On a run of four straight wins, Napoli will continue their quest to regain the Scudetto on Sunday evening, when they welcome Hellas Verona to Stadio Maradona.
Verona pulled off a major upset when the sides met on the opening matchday, and they now aim to defy long odds by doing the double.
Match preview
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Taking full advantage of Atalanta BC's trip to Saudi Arabia for the Supercoppa Italiana, Napoli seized top spot in Serie A last weekend, with an impressive away win over high-flying Fiorentina.
David Neres spectacularly opened the scoring at Stadio Franchi, before Romelu Lukaku's penalty and a Scott McTominay strike put the result beyond doubt, making it three goals and three points to start 2025.
Napoli ended the first half of the season with 44 points - the club's third-best tally this century - and they look set to fight it out with Atalanta and reigning champions Inter Milan for the title.
Benefiting from Antonio Conte's organisational skills, the Partenopei have recorded the most clean sheets across Europe's top five leagues this term; a tally of 11 is their most at this stage of any campaign since 1986.
While Napoli have not lost any of their last 19 home matches against Verona in Serie A - winning on 14 occasions - they will not take Sunday's task lightly, given how events unfolded on Conte's league debut.
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In light of Napoli's defensive record since, Verona's 3-0 success at Stadio Bentegodi on the opening matchday is all the more remarkable.
After Daniel Mosquera bagged a brace to stun the 2023 Scudetto winners in August, Hellas could now do the double over their southern counterparts for the first time in top-flight history - and recent results will boost belief they can achieve such a feat.
Paolo Zanetti's men have taken seven points from their last four outings, including 3-2 away wins over Emilian pair Parma and Bologna, plus a 0-0 draw with Udinese last weekend.
By toppling Napoli again, the Gialloblu would not only move further clear of the drop zone, but they would also record a run of three Serie A road wins for the first time since December 1984.
That is clearly easier said than done, as they will bring the division's worst defensive record to Naples, where their hosts have conceded six league goals all season.
Team News
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Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is expected to leave the club this month, so he will not be involved on Sunday, but fellow winger Matteo Politano has now returned from injury.
The latter and David Neres should support Romelu Lukaku up front, while Leonardo Spinazzola drops into defence to replace the injured Mathias Olivera at left-back.
Conte - who has just added Bournemouth midfielder Phillip Billing to his squad on loan - will again be without commanding centre-back Alessandro Buongiorno, so Juan Jesus continues to deputise.
Verona head south without two regular starters due to suspension: Suat Serdar was sent off during the second half of last week's draw with Udinese, while Jackson Tchatchoua has accrued five Serie A bookings.
Meanwhile, Martin Frese, Juan Cruz and Abdou Harroui are all unavailable through injury.
Among players making their Serie A debut this season, Hellas striker Casper Tengstedt has scored the most goals (six so far - three at home and three away), and he should partner Amin Sarr in attack.
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Spinazzola; Anguissa, Lobotka; Politano, McTominay, Neres; Lukaku
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Dawidowicz, Coppola, Ghilardi; Lazovic, Duda, Belahyane, Bradaric; Suslov; Sarr, Tengstedt
We say: Napoli 2-0 Hellas Verona
There will be no repeat of Verona's shock win in the summer, as Napoli are a much tougher nut to crack now.
The hosts may have a few key players short of fitness, but they still boast sufficient firepower to beat an improving away side.
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Jonathan O'Shea
