Serie A leaders Napoli will aim to keep their solid run going against a struggling Lecce side on Saturday afternoon.
Top-of-the-table Napoli will be looking to further solidify their hold on the Serie A lead when they host struggling Lecce at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday. Coming into the weekend as clear favourites, Napoli are in pursuit of their fourth consecutive league win, while their opponents, Lecce, are reeling from a heavy defeat and languishing near the bottom of the standings.
Napoli are riding a wave of positivity and momentum under Antonio Conte’s leadership. The Partenopei resumed their winning ways after the international break by dispatching Empoli 1-0 away from home. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s penalty – which came after a foul on Matteo Politano – proved decisive, as Napoli maintained a two-point cushion at the top of the Serie A table. Conte’s men have amassed 19 points from their first eight matches, which represents the club’s fourth-best start to a Serie A campaign in the 21st century.
With the Scudetto firmly in their sights, Napoli are benefiting from the absence of midweek European fixtures, allowing them to focus solely on their domestic ambitions. Antonio Conte, who is back in the Serie A spotlight, is implementing a pragmatic but effective approach that has Napoli showing all the hallmarks of title contenders.
Defensively, they have been resolute, keeping clean sheets in four of their last five league games and conceding just once during that stretch. Such solidity in the backline is matched only by Juventus in recent weeks.
Despite their defensive prowess, Napoli’s possession stats don’t necessarily reflect dominance on the ball. The Azzurri rank outside the top three in terms of average possession in Serie A (47%), making them the only club among the current top four across Europe’s major leagues to do so. However, they have proven clinical and ruthless on the counter-attack, making the most of their opportunities when transitioning quickly from defence to attack.
For manager Antonio Conte, this game holds a special significance. As a young player, Conte made his senior debut for Lecce at just 16 years and 249 days old. His first professional goal also came against Napoli three years later, in 1989, giving him a personal connection to both clubs in this clash.
On the other hand, Lecce head into this game in dire straits following last week’s humiliating 6-0 drubbing at home against Fiorentina. That heavy loss has left the club sitting second from the bottom in the Serie A standings with only five points to their name. To make matters worse, the team’s current tally of just three goals is the lowest of any side in Europe’s top five leagues, highlighting their bluntness in the final third.
Compounding Lecce’s woes is their defensive frailty. Having conceded 18 goals already this season, the Giallorossi have the worst defensive record in Serie A, and only Montpellier in Ligue 1 have a poorer goal difference across Europe’s top five leagues.
Head coach Luca Gotti’s job is reportedly hanging by a thread following last week’s embarrassment, with reports of an emergency meeting between him and Lecce’s hierarchy making headlines. Nonetheless, Gotti remains in the dugout for now, but he knows that anything less than a competitive display against Napoli will heighten the pressure on his position.
Historically, Lecce have fared well on recent trips to Naples, remaining unbeaten in their last three visits. However, given their current form and the momentum Napoli are carrying into this fixture, the odds are heavily stacked against them this weekend. 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
SSC Napoli
Napoli are set to be without midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, who remains sidelined with a thigh strain sustained while on international duty with Slovakia. His absence means that manager Antonio Conte is expected to retain Billy Gilmour in the heart of the midfield, despite having expressed criticism of the Scottish playmaker’s first-half performance last week.
Meanwhile, there is positive news for Napoli as first-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret has returned to training after a spell on the sidelines. However, it remains uncertain whether Meret will be deemed fit enough to reclaim his starting spot from Elia Caprile, who could continue in goal.
Romelu Lukaku will lead the line for Napoli as he inches closer to a significant personal milestone in Serie A. With 73 goals and 26 assists so far in Italy’s top flight, the Belgian striker stands just one goal or assist away from reaching 100 goal involvements in the league. Supporting Lukaku in the final third will be the in-form Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has been a key creative force for Napoli.
Conte will likely deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Mathias Olivera as the full-backs. At the heart of the defence, Amir Rrahmani and Alessandro Buongiorno will look to maintain Napoli’s solid record.
