Napoli face Empoli in Serie A this Sunday, aiming to maintain their impressive form under Antonio Conte, with six wins in seven games. Empoli, unbeaten at home this season, will look to stop Napoli’s momentum.
Napoli, sitting atop the table, secured a 3-1 win over Como before the international break, with Scott McTominay scoring just one minute into the match. Romelu Lukaku and David Neres also contributed, with Napoli becoming the Serie A team with the most different scorers this season. This strong form sees Napoli two points ahead of champions Inter Milan.
Conte has reshaped Napoli into a formidable team, balancing a potent attack with solid defense, but they’ve struggled in Empoli, winning just twice in 11 visits. Historically, Empoli has been a thorn in Napoli’s side, winning five of their last seven encounters and netting 30 goals against them—more than any other team in Serie A.
Empoli, sitting 10th in the table, recently had a 10-game unbeaten run halted by Lazio, but they’ve been solid at home, with three consecutive 0-0 draws. This defensive resilience, combined with Napoli’s attacking prowess, sets up a closely contested match.
Team News:
Napoli will be without Stanislav Lobotka due to injury, meaning Billy Gilmour is likely to step in. Romelu Lukaku, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and either Matteo Politano or David Neres will lead the attack. Meanwhile, Empoli’s Devis Vasquez, Serie A’s top goalkeeper in terms of save percentage, will aim to hold firm against Napoli’s attack.
Empoli lineup: Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Grassi, Anjorin, Pezzella; Fazzini, Esposito; Colombo.
Napoli lineup: Caprile; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Spinazzola; Anguissa, Gilmour, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Kvaratskhelia.
Napoli may be favorites, but Empoli’s strong defense will make this a tough battle, with Napoli needing a spark of brilliance to secure all three points.
