Antonio Conte will seek to get his Napoli reign going with a win against Hellas Verona on Sunday.
Antonio Conte is set to make a much-anticipated return to Serie A this Sunday, as his new-look Napoli side face Hellas Verona at Stadio Bentegodi. After a disappointing campaign last season, the Partenopei are eager to rediscover the form that saw them crowned Italian champions just two years ago.
Meanwhile, Hellas Verona also enter this clash under new management, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this opening fixture. Napoli’s fall from grace last season was stark. After ending a 30-year wait for a Serie A title in 2023, the Partenopei struggled to maintain their dominance, largely due to the challenges of replacing their Scudetto-winning coach, Luciano Spalletti.
Rudi Garcia, Walter Mazzarri, and Francesco Calzona each took turns at the helm, but none could prevent the team’s sharp decline. Stars like Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia appeared out of sorts as the team stumbled to a 10th-place finish, a staggering 41 points behind the new champions, Inter Milan.
Faced with such a dramatic downturn, Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, made a bold move, appointing Antonio Conte, one of the most demanding and successful managers in Italian football, to lead the club back to glory. However, his arrival has not been without its challenges. The uncertainty surrounding Osimhen’s future and a rocky transfer window have made the rebuilding process anything but smooth.
Despite these hurdles, Napoli showed glimpses of promise in pre-season, winning four games without conceding a goal. However, their momentum was halted by a loss to Girona in the final friendly. Their first competitive match under Conte, a Coppa Italia clash against Serie B side Modena, was a nervy affair. Despite dominating possession, Napoli struggled to find the net and only advanced after a penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Alex Meret emerging as the hero by saving two spot-kicks.
In contrast to Conte’s illustrious resume, Verona’s new coach, Paolo Zanetti, arrives with a more modest record. Last season, Verona narrowly avoided relegation, securing their Serie A status with a vital win on the penultimate matchday. Former coach Marco Baroni orchestrated a remarkable turnaround after a series of January signings, amassing more points in the second half of the season than any other team in the bottom half of the table.
However, Baroni’s departure to Lazio has left Zanetti with the task of maintaining that momentum. Verona’s pre-season was encouraging, with several victories against lower-league opponents. But their first competitive fixture under Zanetti ended in disappointment, as they suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Cesena in the Coppa Italia.
Now, Verona face the daunting task of taking on a Napoli side that has dominated their recent encounters. The Partenopei have gone unbeaten in 13 of their last 14 league meetings with Verona, whose only win during that period came in January 2021 with a 3-1 victory at the Bentegodi.
As Conte looks to begin his tenure with a statement win, and Zanetti aims to defy the odds, this clash promises to be a fascinating early test for both teams. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up for the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Hellas Verona
Hellas Verona enter Sunday’s clash as the clear underdogs, with new coach Paolo Zanetti facing several tough decisions ahead of the match. The team has undergone significant changes during the off-season, with key departures and new arrivals reshaping the squad.
One of the most notable losses for Verona is Michael Folorunsho, who enjoyed a standout season last year, playing a pivotal role in Verona’s successful campaign. His performances earned him a spot in Luciano Spalletti’s Euros squad. But he has now returned to his parent club, leaving a gap in the midfield that Zanetti must address.
Whether he will line up against Verona on the night remains to be seen. The club also bid farewell to Juan Cabal, who has joined Juventus, and Dutch striker Tijjani Noslin, who followed former manager Marco Baroni to Lazio.
In response to these departures, Verona has made some important moves in the transfer market. Jackson Tchatchoua and Suat Serdar, both of whom impressed on loan last season, have been signed permanently and are expected to play significant roles in the upcoming campaign. Their presence will be crucial on Sunday evening, especially with Verona’s forward line facing uncertainty.
Zanetti has a decision to make regarding who will lead the attack against Napoli. Daniel Mosquera and Casper Tengstedt are both in contention to make their first Serie A start, and the coach’s choice could be pivotal in Verona’s efforts to upset the odds. However, the team will be without Argentinian forward Juan Manuel Cruz, who is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery for a serious thigh injury. His absence is a blow to Verona’s attacking options, adding further pressure on the remaining forwards to step up.
The home side are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Lorenzo Montipo in goal. The shot-stopper will be keen to put his horror show against Cesena where he scored an own goal as Verona crashed out of the Coppa Italia.
He should be protected by the back four of Jackson Tchatchoua, Diego Coppola, Paweł Dawidowicz and Yllan Okou. Suat Serdar and Ondrej Duda should form the double pivot, with the trio of Tomáš Suslov, Abdou Harroui and Darko Lazović playing further upfield. Casper Tengstedt should get the nod over Daniel Mosquera upfront.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Montipo; Tchatchoua, Coppola, Dawidowicz, Okou; Serdar, Duda; Suslov, Harroui, Lazovic; Tengstedt
Napoli
Napoli head into their season opener with some notable absences and new faces, as they look to make a strong start under Antonio Conte’s leadership. Star striker Victor Osimhen, who remains with the club for now, is not involved in training and will not feature in this weekend’s match amid his links with Chelsea.
However, fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a vital figure in Napoli’s attack, is set to stay and is expected to start against Hellas Verona. Kvaratskhelia has a strong track record against Verona, having scored four times in as many matches against them.
His first-ever Serie A goal came at Stadio Bentegodi on the opening day of the 2022/23 season, making this venue a familiar and fruitful ground for the Georgian winger. His presence on the field will be crucial as Napoli seeks to kick off the new campaign with a victory.
While Kvaratskhelia provides continuity in attack, the midfield will see a significant change with the departure of Piotr Zielinski to Inter Milan. Zielinski was a key player in Napoli’s Scudetto-winning side, and his absence leaves a gap that the team will need to fill.
To bolster the defence, Napoli have brought in Italy defender Alessandro Buongiorno from Torino. Conte, known for his tactical acumen, utilized his preferred three-man defence in the Coppa Italia match against Modena, a setup he is likely to employ again on Sunday.
In Osimhen’s absence, the competition to lead the line for Napoli is fierce. Giacomo Raspadori, Giovanni Simeone, and Walid Cheddira are all in contention to start up front. Each player offers a different skill set, and Conte’s decision on who gets the nod could be decisive in breaking down Verona’s defence.
Napoli are expected to line up in a 3-4-3 formation, with Alex Meret in goal, providing a steady presence between the posts. The three-man defence will feature Giovanni Di Lorenzo on the right, Amir Rrahmani in the central position, and Alessandro Buongiorno on the left, each tasked with maintaining a solid defensive structure.
In midfield, Pasquale Mazzocchi will operate as the right wing-back, offering both defensive cover and attacking width, while Stanislav Lobotka and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa will pair up centrally to control the tempo and break up opposition play.
Leonardo Spinazzola will occupy the left wing-back role. The forward line will consist of Matteo Politano on the right wing, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left wing, and Giacomo Raspadori leading the attack as the central striker.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Mazzocchi, Lobotka, Anguissa, Spinazzola; Politano, Kvaratskhelia; Raspadori
Key Stats
- Napoli are unbeaten in 13 of their last 14 Serie A games against Hellas Verona, with 10 wins and three draws. Verona’s only victory in this period was a 3-1 win at the Bentegodi in January 2021.
- The last draw between Hellas Verona and Napoli at the Stadio Bentegodi occurred in April 1988, with a 1-1 scoreline. Since then, Napoli has won 10 times, while Verona has secured four victories at home.
- Hellas Verona and Napoli will face each other on the first day of Serie A for the fifth time in their history and the fourth consecutive time away for Napoli. The last two such encounters, both on the first day of the season, ended in victories for Napoli, including a 5-2 win during their Scudetto-winning 2022–23 season.
- After a 1-0 victory against Empoli on the first matchday of last season, Hellas Verona could win two consecutive opening day matches for only the second time in their Serie A history, the first being in the 1983/84 and 1984/85 seasons.
- Napoli have won each of their last seven Serie A matches on the first day of the season, setting a record streak in their history for opening-day victories in the top flight.
Player to Watch
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Kvaratskhelia is undoubtedly the player to watch in Napoli’s upcoming clash against Hellas Verona. He has a remarkable record against Verona, having scored four goals in as many matches against them. This includes his first-ever Serie A goal, which he netted at the Stadio Bentegodi on the opening day of the 2022/23 season.
His ability to find the back of the net consistently against Verona makes him a significant threat that the opposition will be keenly aware of. With Victor Osimhen absent, Kvaratskhelia’s role in Napoli’s attack becomes even more critical.
As one of the most dynamic and creative players in the squad, his dribbling, vision, and finishing will be essential in breaking down Verona’s defence. His presence on the left wing provides Napoli with a potent attacking option, capable of turning the tide in their favour.
Prediction
Hellas Verona 0-2 Napoli
Napoli enter this match on the back of an impressive streak, having won their last seven Serie A matches on matchday one — a club record that they’ll be eager to extend. This remarkable run sets the stage for another potential victory, with Hellas Verona standing as the next hurdle.
Verona, on the other hand, are coming off a disappointing Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Serie B opposition last week, raising concerns about their readiness for the new season. Meanwhile, Napoli’s players should be increasingly attuned to Antonio Conte’s rigorous demands, potentially giving them the edge in this opening fixture. As the Partenopei seek to maintain their first-matchday dominance, all eyes will be on whether they can add to their winning streak at the Bentegodi.