Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Napoli vs. Fiorentina - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 6 October 2023, 18:48
Level on points in the Serie A standings, Napoli and Fiorentina return from European duty to battle it out for victory at Stadio Maradona on Sunday.

In the final fixture before Italy's top flight is paused and international football intervenes, the champions aim to bounce back from an eventful Champions League loss, while their visitors arrive in Naples on a six-match unbeaten streak.

Match preview

Welcoming former coach Carlo Ancelotti back to Campania, Napoli hosted Real Madrid on Tuesday night, when they took the lead through Leo Ostigard's header but then conceded twice before half time.

The Italian champions hauled themselves level shortly after the break, as Piotr Zielinski equalised from the penalty spot following a long VAR review. However, Real's Federico Valverde later hammered in a thunderous strike that went into the net via goalkeeper Alex Meret, consigning Napoli to a 3-2 defeat.

Nonetheless, after beating Udinese 4-1 and Lecce 4-0 in their previous two league fixtures - with star striker Victor Osimhen scoring in both - the Partenopei have now racked up no fewer than 10 goals in their last three outings and seem to have shaken off a sluggish start to their title defence.

Fourteen points from seven Serie A matches represents an acceptable haul at this stage, particularly as Rudi Garcia settles into life in the Stadio Maradona dugout after succeeding Scudetto-winning coach Luciano Spalletti during the summer.

Only behind the league-leading Milan clubs approaching the latest international break, Napoli now take on a club they have had the better of in recent years - particularly during the first half of the season.

Curiously, they are unbeaten in 15 league meetings with Fiorentina played before the winter break, winning on 10 occasions since October 2007, when Christian Vieri's goal split the sides.

Having won just one of their last six Serie A matches against Napoli ahead of their trip down south, Fiorentina may not be favourites to prevail on that basis, but recent form suggests they can cause the champions some problems.

Vincenzo Italiano's side have also accrued 14 points so far, and since a four-goal loss to Inter in early September they have gone undefeated in all competitions - winning three times and recording three draws.

Following hot on the heels of a 3-0 result against bottom side Cagliari on Monday, when Nicolas Gonzalez and M'Bala Nzola scored either side of an own goal, the Viola returned to Europa Conference League action at Stadio Franchi in midweek.

Having let victory slip through their fingers against Genk in their Group F opener, Fiorentina found themselves two down to Ferencvaros after an hour but showed spirit to snatch a point through goals from Antonin Barak and Jonathan Ikone - the latter volleying home deep into stoppage time following a Gonzalez assist.

By contrast with their travails on Thursday night, the Tuscan club have got off to several fast starts in Serie A this season, and under attack-minded coach Italiano they have scored more goals during the first half (11) than any other side.

Fiorentina have also found the net four times in the first 15 minutes of play, so Napoli cannot afford to suffer from a Champions League hangover this weekend.

Napoli Serie A form:

W

L

D

D

W

W

Napoli form (all competitions):

D

W

D

W

W

L

Fiorentina Serie A form:

D

L

W

W

D

W

Fiorentina form (all competitions):

W

D

W

D

W

D

Advert - content below:

Team News

In Napoli's final game before a two-week hiatus, Rudi Garcia is expected to name a similar side to that which started against Real Madrid.

Juan Jesus remains sidelined by injury, so his fellow Brazilian Natan should again partner midweek goalscorer Leo Ostigard at the heart of the hosts' back four, although Amir Rrahmani may overcome a thigh problem in time to make Sunday's squad.

Competing with Giacomo Raspadori to join Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in an attacking trident, Italy winger Matteo Politano has already registered three goals in the league this term - as many as throughout 27 Serie A appearances last season - and also has four against Fiorentina to his name over the years.

The Viola, meanwhile, will continue with Pietro Terracciano in goal, after he was originally named on the bench for Thursday's Europa League fixture but was then pressed into action when Oliver Christensen pulled up injured during the warm-up.

