SSC Napoli will hope to put on a winning run of games when they welcome Parma to Naples this weekend.
Napoli will host Parma at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday, with both teams aiming to build on their recent successes in Serie A. After a difficult start to the season, Napoli will be keen to secure back-to-back victories, while Parma look to extend their unbeaten run since returning to the top flight.
Napoli’s season began with a shocking 3-0 defeat to Hellas Verona, extending their winless run in the league to eight games, a streak that stretched back to last season. The arrival of Antonio Conte as head coach brought some optimism to the club, following a tumultuous year where the Partenopei’s Scudetto defence collapsed spectacularly, resulting in a disappointing 10th-place finish, 41 points behind champions Inter Milan.
However, last weekend, Napoli managed to bounce back with a 3-0 victory over Bologna. Goals from captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and the ever-reliable Khvicha Kvaratskhelia brought some much-needed relief to the Neapolitans. With this victory, Napoli are looking to win back-to-back Serie A matches for the first time since early March, signalling that Conte’s influence is beginning to take shape within the squad.
Napoli’s transfer window has been active, with Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay set to join the club, alongside Brazilian winger David Neres, who recently arrived. However, the future of star striker Victor Osimhen remains uncertain, which could impact the team’s dynamics moving forward.
Parma, on the other hand, have had a promising start to their return to Serie A. The Gialloblu are unbeaten in their first two matches and are coming off a stunning victory against AC Milan. After earning promotion as Serie B champions, Parma have shown steady progress under Fabio Pecchia.
Their season began with a disappointing Coppa Italia exit, followed by an opening-day draw against Fiorentina. However, they made a statement in their second match by defeating Milan at the Stadio Tardini. Dennis Man opened the scoring within two minutes, and despite Milan equalizing, Parma managed to snatch all three points through new signings Pontus Almqvist and Matteo Cancellieri, who combined on a counter-attack.
Parma have historically had some success against Napoli at the Stadio Maradona, winning four of their last nine Serie A matches there, despite the interruptions caused by their financial troubles and subsequent journey through the lower leagues.
With confidence high, Parma could go unbeaten in their first three top-flight fixtures for the first time since 2003, and they will certainly believe in their chances of causing another upset. The Hard Tackle delves into the potential elevens and tactics for this highly-anticipated clash.
Team News & Tactics
SSC Napoli
With Victor Osimhen’s future still uncertain and Romelu Lukaku not expected to start, Giacomo Raspadori is once again set to spearhead Napoli’s attack on Saturday evening. He will likely be preferred over Walid Cheddira and Giovanni Simeone to lead the line.
The primary creative force supporting Raspadori will be Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has been in superb form since the start of the 2022/23 season. The Georgian winger has both scored and assisted in the same match eight times during this period, a feat only bettered by Kylian Mbappe across Europe’s top five leagues.
Antonio Conte, with no injury concerns, is expected to have a full squad at his disposal. Given their solid performance in the previous match against Bologna, Conte is likely to stick with the same starting XI that brought home the three points.
Napoli are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Alex Meret will continue as the first-choice goalkeeper, providing a reliable presence between the posts. In defence, Giovanni Di Lorenzo will play as the right centre-back, Amir Rrahmani will occupy the central defensive position, and Alessandro Buongiorno will complete the back three on the left.
In the midfield, Pasquale Mazzocchi is expected to take up the right wing-back role, offering both defensive coverage and width in attack, while Mathias Olivera will operate on the left side as the left wing-back. In central midfield, Stanislav Lobotka and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa will form a strong partnership, tasked with controlling the tempo of the game and providing a link between defence and attack.
Up front, Matteo Politano will likely be deployed on the right wing, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will take up his usual position on the left wing, and Giovanni Simeone will start as the central striker. This formation allows Napoli to maintain a solid defensive structure while providing plenty of attacking options, making them a formidable force on the pitch.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Mazzocchi, Lobotka, Anguissa, Olivera; Politano, Kvaratskhelia; Simeone
Parma Calcio 1913
Parma will continue to cope without key players Hernani, who is sidelined with a calf injury, and Gabriel Charpentier, who remains out due to a flexor problem. Additionally, Nahuel Estevez is now dealing with a thigh issue, which could force head coach Fabio Pecchia to make adjustments in midfield.
