Napoli will be aiming to seize top spot in Serie A when they travel to face Venezia on Sunday. With just one point separating them from league leaders Inter Milan, Antonio Conte’s side have a golden opportunity to apply pressure before Inter’s crucial clash with Atalanta later in the day. A win at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo would temporarily lift Napoli to the summit as they chase their second Scudetto in three years.
The Partenopei ended their frustrating five-game winless streak with a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina last week. Key players Romelu Lukaku and Giacomo Raspadori both found the net, showing signs of a developing partnership under Conte’s newly implemented 3-5-2 system. The return of winger David Neres and midfielder Frank Anguissa from injury could further strengthen Napoli’s attacking options.
Venezia, on the other hand, are in a desperate battle for survival. Eusebio Di Francesco’s men are currently second-bottom in the table, five points away from safety. While they’ve shown resilience with three consecutive draws against Lazio, Atalanta, and Como, their lack of firepower up front has been a major concern. Striker Christian Gytkjaer, who scored a last-minute penalty against Como, will be their key attacking threat.
Napoli’s attack will be heavily reliant on Lukaku, who recently reached double figures in one of Europe’s top leagues for the 12th consecutive season. Alongside him, Raspadori has proven to be a clinical finisher, while Matteo Politano and Leonardo Spinazzola will provide width and creativity from the wing-back positions. Midfield enforcer Stanislav Lobotka is expected to control the tempo, supported by the energetic Scott McTominay.
The hosts will be without suspended winger John Yeboah, while goalkeeper Filip Stankovic, Richie Sagrado, and Marin Sverko remain sidelined through injury. Inter loanee Ionut Radu is set to continue in goal after making crucial saves last week, while the midfield will rely on the experience of Alfred Duncan and Nicolo Caviglia to challenge Napoli’s dominance.
Napoli’s defense, led by Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Amir Rrahmani, will need to stay alert against Venezia’s counter-attacks. With Pasquale Mazzocchi returning from injury, Conte’s side will aim to control possession and exploit Venezia’s defensive vulnerabilities. Lukaku’s physicality and Raspadori’s movement could prove too much for the hosts’ fragile backline.
Despite Venezia’s fighting spirit, Napoli’s superior quality and depth are expected to make the difference. With Lukaku and Raspadori in fine form and key players returning from injury, Conte’s side are well-positioned to secure a comfortable 2-0 victory and keep their title ambitions on track.