Napoli and Fiorentina will meet in Serie A with both teams level on points. The champions look to bounce back from a dramatic Champions League loss in the final match. Their opponents come in Naples on a six-match winning streak.
Preview (Napoli vs. Fiorentina)
Leo Ostigard’s header gave Napoli the lead against Real Madrid on Tuesday night. However, they let up two goals before halftime. Following an extensive VAR review, Piotr Zielinski converted from the spot to bring the Italian champions level. Napoli was eventually defeated 3-2 by Real thanks to a powerful drive from Federico Valverde.
However, the Partenopei have already scored no less than 10 goals in their last three games. They appear to have recovered from a slow start to their championship defense. They defeated Udinese 4-1 and Lecce 4-0 with star striker Victor Osimhen scoring. At this juncture, 14 points from seven Serie A games is a respectable total. Rudi Garcia adjusts to life in the Stadio Maradona after taking over for Scudetto-winning coach Luciano Spalletti. Napoli now takes on a team they have beaten in prior years, especially during the first half of the season. Napoli is currently only behind the league-leading Milan teams as we approach the most recent international break.
Strangely, they won 10 times since Christian Vieri’s goal separated the teams in October 2007. Fiorentina may not be the favorite to win on that basis. They have only defeated Napoli once in their previous six Serie A games. Recent form suggests they can pose a threat to the champions. A four-goal defeat against Inter in early September left Vincenzo Italiano’s team with 14 points overall. They have subsequently gone undefeated in all competitions, winning three times and drawing three times.
Team News
Rudi Garcia is anticipated to start the same lineup against Napoli in their penultimate match before a two-week break. Juan Jesus is still out due to injury, therefore Natan, a fellow Brazilian, should once more accompany midweek goal scorer Leo Ostigard at the center of the hosts’ back four. Amir Rrahmani might be able to recover from a thigh issue in time to make the squad on Sunday, though. Italian winger Matteo Politano, who is vying with Giacomo Raspadori to join Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in an attacking trident, has already scored three goals in the league this season, matching his total from last season’s 27 Serie A appearances. He has also scored four goals against Fiorentina in the past.
While the Viola will continue with Pietro Terracciano in goal, Oliver Christensen pulled up hurt during the warm-up, forcing Oliver Christensen to the sidelines. Terracciano was initially named to the bench for Thursday’s Europa League match. Dodo and Gaetano Castrovilli, who have been sidelined for an extended period of time, are still out, but Yerry Mina will return at the end of the month.
High-caliber defender Michael Kayode should stay at right-back in Dodo’s ongoing absence, and midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura would take over if Biraghi is unable to play. In Serie A, the latter has five goals versus Napoli, but none for Fiorentina. Goals will undoubtedly be scored at the Stadio Maradona on Sunday night given how frequently both clubs are now scoring. Napoli should expect to take advantage of Fiorentina’s defensive flaws, but they might not be able to secure the back door.
Napoli 3 – 2 Fiorentina
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