Napoli will aim to put their Champions League disappointment behind them when they face Pisa on Monday night.
Serie A champions Napoli look to put their European disappointment behind them when they return to Serie A action on Monday evening, hosting newly promoted Pisa at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Antonio Conte’s men suffered their first setback of the campaign in midweek, falling 2-0 to Manchester City in their Champions League opener. A red card for Giovanni Di Lorenzo midway through the first half changed the complexion of the match, forcing Conte into a defensive reshuffle and leaving Napoli with little chance of mounting a serious challenge. Despite Kevin De Bruyne’s early involvement, the Partenopei eventually succumbed to Erling Haaland’s opener before Jeremy Doku sealed the result with a brilliant solo strike.
While European progress is still very much on the agenda, Napoli have been flawless on the domestic front. Wins over Sassuolo, Cagliari, and most recently Fiorentina have given them maximum points from their first three Serie A outings. De Bruyne’s goal in Florence highlighted both his enduring class and his importance to Conte’s project, while the team’s defensive discipline has seen them concede only four times in their last seven home league matches.
Unbeaten in Serie A since February, with six wins from their last seven at the Maradona, Napoli will expect to continue their strong domestic momentum. The champions know that maintaining focus against struggling Pisa is vital if they are to keep pace with early title rivals Juventus and Inter.
For Pisa, Monday’s trip to Naples marks their first top-flight visit to the Maradona in 35 years. Their last Serie A appearance at the venue ended in a 2-1 defeat, with Diego Maradona himself among the scorers, a fitting reminder of the scale of the challenge that now awaits them in the stadium bearing his name.
Back in the top flight after decades away, Pisa’s return has been far from comfortable. They opened the season with a gritty point against Atalanta but have since slipped to narrow 1-0 defeats against Roma and Udinese. The Nerazzurri have only scored once in three matches, and even that was an Atalanta own goal, highlighting their lack of cutting edge in attack.
Alberto Gilardino’s men will be desperate to prove they can compete at this level, but with a Coppa Italia tie against Torino and a heated Tuscan derby with Fiorentina looming, this trip comes at the most daunting of moments.
Facing the reigning champions away from home, Pisa are likely to approach the game with a cautious mindset, hoping to frustrate Conte’s men while capitalising on rare opportunities. 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 could make changes after their midweek exertions in Manchester, though Antonio Conte has largely kept faith with a consistent XI so far. First-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret is expected to return from injury and reclaim his spot, meaning Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who performed admirably with a string of saves at the Etihad, may drop to the bench.
In attack, former Pisa striker Lorenzo Lucca will push for inclusion against his old club, with the youngster vying to replace Rasmus Hojlund at the tip of the formation. There are still fitness concerns elsewhere.
Romelu Lukaku remains sidelined with a serious thigh injury, leaving Conte short of striking depth, while central defender Amir Rrahmani is yet to recover from a hamstring issue. Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo will also be looking to redeem himself after his costly red card against Manchester City, while Kevin De Bruyne, who struggled on his return to England, will be keen to deliver a commanding display in midfield.
Conte is likely to deploy his men in a 4-1-4-1 setup. Alex Meret should take his place in goal, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo operating at right-back, Sam Beukema and Juan Jesus forming the central defensive partnership, and Leonardo Spinazzola starting on the left. Stanislav Lobotka will anchor the midfield just ahead of the back four, providing stability and ball progression.
The advanced midfield line should feature Matteo Politano wide on the right, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Kevin De Bruyne occupying the central roles, and Scott McTominay positioned on the left. Leading the attack, Lorenzo Lucca is in line to spearhead the frontline, offering aerial presence and physicality against his former club.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Beukema, Jesus, Spinazzola; Lobotka; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Lucca
Pisa SC
Alberto Gilardino is expected to travel to Naples with a fully fit squad, which is a welcome boost given Pisa’s testing start to the season. Veteran Colombian wing-back Juan Cuadrado has shaken off a muscle strain and could be named among the substitutes, offering valuable experience and versatility should the coach need to adjust mid-match. Pisa also have no suspensions to contend with, meaning Gilardino has plenty of options available.