As for the midfield unit, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa will partner Billy Gilmour in the double pivot, tasked with shielding the defence while facilitating play. Ahead of them, Matteo Politano is expected to occupy the right attacking midfield role, with Scott McTominay playing centrally in an attacking midfield position to link up with the forwards.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will operate on the left side, offering both width and creativity to Napoli’s attack. All eyes will be on Lukaku to deliver the goals as Napoli aim to extend their winning streak and solidify their place at the top of the Serie A standings.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Caprile; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Anguissa, Gilmour; Politano, McTominay, Kvaratskhelia; Lukaku
US Lecce
Lecce will be without the suspended Antonino Gallo, who received a red card in last weekend’s heavy defeat. In addition to Gallo’s suspension, Lecce’s injury list includes key players such as Kevin Bonifazi, Filip Marchwinski, and Medon Berisha. Gallo’s absence could prompt Lecce manager Luca Gotti to restore Danish winger Patrick Dorgu to his former position at full-back, which may in turn create an opportunity for either Lameck Banda or Tete Morente to come into the starting XI.
In a 4-2-3-1 formation, Lecce are expected to field Wladimiro Falcone in goal. The defensive line should consist of Frédéric Guilbert on the right, Marin Pongracic and Federico Baschirotto as the central defenders, and Patrick Dorgu at left-back. The double pivot in midfield will likely be composed of Ylber Ramadani and Alexis Blin, who will aim to provide a defensive shield while distributing the ball forward.
In the attacking midfield roles, Lameck Banda, Rémi Oudin, and Ante Rebic are expected to form a trio behind Nikola Krstovic, who leads Lecce’s attack. With Krstovic in the centre-forward position, Lecce will be counting on him to convert his frequent attempts into crucial goals as they face a formidable Napoli side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Guilbert, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Dorgu; Ramadani, Pierret; Banda, Oudin, Rebic; Krstovic
Key Stats
- Napoli are unbeaten in their last four league games against Lecce (W2 D2) and have not conceded a goal in their two most recent meetings; however, the Partenopei have never kept three consecutive clean sheets against the Giallorossi in Serie A.
- Lecce are unbeaten in their last three away games against Napoli in the league (W1 D2), a streak that includes avoiding defeat in more consecutive away games against a single opponent only against Fiorentina (four games between 2009 and 2019) and Brescia (five games between 2000 and 2011).
- Napoli have accumulated 19 points from their first eight games in Serie A this season (W6 D1 L1), and only three times in the three-points-for-a-win era have they won more at this stage of a top-flight campaign: in 2017/18, 2021/22 (24 points), and 2022/23 (20 points).
- Napoli have kept four clean sheets in their last five Serie A matches (W4 D1), achieving an aggregate score of 10-1 in these games. Since early September, the Partenopei have conceded just one goal in Serie A, a record matched only by Juventus, with only RB Leipzig (zero) conceding fewer in Europe’s top five leagues in that period.
- Lecce have scored the fewest goals of any team in Europe’s top five leagues in the 2024/25 season (two goals), while their total of 18 goals conceded includes three in their last outing against Fiorentina. Only Montpellier (-18) have a worse goal difference than Lecce (-15).
Player to Watch
Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku has been a key figure for Napoli this season, showcasing his ability to lead the line effectively and deliver in crucial moments. With 73 Serie A goals and 26 assists to his name, Lukaku is on the cusp of reaching a milestone of 100 goal involvements in the league. The Belgian striker’s physical presence, combined with his poise in front of goal, makes him a constant threat to opposition defences.
Supported by playmakers like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano, Lukaku will be looking to capitalize on Lecce’s defensive struggles and add to his tally. Keep an eye on Lukaku’s link-up play and his knack for finding space in and around the box, as he aims to solidify his status as one of Serie A’s most reliable forwards.
Prediction
SSC Napoli 3-0 US Lecce
All signs point to another Napoli victory. The Partenopei are well-drilled, boast a solid defensive record, and have a wealth of attacking options, making them a formidable force at the Stadio Maradona. In contrast, Lecce’s lack of cutting-edge and leaky defence spells trouble for Luca Gotti’s men, and it’s hard to envision anything other than a comfortable win for the home side.