Having finally ended their five-match wait for a win, Napoli will attempt to seize top spot in Serie A when they visit Venezia on Sunday.
The Partenopei play ahead of title rivals Inter Milan and Atalanta BC, who meet later in the evening, so can move clear at the summit with victory at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo.
Match preview
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Only one point behind leaders Inter with 10 rounds remaining, Napoli are still in contention for a second Scudetto in three years, despite enduring a frustrating February that saw them lose first place in the standings.
Last week, goals in either half saw the Campanian club beat Fiorentina 2-1 at Stadio Maradona, as new strike pairing Romelu Lukaku and Giacomo Raspadori again got their names on the scoresheet.
Napoli’s first success since January followed a convincing 1-1 draw against Inter, also bringing to an end the only five-game winless streak suffered by an Antonio Conte-coached team in either the Premier League or Serie A.
Following the departure of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and a subsequent injury to David Neres, Conte recently switched from the Partenopei’s familiar 4-3-3 back to his preferred 3-5-2, partnering Lukaku and Raspadori up front.
There have clearly been teething troubles, as a once rock-solid side have both conceded and scored in all of their last eight league games – letting Fiorentina find the net made for another nervy finish last weekend.
Nonetheless, they are not distracted by Europe and the Coppa Italia, as Inter will be, while Atalanta have a devilishly difficult run-in – and Conte is unlikely to let his squad lose focus.
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Raspadori scored the only goal when Napoli hosted Venezia in both clubs’ final fixture of 2024, and Sunday’s hosts have now lost all of the last three meetings without scoring.
They are in dire need of points on this occasion, with time running out to save the Serie A status earned by winning the second-tier playoffs last season.
Eusebio Di Francesco‘s men have failed to taste success since beating Cagliari 2-1 in December, leaving them second-bottom of the table and five points from safety.
While the Venice side have shown spirit to record three straight draws from a tough run of matches – against Lazio, Atalanta and away to Como – they remain in distinct danger of an immediate return to Serie B.
Last time out, Christian Gytkjaer stepped up to convert a stoppage-time spot kick at Stadio Sinigaglia, salvaging what could turn out to be a precious point from the Lagunari’s trip to Como.
However, they must now face one of the toughest tests in Calcio, before hosting top-four contenders Bologna in their first game back after the international break.
Team News
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Antonio Conte could have David Neres and Frank Anguissa back in the fold this weekend, after both returned to partial training, while wing-back Pasquale Mazzocchi is definitely ready to return.
With Anguissa highly unlikely to start, Billy Gilmour or Philip Billing should join Stanislav Lobotka and Scott McTominay in Napoli’s engine room, with Giacomo Raspadori and Romelu Lukaku linking up in attack.
Last week, the latter reached double figures in one of Europe’s top five leagues for a 12th season; since he first scored 10 top-flight goals in 2013, only Robert Lewandowski has done so more often.
Meanwhile, Venezia have had no clear first-choice striker since Joel Pohjanpalo left for Palermo, so Mirko Maric, Daniel Fila and Christian Gytkjaer will fight it out for selection; John Yeboah must serve a suspension.
Due to injury, the Arancioneroverdi are still without goalkeeper Filip Stankovic, plus Richie Sagrado, Marin Sverko and long-term absentee Michael Svoboda.
Having made two crucial saves in last week’s draw with Como, Ionut Radu will continue to deputise for Inter loanee Stankovic between the posts.
Venezia possible starting lineup:
Radu; Schingtienne, Izdes, Cande; Zerbin, Duncan, Nicolussi Caviglia, Perez, Ellertsson; Oristanio; Maric
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, Gilmour, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Raspadori, Lukaku
We say: Venezia 0-2 Napoli
If Napoli are to be crowned champions, they simply must pick up three points against teams struggling near the foot of the standings, so there will be pressure to win before Inter and Atalanta lock horns in Bergamo.
Venezia may have tightened up their defence, but the Partenopei’s front line are also re-finding their sharpness and should come out on top at picturesque Stadio Penzo.
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