Preview: Napoli vs. Hellas Verona - prediction, team news, lineups

After a run of one win in five league games, the Italian champions are in danger of dropping into the bottom half; meanwhile, Verona are battling against the drop.

Match preview

Last time out, Napoli were held to a drab goalless draw that saw them fail to record a single shot on target, as their attacking woes continued at Stadio Olimpico.

Following a 0-0 stalemate with Lazio, the Partenopei have failed to score in seven of their last 10 league matches - as many times as in the previous 59. In fact, they have fired blanks on more occasions than any other Serie A side since November.

It has not been for the want of trying, as Napoli have actually attempted the most shots this season; however, they also have the lowest shot-conversion rate among teams inside the top half of the standings - just 8.6%.

A dismal campaign continues for the Scudetto holders, who sit behind a whole host of clubs jostling for European qualification, so securing a top-four finish and progressing in the Champions League - where Barcelona await in the last 16 - is now the limit of their ambitions.

Having won fewer than half of their home fixtures, even returning to Stadio Maradona will not necessarily boost morale in Walter Mazzarri's squad, although Sunday's visitors have not won a league game in Naples for some 30 years.

All told, Napoli have lost just one of their last 13 Serie A meetings with Hellas Verona, winning nine times while averaging more than two goals per game.

Though Verona have come away with a point on each of their last three visits to the Maradona, they have still won only two of 30 top-flight matches there, losing 20 - their last success coming back in January 1983.

As part of a mid-season fire sale, the cash-strapped Gialloblu sold star striker Cyril Ngonge to Napoli last month, with veteran targetman Milan Djuric recently moving to Monza.

A number of unheralded players have also arrived from across the globe, as the relegation-threatened side seek to drag themselves out of danger - they are one of several teams scrapping for Serie A survival.

Last week, Marco Baroni's men came up short against another club aiming to avoid the trapdoor, as Ondrej Duda missed a penalty in their 1-1 home draw with Frosinone: Verona have now failed to score four of their last six spot-kicks - more misses than any other team this term.

After winning their first away match under Baroni - at Empoli, in August - Hellas have since lost eight of the last 10, so taking anything from Sunday's game may be viewed as a bonus.

Napoli Serie A form:

W

L

D

L

W

D

Napoli form (all competitions):

D

L

W

W

L

D

Hellas Verona Serie A form:

W

L

L

W

L

D

Team News

After being short of numbers for several weeks, Napoli are now bolstered by both the return of some regular starters and a few fresh faces: Frank Anguissa has returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is back in business following suspension.

Jens Cajuste and Giovanni Simeone are also back from bans, with Brazilian defender Natan in contention after resuming full training; however, Pierluigi Gollini continues to deputise for the injured Alex Meret in goal, and Victor Osimhen is still on Nigeria duty at the AFCON.

Even in the latter's absence, there is now competition for places in attack, as Cyril Ngonge - who scored 11 goals in 34 games for Verona before moving to Naples - fights it out for selection with Simeone, Giacomo Raspadori and loan signing Hamed Traore.

Meanwhile, Verona fielded recent arrival Tijjani Noslin up front against Frosinone, following the departures of Ngonge and Milan Djuric.

Given the sheer turnover of players in the Scaligeri's squad, Marco Baroni has some calls to make on Sunday, when full-backs Ruben Vinagre and Fabien Centonze could start for the first time in Gialloblu colours.

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Gollini; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Cajuste; Politano, Simeone, Kvaratskhelia

Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:

Montipo; Centonze, Dawidowicz, Magnani, Vinagre; Duda, Serdar; Suslov, Folorunsho, Lazovic; Noslin

We say: Napoli 2-0 Hellas Verona

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