Napoli will look to continue their unbeaten start to the Serie A season when they welcome Lecce to Naples this Wednesday.
Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona (Naples)
Key Statistics
Napoli have failed to score in only one of their last 13 league games.
They have won nine of their last 13 league games (D2, L2).
The hosts have won their last three league games, scoring 12 goals.
Lecce are winless across their last five match days in Serie A (D1, L4).
The visitors have lost their last three away games.
Head to head
Napoli have won six of the last ten competitive games between both teams (L2, D2).
Latest performances in all competition
Napoli: D-W-W-W-D
Lecce: D-L-L-L-L
Napoli
Napoli threw away their chance to go two points clear at the top of the league table last weekend as they held to a goalless draw against Fiorentina.
In a frustrating game at Florence, Luciano Spaelletti’s side failed to score a goal for the first time in 13 league games, much to the fury of the coach who criticised his players, even calling Khvicha Kvaratskhelia “pig-headed” and lamenting too many “soft passes backwards”.
The Italian tactician is looking to lead the Blues to their first title in this century and his side has been linked to the want-away Manchester United striker. Whether the news of the Portuguese arrival was the reason for their failure to win Fiorentina or not, Spelletti will want his side to capitalize on the slip-ups of the other title contenders and move ahead, especially now they do not yet have UEFA Champions League distractions to contend with.
The visit from Lecce presents them with the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table. And having scored 3+ goals in each of their last three home games, they will fancy their chances of getting some goals against a Lecces side that is porous at the back and toothless in attack.
Possible Lazio starting line-up
Alex Meret; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Kim Min-jae, Mario Rui; Andre Zambo Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotkap; Matteo Politano, Giacomo Raspadori, Kvaratskhelia; Victor Osimhen.
Injured: Diego Demme, Adam Ounas
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Lecce
Despite a credible 1-1 draw with Empoli last time out, Lecce’s return to the top flight has been far from ideal.
The visitors have failed to win any of the four competitive games they have played this season, even losing to lowly Cittadella in the Coppa Italia before a run of two losses in their opening two league games.
They travel to Naples sitting in 16th place and with two goals scored so far in the league. However, both goals have come at home as they have failed to score in their only league game away from home this season. Over their last three away games, they have scored just once, while losing all three games and conceding four goals.
They will now hope that the arrival of Barcelona loanee Samuel Umtiti into their backline will help them sort their defensive issues. The club described him as an “incredible signing” but will be unable to register him in time for the trip to Naples.
But without Umtiti, Lecce would hope for a repeat of the 1-1 draw he featured in during his only previous visit here in a UEFA Champions League knockout game back in February 2020.
Possible Lecce starting line-up
Wladimiro Falcone; Valentin Gandrey, Martin Pongracic, Feferico Baschriotto, Antonino Gallo; Joan Gonzalez, Morten Hjulmand, Kristoffer Askildsen; Gabriel Strefezza, Assan Ceesay, Lameck Banda.
Injured: J.V. Persson, Mert Cetin, Dermaku Kastriot
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Napoli 2-0 Lecce