The main concern lies in attack, where Pisa have yet to score a goal of their own in Serie A this season. Their only strike came via an Atalanta own goal, and they required penalties to scrape past Cesena in the Coppa Italia after a goalless draw. With goals proving elusive, Gilardino may decide to reshuffle his frontline. Henrik Meister or Stefano Moreo could be dropped, while Angolan striker M’Bala Nzola is pushing hard for his first start since joining the club.
Tactically, Pisa are expected to adopt a cautious 3-4-2-1 formation. Adrian Semper will line up in goal, protected by a three-man defence of Simone Canestrelli, Antonio Caracciolo, and Giovanni Bonfanti. Idrissa Toure is likely to start at right wing-back, with Samuele Angori operating on the left, while Michel Aebischer and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro should form the central midfield pairing.
In the more advanced roles, Stefano Moreo and Matteo Tramoni will look to link play and support the attack. Up front, M’Bala Nzola is expected to lead the line, providing physicality and a focal point in Pisa’s attempts to breach Napoli’s well-organised backline.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Semper; Canestrelli, Caracciolo, Bonfanti; Toure, Aebischer, Akinsanmiro, Angori; Moreo, Tramoni; Nzola
Key Stats
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Napoli and Pisa have met 14 times in Serie A, with Napoli winning six and Pisa three, alongside five draws. The Partenopei are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Pisa, winning four and drawing two.
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Napoli are unbeaten in six of their seven Serie A home matches against Pisa (W4 D2). Their most recent home victory over the Tuscans came in September 1990, a 2-1 win with goals from Diego Maradona and Careca.
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Napoli are currently on the longest active unbeaten run across Europe’s top five leagues, stretching 15 games (W10 D5). They could also record at least five straight Serie A wins for the third time under Antonio Conte, having previously done so twice last season.
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If Pisa lose, they would have no more than one point after their opening four matches of a Serie A season for the third time in their last four top-flight campaigns. The only previous occasions came in 1987/88 (zero points) and 1988/89 (one point).
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Napoli have won six of their last seven Serie A home games, conceding only four goals in that stretch. Another shutout on Monday would give them three consecutive home clean sheets in the league for the first time since late 2021.
Player to Watch
Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne has quickly established himself as the heartbeat of Antonio Conte’s Napoli side, bringing both creativity and control to their midfield. The Belgian maestro showed his class with a goal against Fiorentina last week and continues to provide the vision and passing range that allows Napoli to dominate possession and carve open defences.
Even in defeat against Manchester City, De Bruyne’s intelligence on the ball was clear, though he will be eager to put that subdued performance behind him and make a decisive impact in front of the Maradona crowd. With Stanislav Lobotka anchoring the midfield and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa providing energy alongside him, De Bruyne has the freedom to orchestrate play higher up the pitch, linking with Matteo Politano and Scott McTominay while supplying the striker.
Against a Pisa side struggling for goals and likely to defend deep, De Bruyne’s ability to unlock compact defences with incisive passes or moments of brilliance from distance could prove vital. If Napoli are to continue their perfect Serie A start, their midfield talisman will almost certainly be at the centre of it.
Prediction
SSC Napoli 3-0 Pisa SC
Napoli return to domestic duty as clear favourites, having shown near-flawless form in Serie A under Antonio Conte. Their unbeaten run, stretching back to February, coupled with six wins from their last seven home games, highlights both their consistency and their defensive solidity at the Stadio Maradona.
With Kevin De Bruyne orchestrating midfield and Lorenzo Lucca eager to impress against his former club, the champions should have more than enough quality to break down Pisa’s resistance. For Pisa, this trip represents a daunting assignment. Alberto Gilardino’s men have struggled badly in front of goal, failing to score in open play this season, and their lack of cutting edge could leave them overwhelmed against a Napoli side brimming with attacking options.
Even with the return of M’Bala Nzola, the visitors are unlikely to trouble a defence that has conceded only four goals in seven home league matches. While Napoli may take time to find their rhythm after a bruising Champions League defeat, their superiority in both squad depth and tactical cohesion should eventually shine through. Anything less than a comfortable home win would be a major surprise.