However, despite these challenges, Parma are likely to stick with their trusted attacking trio, with Ange-Yoan Bonny leading the line, flanked by Romanian wingers Valentin Mihaila and Dennis Man. Man will be eager to continue his impressive start to the season, aiming to become the first Parma player to score in each of the club’s opening three Serie A matches since Adriano achieved this feat in both 2002 and 2003.
Parma are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Leandro Chichizola starting in goal, providing a steady presence at the back. The defense will likely consist of Woyo Coulibaly at right-back, Enrico Del Prato and Alessandro Circati as the central defensive pairing, and Gianluca Di Chiara at left-back, forming a solid and balanced backline.
In midfield, Nahuel Estevez is expected to partner with Adrian Bernabe in the double pivot, providing both defensive cover and distribution from deep. Ahead of them, the attacking midfield trio will feature Dennis Man on the right wing, Simon Sohm as the central attacking midfielder, and Valentin Mihaila on the left wing, all tasked with creating chances and supporting the attack.
Ange-Yoan Bonny will lead the line as the central striker, looking to capitalise on the service provided by the midfield and wingers. This formation allows Parma to maintain a compact shape while offering plenty of attacking options to threaten Napoli’s defense.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Coulibaly, Del Prato, Circati, Valeri; Bernabe, Estevez; Man, Sohm, Mihaila; Bonny
Key Stats
- Napoli and Parma have only drawn one of their last 17 Serie A encounters, with Napoli winning 10 and Parma winning six during this period. The last draw between the two sides was a 2-2 result on May 10, 2015, at the Tardini.
- Napoli have kept a clean sheet in each of their last two Serie A matches against Parma, both played in the 2020/21 season under Gennaro Gattuso. Napoli could achieve a clean sheet in three consecutive league games against Parma for the first time in their history.
- Parma have won four of their last nine Serie A away matches at Napoli (L5), with their most recent victory being a 2-1 win on December 14, 2019, thanks to goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Gervinho. Before this run, Parma had only won one of their previous 10 away league games against Napoli (D4 L5).
- After going eight Serie A games without a win (D5 L3), Napoli secured a 3-0 victory against Bologna in their last match. They are now aiming for back-to-back Serie A wins for the first time since February-March 2023, while also seeking consecutive clean sheets for the first time in the competition since March 2023.
- Parma are unbeaten in their first two Serie A matches of the 2024/25 season, having drawn against Fiorentina and won against AC Milan. They could go unbeaten in their first three Serie A games of a campaign for the first time since the 2003/04 season, under the management of Cesare Prandelli.
Player to Watch
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Kvaratskhelia is the player to watch in Napoli’s upcoming clash against Parma. The Georgian winger has quickly become one of Napoli’s most influential players since his arrival, consistently delivering performances that make him a constant threat to any defense.
Kvaratskhelia’s ability to both score and assist makes him a dual threat on the pitch. Since the start of the 2022/23 season, he has achieved the remarkable feat of both scoring and assisting in the same match on eight occasions, a record only surpassed by Kylian Mbappe across Europe’s top five leagues. His pace, dribbling ability, and vision make him a key figure in Napoli’s attack, and with the uncertainty surrounding Victor Osimhen’s future, Kvaratskhelia’s role becomes even more crucial.
In the previous match against Bologna, Kvaratskhelia showcased his importance to the team by contributing significantly to Napoli’s 3-0 victory. As Napoli look to build on that win and secure back-to-back victories for the first time since March, Kvaratskhelia’s influence on the game will be vital. His creativity and goalscoring prowess could be the differencemaker against a Parma side that will be keen to cause an upset at the Stadio Maradona.
Prediction
SSC Napoli 2-1 Parma Calcio 1913
Napoli will be eager to build on their victory over Bologna and secure another win to continue their climb up the table. However, Parma have proven they are no pushovers, especially after their impressive win over AC Milan. This match could be closely contested, but with home advantage and renewed confidence, Napoli might just edge it.