Long-term absentees Dodo and Gaetano Castrovilli remain out of action, while Yerry Mina is due back at the end of the month; captain Cristiano Biraghi is also likely to miss out due to an ankle injury, so Fabiano Parisi could come in at left-back.

In Dodo's ongoing absence, highly-rated defender Michael Kayode should continue at right-back, while midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura would take the armband if Biraghi is unavailable. The latter has scored five goals against Napoli in Serie A, but none for Fiorentina.

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Natan, Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:

Terracciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta, Parisi; Arthur, Duncan; Gonzalez, Bonaventura, Brekalo; Nzola

We say: Napoli 2-2 Fiorentina

Previews by email

Top News

25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to snap their four-match winless run, Sao Paulo play host to Criciuma at the Estadio do Morumbi in round 12 of the Brasileiro Serie A on Wednesday. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly offered out-of-favour winger Jadon Sancho to La Liga giants Barcelona this summer. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly open to selling midfielder Ilkay Gundogan this summer amid concerns over their financial situation. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly made contact with Barcelona to inform them that they expect to sign Marc Guiu. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Denmark were evidently riding high on confidence after their impressive performance against England, as they pressed Serbia aggressively to good effect from the front and dictated the tempo of the game in possess with patient build-up play, picking their moments to get players into the opposing box. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have finished top of Group C at Euro 2024 despite playing out a drab 0-0 draw with Slovenia at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne on Tuesday night. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final round of Euro 2024 group matches is in full swing as teams battle it out to reach the knockout rounds in Germany. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Austria have qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2024 as Group D winners after beating the Netherlands 3-2 in a thriller at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Tuesday evening. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France missed out on top spot in Group D after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Poland despite Kylian Mbappe scoring his first goal at a European Championship. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England reached the Euro 2024 knockout rounds on Monday after Spain claimed a 1-0 victory in their final group game against Albania. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug has reportedly been identified as a summer transfer target by fellow Bundesliga club Stuttgart. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest have announced that they have completed the signing of highly-rated Eric da Silva Moreira. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The USA can potentially qualify for the knockout stage of the Copa America on Thursday when they face Panama in matchday two action at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will reportedly face competition from a Champions League club if they pursue a deal for Hoffenheim forward Maximilian Beier. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have been handed a major boost in their efforts to sign Guido Rodriguez. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fluminense and Vitoria, both struggling at the foot of the 2024 Brasileiro Serie A table, go head-to-head on Thursday at the Maracana. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have confirmed that Nacho will be leaving the club at the end of this month. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly been handed a major boost in their efforts to sign Nottingham Forest defender Murillo. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in the signing of Roma attacker Paulo Dybala this summer. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea reportedly intend to send Alfie Gilchrist out on loan for the 2024-25 campaign. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton have reportedly reached an agreement with Marseille to sign striker Iliman Ndiaye. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Granit Xhaka will be looking to equal a European Championship record set by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo when Switzerland face Italy in the last 16 of Euro 2024. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As England prepare to face Slovenia on Tuesday in their final group game at Euro 2024, debate rages on about how Gareth Southgate can get the best out of the talent at his disposal given his team's lacklustre showings against Serbia and Denmark. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium will hope to extend a record that has lasted since 2000 when they square off against Ukraine on Wednesday evening. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Italy manager Luciano Spalletti has hit out at his players who were 'below their usual level' in a last-gasp 1-1 draw with Croatia at Euro 2024 on Monday. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sandefjord and HamKam square off in Eliteserien on Thursday looking to move clear of the relegation zone. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric has set a new European Championship record after scoring in Croatia's excruciating 1-1 draw with Group B rivals Italy at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig on Monday. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton have announced that Ashley Young has signed a one-year contract extension to keep him at Goodison Park until the end of June 2025. 25 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United are allegedly willing to consider selling midfielder Sean Longstaff during the summer transfer window.