Serie A continues on Saturday with a mouth-watering conflict in opposition to Napoli. Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia units the stage for less than the fourth top-flight assembly between the perimeters within the twenty first century.

Targets from Anastasios Douvikas and Assane Diao fired Como to a treasured 2-0 win at Genoa final day trip, ending their dreadful run of 4 consecutive winless video games in all competitions (D1, L3). Moreover, final weekend’s triumph on the Luigi Ferraris restored a feel-good issue within the dressing room after a heart-wrenching Coppa Italia semi-final exit by the hands of Inter.

In search of a spot within the Champions League for the primary time within the membership’s historical past, Como should go back-to-back for the primary time since mid-March. With solely 4 video games left to play, Cesc Fabregas’ males path fourth-placed Juventus by 4 factors. In the meantime, a cushty seven-point cushion right down to seventh-placed Atalanta places them on the point of securing European qualification.

Napoli bounced again from two straight league outings with out profitable (D1, L1) with a dominant 4-0 house victory over relegation-threatened Cremonese final weekend. Nonetheless, it might have been too little too late to salvage their Scudetto dream, with the reigning champions trailing runaway leaders Inter by a whopping ten factors.

A victory right here would solely postpone the inevitable, because the Nerazzurri can mathematically seal their twenty first top-flight title with a house win in opposition to Parma tomorrow night time. However, the guests might be eager to take three factors, which might all however assure a second top-four end in a row.

Match Preview

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Napoli’s go to marks Como’s hardest fixture down the ultimate stretch, at the very least on paper, with their final three league matches coming in opposition to sides at present stranded within the backside half of the desk. Due to this fact, Fabregas stays assured of constructing historical past this time period, although the Lariani want Juventus to drop factors within the season finale.

Nonetheless, Como should maintain up their finish of the cut price right here, and after beating Napoli of their final two house league conferences, they need to take the sphere in excessive spirits. In truth, they’ve prevented defeat in three of their 4 aggressive clashes in opposition to the Partenopei since returning to the highest flight two years in the past (W2, D1).

In opposition to this backdrop, Como have immensely struggled in opposition to the division’s greatest groups this time period, going winless in all 5 league matches in opposition to present top-three sides (D2, L3). On a extra promising word, Fabregas’ costs had received three consecutive house video games in Serie A earlier than dropping a two-goal lead in a irritating 4-3 loss to Inter final day trip.

Napoli

There’s not a lot Napoli can do to spoil Inter’s impending title social gathering, however they will at the very least make them sweat till tomorrow night time. Sitting eight factors away from fifth-placed Como, they’re on the verge of qualifying for subsequent season’s Champions League in what may very well be Antonio Conte’s last marketing campaign answerable for the membership.

Nonetheless, that hole might develop skinny if Napoli fail to avenge a disappointing Coppa Italia elimination in February. That’s maybe simpler stated than accomplished, on condition that six of Napoli’s seven league defeats on the highway have come on the highway. Moreover, Conte’s males have notoriously struggled in high-profile fixtures.

Simply three of Napoli’s 9 away league victories have come in opposition to groups beginning this spherical within the high 13 (D2, L6). The guests can draw confidence from their historically excellent first-half performances, with solely Inter (19) main at halftime extra typically than Napoli this season (HT: W17, D9, L8).

Crew Information

Other than long-term absentee Jayden Addai, Como boss Fabregas can name upon the rest of his squad for this ‘make or break’ showdown. Certainly, Mergim Vojvoda and Sergi Roberto have each resumed full coaching, though neither is anticipated to make the beginning lineup. All eyes might be on Nico Paz and Douvikas, who’ve each scored 12 Serie A targets apiece this time period.

However, Napoli will take this journey with out Romelu Lukaku, David Neres, and Antonio Vergara. Nonetheless, with Scott McTominay firing on all cylinders, Conte is unlikely to tinker with a profitable aspect, as the previous Manchester United midfielder prepares to play a supporting position to lone striker Rasmus Hojlund.

Como vs Napoli Potential Beginning Lineups

Como (4-2-3-1): Butez; Smolcic, Ramon, Kempf, Valle; Perrone, Da Cunha; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas.

Napoli (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Olivera, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, Lobotka, McTominay, Gutierrez; De Bruyne, Alisson; Hojlund.

Como vs Napoli Prediction

Como’s first rate head-to-head file, coupled with Napoli’s touring woes, ought to give the hosts real perception forward of this encounter, particularly contemplating their latest scoring exploits on the Sinigaglia Stadium. Regardless of the guests’ power, we count on Fabregas’ aspect to discover a solution to edge a tightly contested affair.

Prediction: Como to Win

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