Napolivs.Monza

Unbeaten since the opening matchday, the hosts have scored nine times without reply in their last three matches; meanwhile, Monza are still searching for their first league win.

Match preview

Following a goalless draw away to Juventus last weekend, Napoli had picked up 10 points from the first five league games of Antonio Conte's reign, which took them to within one point of top spot, just behind early leaders Torino.

Conte has called upon old favourite Romelu Lukaku and the Azzurri's star man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to lead an improving attack, as the ex-Juve coach sets his sights on returning Napoli to the Champions League next season.

Having failed to qualify for Europe during an awful 2023-24 campaign, perhaps their best hope of silverware lies in the Coppa Italia, where they swatted aside Serie B outfit Palermo on Thursday evening, with Cyril Ngonge bagging a brace in a 5-0 home win.

Recent signings Scott McTominay and David Neres were also on target, demonstrating the greater depth available to Conte following an expensive summer in the transfer market.

Including the cup - in which they will meet Lazio in the last 16 - Napoli have now won the first four home games under their new manager.

The Campanian club have also won two of their four previous top-flight meetings with Monza, scoring four goals on both occasions - most recently in April of this year.

When these teams last met, Napoli emerged victorious in Monza - winning 4-2 thanks to a quartet of second-half strikes - and their hosts that day have yet to taste Serie A victory since.

Among teams currently in Italy's top tier, Monza are on the longest winless run, having taken their tally to 14 games by losing at home to Bologna last week.

Though veteran striker Milan Djuric seemed to have rescued a point with his equaliser, the Biancorossi conceded a late goal that sunk them again - as a result, they sit second-bottom of the table on three points.

While Alessandro Nesta's side are struggling in the league, they joined Napoli in the Coppa Italia's last 16 on Thursday evening, with a 3-1 home win over Brescia bringing a brief sense of relief.

Giorgos Kyriakopoulos, Gianluca Caprari and captain Matteo Pessina scored the goals, which has proved a problem for Monza this season, having previously netted just four.

Before meeting Bologna in the next round - to be held in December - Nesta's men will want to turn things around in Serie A; perhaps starting with a shock first away win of the season.

Napoli Serie A form:

Napoli form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

D

W

Monza Serie A form:

Monza form (all competitions):

D

L

D

D

L

W

Team News

After Antonio Conte rotated his resources in the cup, with Scottish star Billy Gilmour making his debut on Thursday evening, Napoli's head coach will revert to a full-strength lineup, aside from one missing component.

First-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret suffered a thigh injury last weekend, so Elia Caprile will continue to deputise between the posts.

Rested against Palermo, centre-back Alessandro Buongiorno is the Serie A defender with most minutes played without being dribbled past (1333), which is a streak dating back to February and is more than double that of the man ranked second.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Romelu Lukaku will be reunited in the final third on Sunday, after both appeared as substitutes last time out.

Meanwhile, Monza will hope a Coppa Italia strike can spark Gianluca Caprari into life at Stadio Maradona. The forward is still seeking his 50th Serie A goal - needing just one more - having failed to score in any of his last 15 top-flight appearances.

He will most likely join Daniel Maldini in supporting Milan Djuric up front, as Dany Mota could be ruled out by a muscular problem.

The visitors will travel south without Samuele Birindelli, Patrick Ciurria, Roberto Gagliardini, Samuele Vignato and goalkeeper Alessio Cragno due to injury, while Stefano Sensi is also a doubt.

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Caprile; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; McTominay, Lobotka, Anguissa; Politano, Lukaku, Kvaratskhelia

Monza possible starting lineup:

Turati; Izzo, Mari, Carboni; Pereira, Bondo, Pessina, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini, Caprari; Djuric

We say: Napoli 2-0 Monza

One way or another, Napoli should take care of business against a limited Monza team who struggle to score and have not beaten top-tier opponents for several months.

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