Napoli will aim for a third straight win when they take on Cagliari on Sunday evening.
After an eventful close to August, Napoli are set to resume their Serie A campaign with a trip to face Cagliari in Sardinia this Sunday evening. With plenty of drama both on and off the pitch recently, the Partenopei will look to build on their last victory, while their hosts remain winless in the league this season, having lost to Lecce before the international break.
Napoli’s season began with a mixed bag, suffering an opening-day defeat to Hellas Verona before bouncing back with a convincing 3-0 win over Bologna at Stadio Maradona. However, their following match against newly-promoted Parma turned into a chaotic affair, especially in its final stages. Trailing for most of the game, Napoli seemed destined for a home defeat.
However, the tide turned after Parma’s goalkeeper, in a moment of madness, rushed out to tackle David Neres, receiving a second yellow card and leaving his team a man down. With no more substitutions available, defender Enrico Del Prato was forced to play in goal for the final minutes.
Sensing an opportunity, Napoli relentlessly pressed forward, and in the dying minutes of the match, Romelu Lukaku netted his first goal for the club, followed by Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s header deep into stoppage time, securing an improbable 2-1 victory.
Lukaku’s timely arrival coincided with the long-anticipated departure of former star Victor Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray on loan after months of tension between the striker and Napoli’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis. With the transfer window now closed and Antonio Conte having had time to work with his squad over the international break, the Partenopei will look to improve their shaky away form, which has seen them claim just two Serie A victories on the road since December 2023.
Conte will be especially keen to achieve three consecutive league wins with Napoli—something that has not been accomplished under a single head coach since Luciano Spalletti’s tenure early last year.
Cagliari, meanwhile, face a tough task this weekend. They have endured a poor record against Napoli, losing six of their last eight home encounters with the Azzurri while conceding an average of 2.6 goals per game. Historically, the Sardinians have managed just one win in their last 26 meetings with Napoli, with their last Serie A home victory over the Campanian side dating all the way back to 2009 when Max Allegri was in charge.
The two teams’ most recent clash in February ended in a 1-1 draw, with Cagliari salvaging a stoppage-time equaliser through Zito Luvumbo to cancel out Osimhen’s earlier goal. Under new manager Davide Nicola, who replaced the now-retired Claudio Ranieri, Cagliari have had a mixed start to the season.
After a successful progression in the Coppa Italia, they began their Serie A campaign with consecutive draws but fell 1-0 to Lecce before the break, despite having a one-man advantage for the entirety of the second half.
As Cagliari prepare for Napoli’s visit, they have drawn six of their last nine home matches, keeping only one clean sheet in that span, though that came in a goalless draw against AS Roma on the opening day of the season. The Hard Tackle explores the possible lineups and strategies for this much-awaited match.
Team News & Tactics
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari’s probable lineup for the match against Napoli will likely be structured in a 3-5-2 formation. Simone Scuffet is set to start in goal, while the defensive trio will consist of Gabriele Zappa, Colombian international Jeison Mina, and Sebastiano Luperto, aiming to provide stability at the back.
In midfield, Nadir Zortea will operate on the right flank, while Gianluca Gaetano could step into a central midfield role, joining Romanian international Răzvan Marin and Alessandro Deiola in the engine room. The left wing will be covered by Tommaso Augello, who provides width and defensive cover.
Leading the line for Cagliari will be Zito Luvumbo, the team’s standout performer in attack, alongside Roberto Piccoli, forming a forward partnership tasked with breaking down Napoli’s defence.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Luperto; Zortea, Gaetano, Marin, Deiola, Augello; Luvumbo, Piccoli
SSC Napoli
Napoli are set to field a 3-4-2-1 formation for their match against Cagliari. In goal, Alex Meret will take his usual place, tasked with maintaining Napoli’s defensive solidity. The back three will see captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo on the right side of the defence, providing leadership and experience, while Amir Rrahmani and Alessandro Buongiorno complete the trio. Rrahmani’s ability to read the game and Buongiorno’s defensive instincts will be key in shutting down any Cagliari attacks.
On the flanks, Pasquale Mazzocchi will start as the right wing-back, looking to make dangerous overlapping runs and contribute defensively when needed, while Mathías Olivera will patrol the left wingback position. Both wingbacks are expected to be heavily involved in both offensive and defensive duties, providing width and delivering crosses for Romelu Lukaku up front.
The midfield will be anchored by the reliable duo of Stanislav Lobotka and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who will be crucial in controlling the pace of the game and dictating Napoli’s transitions from defence to attack.
Further up the pitch, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is expected to recover in time for this game, will partner with David Neres to support the central striker. Both Kvaratskhelia and Neres are creative outlets, capable of unlocking defences with their dribbling and vision. Romelu Lukaku, who has a strong record against Cagliari, will lead the line for Napoli. With his physical presence and clinical finishing, Lukaku will be Napoli’s main goal threat, looking to exploit any gaps in Cagliari’s defence.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Mazzocchi, Lobotka, Anguissa, Olivera; Neres, Kvaratskhelia; Lukaku
Key Stats
- Among the teams faced at least 50 times in Serie A, Cagliari are the side against which Napoli have the lowest percentage of defeats (19%). Napoli have recorded 33 wins and 27 draws, suffering only 14 defeats in 74 matches against Cagliari.
- Cagliari have won just one of their last 26 games against Napoli in Serie A (D8 L17), with their last victory coming in September 2019. The last time Cagliari won at home against Napoli was in April 2009 under Massimiliano Allegri.
- Napoli have won six of their last eight away games against Cagliari in Serie A, averaging 2.6 goals per game. The two most recent encounters ended in draws, with Napoli last drawing three consecutive away games in 1976.
- Cagliari have drawn six of their last nine home Serie A games (W2 L1) and has managed just one clean sheet in that period. The Sardinians could record three consecutive home draws for the first time since the 2018/19 season.
- Napoli have managed just two away wins in Serie A since December 2023 (D5 L6). Excluding newly promoted and relegated teams, no team has won fewer away matches in that span, tied with Cagliari and Lecce (two wins each).
Player to Watch
Romelu Lukaku
Napoli’s new striker instantly made his mark on his debut with a goal, and with Osimhen out of the picture, Lukaku will be tasked with leading the line. His physical presence and ability to score from all positions make him a constant threat to Cagliari’s defence.
The Belgian will also free up responsibilities for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, handing the prodigious Georgian a reliable partner in crime. With Conte familiar with his strengths given their time at Inter Milan, Lukaku has every reason to be a success at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Prediction
Cagliari Calcio 0-2 SSC Napoli
Despite Cagliari’s resilience and home advantage, Napoli’s superior attacking options and newfound confidence after the break should carry them through. Romelu Lukaku’s influence will likely be decisive again, with Napoli securing a narrow victory.
