Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 20 May 2022, 11:30
After securing their top-flight status last weekend, Spezia host Napoli in the early kickoff on the final day of the Serie A season.

Aquilotti can finish no lower than 16th in the table, while Gli Azzurri have battled for the title this term but are guaranteed to finish third.

Match preview

Spezia came from a goal down to win 3-2 away at Udinese last Saturday, with Daniele Verde, Emmanuel Gyasi and Giulio Maggiore all finding the net as safety was confirmed.

It ended a streak of four successive defeats for Thiago Motta's side, a run which had led to them looking nervously over their shoulders at the bottom three.

A win on Sunday would see Aquilotti equal their points tally of 39 from last season, which was their first-ever campaign in the top flight.

However, Spezia have lost their last three home matches and have only won five times all season at Stadio Alberto Picco.

Motta - who was only appointed last summer - is expected to depart for pastures new this summer and has surprisingly been linked with the Paris Saint-Germain job, while Andrea Pirlo has been tipped to replace him in Liguria.

Napoli were only one point off the Serie A summit six weeks ago, but they then picked up just one point from their next three games and have been left to watch from afar as the two Milan clubs battle it out for the title on the final day.

Nonetheless, Luciano Spalletti's first season in charge can still be considered a relative success and it will bring their highest finish in three years.

Gli Azzurri have recovered from their blip in April and have won their last three matches, with Victor Osimhen, Lorenzo Insigne and Stanislav Lobotka all netting in a 3-0 triumph over Genoa last weekend.

Over half of Napoli's points in Serie A this season have come away from home and they have only lost twice on the road all term. They have the joint-best defence in the league, having conceded just 31 goals in 37 games.

A Juan Jesus own goal gave Spezia a 1-0 victory at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona earlier in the season, which was only their second win over Napoli in nine meetings this century.

Spezia Serie A form:

Napoli Serie A form:

Team News

Spezia full-back Arkadiusz Reca was forced off injured in the first half against Udinese last week, but his replacement Salva Ferrer provided two assists so should start.

The season is over for Emmanuel Gyasi, who picked up his 10th yellow card of the campaign last weekend so is suspended.

Ebrima Colley, Leo Sena and Petko Hristov are all major doubts for the fixture, having been absent through injury in recent games.

Lorenzo Insigne will play his 434th and final game for Napoli before he joins Toronto FC this summer and ends a 16-year association with the Italian club.

Victor Osimhen's goal last weekend was his 14th in Serie A this season - his best tally for a league campaign in his career.

With little left to play for, Luciano Spalletti may hand opportunities to fringe players such as Diego Demme and Faouzi Ghoulam.

Spezia possible starting lineup:

Provedel; Amian, Erlic, Nikolaou, Ferrer; Maggiore, Kiwior; Verde, Agudelo, Kovalenko; Manaj

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Ospina; Di Lorenzo, Rahmani, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Demme, Lobotka; Lozano, Mertens, Insigne; Osimhen

We say: Spezia 0-2 Napoli

Napoli are ending the campaign in good form and depending on how strong Luciano Spalletti decides to go with his team selection, they should finish with three points here. With their survival confirmed, Spezia are unlikely to provide that much of a challenge.

Previews by email

Top News

5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic will make wholesale changes to his XI for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique will be forced into a defensive alteration for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Made to pay for missed opportunities in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, Paris Saint-Germain seek to right their German wrongs in Tuesday's return battle with Borussia Dortmund. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has heavily criticised his side for their performance in Saturday's 4-2 defeat to Catalan rivals Girona in Spain's top flight. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will reportedly miss out on the chance to sign Real Madrid centre-back Nacho this summer, with the Spaniard said to be preparing to continue his career in North America. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are reportedly keen to appoint Erik ten Hag as their new manager this summer, with the Dutchman potentially losing his job at Manchester United. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Istanbul vs. Kasimpasa (Sunday, 2.00pm) Two sides vying for a top-four finish in the Turkish Super Lig go head-to-head when Istanbul Basaksehir host Kasimpasa at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Farense vs. Estoril (Sunday, 3.30pm) Two sides separated by just one point in the Primeira Liga standings go head to head on Sunday as SC Farense play host to Estoril Praia at the Estadio de Sao Luis. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Union Berlin vs. VfL Bochum (Sunday, 2.30pm) Both aiming to take a massive step towards top-flight safety, Union Berlin and VfL Bochum will lock horns at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Sunday afternoon in the Bundesliga. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cagliari vs. Lecce (Sunday, 11.30am) Both with four games left to save their Serie A status, relegation battlers Cagliari and Lecce meet in Sardinia on Sunday afternoon. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Osasuna vs. Betis (Sunday, 1.00pm) Real Betis will be bidding to strengthen their grip on a European position in the La Liga table when they head to Estadio El Sadar on Sunday afternoon to tackle Osasuna. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton vs. Aston Villa (Sunday, 2.00pm) Champions League qualification could officially be sealed for Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium on Sunday, where an out-of-sorts Brighton & Hove Albion side await for a Premier League showdown. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly opened talks with Getafe over a second loan spell for Mason Greenwood. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Everton midfielder Amadou Onana. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Everton midfielder Amadou Onana. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erling Haaland has taken a swipe at former Manchester United man Roy Keane after scoring four goals in Manchester City's 5-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly prepared to offer defender Jarell Quansah a new lucrative long-term contract. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round 32 of the 2023-24 Eredivisie season concludes with a meeting between SBV Excelsior and NEC at Van Donge & De Roo Stadion on Monday evening. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has insisted that Arsenal "will win" the Premier League title if his Manchester City side drop points in any of their remaining three matches. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gary O'Neil has admitted that his Wolverhampton Wanderers side were "no way near at the level" to test Manchester City in Saturday's 5-1 Premier League defeat at the Etihad Stadium. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are sweating over the fitness of captain Bruno Fernandes for Monday's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will be bidding to return to sixth position in the Premier League table when they head to Selhurst Park on Monday evening to tackle an in-form Crystal Palace outfit. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have won the 2023-24 La Liga title with four games to spare, securing the famous trophy for the 36th time in their history. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona produced a remarkable turnaround to claim a 4-2 win over Catalan rivals Barcelona to secure Champions League football and hand Real Madrid the La Liga title. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City remain within touching distance of Premier League leaders Arsenal after securing a dominant 5-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois revealed his delight at making his first appearance of the 2023-24 campaign in Saturday afternoon's La Liga clash with Cadiz. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta lavished praise on Kai Havertz for the Germany international's performance in Saturday's 3-0 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk David Raya's clean sheet in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon has seen the Spain international secure the Premier League Golden Glove award for the 2023-24 campaign. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford and Fulham earned a point each in Saturday afternoon's goalless draw in the Premier League at the Brentford Community Stadium.