Defending Serie A champions Napoli will travel to Fiorentina keen to continue their sold start to the season.
Napoli look to continue their flawless start to the Serie A season when they travel to the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Saturday evening to take on Fiorentina. The reigning champions have shown resilience in their title defence so far, while the Viola are still searching for their first domestic win of the new campaign.
Antonio Conte’s side have started the season with two wins from two, though their most recent outing highlighted that defending a Scudetto is never straightforward. After sweeping aside Sassuolo on opening day, Napoli needed every ounce of determination, and a stoppage-time strike from Frank Anguissa, to edge past Cagliari at the Maradona. That victory stretched their unbeaten league run to 14 matches, a streak dating back to February.
The Partenopei’s ambitions stretch beyond domestic dominance this year. With their Champions League opener against Manchester City looming, Conte has bolstered his squad depth, most notably securing Rasmus Hojlund on loan in the closing days of the transfer window. The Dane adds a new dimension to an attack already boasting Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, giving Napoli the firepower to compete on multiple fronts.
For Fiorentina, the new season has been less kind. Despite progressing through the UEFA Conference League playoffs, Stefano Pioli’s men have stumbled domestically, drawing both of their Serie A fixtures so far against Cagliari and Torino. The Viola’s attack remains a work in progress: even with summer signing Roberto Piccoli joining Moise Kean and Albert Gudmundsson in the front line, they struggled to create clear chances before the international break.
Still, home form offers Fiorentina hope. The Tuscan outfit have won seven of their last nine league matches at the Franchi, and their supporters will expect a more aggressive showing against the champions. Pioli, back at the helm in Florence, is eager to deliver his first Serie A win since returning.
Napoli’s recent dominance in this fixture is difficult to ignore. They are unbeaten in their last seven league visits to Florence and have lost only once in the past 15 meetings overall. Last season, the champions completed a league double over the Viola, including the 2-0 victory that sealed the Scudetto in May.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, have managed just two wins from their last ten top-flight encounters with Napoli. That record, combined with their slow start, underscores the challenge they face on Saturday. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
ACF Fiorentina
Fiorentina manager Stefano Pioli will be relieved to have no major injury concerns heading into the clash against Napoli. The squad is largely at full strength, allowing him to field a settled side in front of the home crowd. The Viola will aim to build on their UEFA Europa Conference League progress and translate that energy into domestic success.
Pioli is expected to stick with a 3-5-2 formation, designed to offer both defensive stability and attacking width. In goal, David de Gea will marshal the back line. He will be shielded by a three-man central defence consisting of Pietro Comuzzo, Marin Pongracic, and Luca Ranieri, each tasked with maintaining a compact shape to contain Napoli’s forwards.
Out wide, Dodo and Robin Gosens are set to operate as wing-backs, providing width in attack while also tracking back to support defensively. The midfield trio of Nicolo Fagioli, Simon Sohm, and Rolando Mandragora will handle the engine room responsibilities, combining ball distribution with defensive cover.
Up front, Roberto Piccoli and Moise Kean are expected to spearhead the attack. Piccoli offers physical presence and aerial ability, while Kean’s pace and movement will be crucial in stretching Napoli’s defensive line.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): de Gea; Comuzzo, Pongracic, Ranieri; Dodo, Fagioli, Sohm, Mandragora, Gosens; Piccoli, Kean
SSC Napoli
Antonio Conte’s men arrive in Florence with a few selection concerns to contend with. Romelu Lukaku, who scored in both meetings with Fiorentina last season, is sidelined for several weeks with injury. At the back, Amir Rrahmani remains unavailable due to a muscular issue, while summer signing Miguel Gutierrez has yet to return from his setback.
To add to these problems, David Neres is also doubtful after suffering a minor muscular strain. These absences could force Conte to slightly adjust his lineup and rely on depth across the squad.
Conte is expected to stick with his preferred 4-1-4-1 formation, which balances defensive solidity with attacking flexibility. In goal, Alex Meret will provide the last line of defence. The back four is likely to consist of captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo at right-back, Sam Beukema and Alessandro Buongiorno as the central defensive pairing, and Mathias Olivera operating on the left side of defence.
Sitting just ahead of the back line, Stanislav Lobotka will act as the single pivot, tasked with shielding the defence while initiating Napoli’s build-up play. Ahead of him, a midfield four of Matteo Politano, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne, and Scott McTominay will provide both creativity and physical presence. Politano is expected to operate wide on the right, while De Bruyne and McTominay should alternate between advancing into attacking positions and supporting Anguissa centrally.
Leading the line will be Rasmus Hojlund, the recent arrival on loan. With Lukaku injured, the Danish striker will be relied upon to stretch Fiorentina’s defence with his pace and movement, while also providing a target for crosses from wide areas.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Buongiorno, Olivera; Lobotka; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Hojlund
Key Stats
- Fiorentina have won only two of their last 10 Serie A meetings with Napoli, drawing two and losing six. Their last victories came in April 2022 (3-2) and October 2023 (3-1).
- Napoli are unbeaten in their last seven away Serie A games against Fiorentina (four wins, three draws). Across the last 16 league encounters overall, Napoli have lost just once , a 3-0 defeat in April 2018, when Giovanni Simeone scored a hat-trick.
- Napoli have recorded 54 Serie A wins against Fiorentina, equalling their highest tally of victories against a single club (also 54 against Lazio).
- Fiorentina, meanwhile, have beaten Napoli 55 times in Serie A, only against Bologna (58) have they enjoyed more wins.
- Fiorentina began the 2024/25 Serie A campaign with two consecutive draws. If they draw again here, it would equal their historic record of opening with three draws, a feat only previously achieved in 1936/37 (which included a draw against Napoli).
- Napoli have won six of their last seven Serie A matches immediately after an international break. The only exception in that stretch was a 3-0 defeat to Atalanta on 30 March 2024.
Player to Watch
Scott McTominay
Few players have adapted to life in Serie A as seamlessly as Scott McTominay, and his influence continues to grow with each passing week. Once seen primarily as a defensive midfielder, the Scotland international has blossomed into a dynamic box-to-box presence under Antonio Conte, combining relentless work rate with an eye for goal.
McTominay’s late runs into the penalty area have already become a hallmark of Napoli’s attacking play this season. The Scot’s physicality offers balance to a technically gifted midfield, while his leadership qualities bring composure in high-pressure moments. The former Manchester United man is also proving decisive in transitions, breaking up opposition moves before driving forward to support the attack.
Against Fiorentina, his ability to link with Kevin De Bruyne and provide support for Rasmus Hojlund could be key. With Napoli missing Romelu Lukaku, McTominay’s knack for arriving at the right time in advanced areas may once again prove the difference. If he continues this form, the whispers of him being a Ballon d’Or outsider will only grow louder.
Prediction
ACF Fiorentina 1-2 SSC Napoli
While Fiorentina are tough to beat at home, Napoli arrive in Tuscany full of confidence and with considerable attacking depth. Antonio Conte’s men have shown they can grind out results when not at their fluent best, and their historical advantage in this fixture only strengthens their hand. The Viola may keep things tight, but Napoli’s quality should shine through once again.
