Napolivs.Bologna

The hosts endured a nightmare start by losing in Verona, while their Champions League-bound counterparts had to settle for a home draw against Udinese.

Match preview

Losing their opening league match for the first time since in nine years, Napoli suffered a chastening 3-0 defeat at the hands of Hellas Verona last week, highlighting just how far the 2023 Scudetto-winners have fallen.

For the only time in his largely successful career, coach Antonio Conte lost a Serie A opener - having previously posted five wins and one draw - as his team crumbled during the second half at Stadio Bentegodi.

Stretching back to last season, Napoli have failed to win any of their last eight league games - equalling the club's worst such run for 15 years - and they only scraped past Coppa Italia opponents Modena via a penalty shootout.

After finishing their title defence down in 10th place, some 41 points adrift of new champions Inter Milan, president Aurelio De Laurentiis called upon Conte to bring the good times back to Naples, but so far things have not run smoothly.

Victor Osimhen's future remains undecided - locking up precious transfer funds - and recruitment has been limited; however, Brazilian winger David Neres recently joined new centre-back Alessandro Buongiorno at Stadio Maradona.

A tough test awaits Conte and co this weekend, as not only did Napoli fail to find the net in either of last season's meetings with Bologna, but they have also gone three games without a win against the Emilian club.

Having come out on top at the Maradona in May, Bologna will be aiming to win consecutive away games against Napoli for just a second time in their long Serie A history - and the first since 1936.

While their Campanian counterparts toiled last term, the Rossoblu rose up the standings to finish fifth under former coach Thiago Motta, who subsequently left for Juventus.

The Premier League came calling for main men Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee, so new boss Vincenzo Italiano - who twice came close to Europa Conference League glory at Fiorentina - now leads a squad without major stars into the new-look Champions League.

Much like at his previous club, Italiano's team dominated but failed to take their numerous chances as Bologna drew 1-1 with Udinese on Serie A's opening matchday, new captain Riccardo Orsolini scoring their goal from the penalty spot.

Since the start of the 2022-23 Serie A season, no Italian has found the net more often than Orsolini, but his 22nd strike during that time was not quite enough to secure maximum points on home turf.

Napoli Serie A form:

Napoli form (all competitions):

Bologna Serie A form:

Team News

With Victor Osimhen taking no part in training and Antonio Conte's preferred replacement Romelu Lukaku not yet secured, Giacomo Raspadori, Walid Cheddira and Giovanni Simeone will fight it out to feature up front for Napoli on Sunday.

The latter has previously scored four times against Bologna in Serie A but is currently enduring his longest goal drought in the Italian top flight - the Argentinian's last league strike came 24 games ago, in September 2023.

New boys Alessandro Buongiorno and David Neres may both start on the bench - the former is still struggling with an ankle injury, while Neres has only just signed from Benfica.

Meanwhile, Santiago Castro will vie with Bologna's most eye-catching arrival, Dutch striker Thijs Dallinga, to lead the visitors' attack. Support is provided by Riccardo Orsolini, who has played more league games versus Napoli without either scoring or assisting (10) than against any other opponent.

Emil Holm could make a belated debut this week, and fellow full-back Juan Miranda should be involved again, but the Rossoblu's other summer signing, Nicolo Cambiaghi, has sustained a serious knee injury and will not travel to Naples.

Furthermore, Oussama El Azzouzi (also knee) joins long-term absentee Lewis Ferguson (ACL) on the sidelines.

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Marin; Mazzocchi, Lobotka, Anguissa, Spinazzola; Politano, Kvaratskhelia; Simeone

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Erlic, Miranda; Freuler, Aebischer; Orsolini, Fabbian, Ndoye; Castro

We say: Napoli 0-0 Bologna

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