Napoli return to Serie A action for the first time in over three months on Tuesday when they take on a high-flying Hellas Verona side in a match with huge Europa League implications.
Napoli – who beat Juventus in the Coppa Italia final before the league’s return – last played a Serie A game back in February, when they defeated Torino 2-1. The Naples side have disappointed so far this season and will use the break as a chance to refresh and come back rejuvenated, aiming for Champions League qualification.
Verona, conversely, have exceeded expectations this season and find themselves just one point and one place below Napoli. An excellent defensive campaign has them just one point away from the Europa League qualifying places and, with a number of key players leaving in the summer, the Mastiffs are in do or die mindset.
When Is Kick Off? Tuesday 23 June
What Time Is Kick Off? 18:30 (BST)
Where is it Played? Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi
TV Channel/Live Stream? Premier Sports (UK), Fubo (US)
Referee? TBC
Verona will be without a number of first team players for Tuesday’s game, with Atalanta loanee Matteo Pessina and Pawel Dawidowicz both struggling with muscle injuries and Fabio Borini suspended following his dismissal at the weekend against Cagliari.
Napoli right-back Kevin Malcuit is inching closer to a return, but won’t be available for Tuesday’s game. That aside, Napoli will have everyone else available for the fixture.
Hellas Verona: Silvestri, Rrahmani, Kumbulla, Empereur, Faraoni, Amrabat, Agyemang-Badu, Lazovic, Verre, Veloso; Di Carmine.
Napoli: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Koulibaly, Maksimovic, Rui, Allan, Demme, Zielinski, Milik, Mertens; Insigne.
With a 100% win rate for both sides since football restarted, this is shaping up to be one hell of a clash between two of Europe’s in form teams. Admittedly, the two sides have only played three games between them…and one of Napoli’s ‘wins’ came by penalty shootout. Ah.
The break means that ‘recent’ form doesn’t mean too much, but here’s each side’s last five games.
Verona
Verona 2-1 Cagliari (20/6)
Sampdoria 2-1 Verona (8/3)
Udinese 1-1 Verona (16/2)
Verona 2-1 Juventus (8/2)
Lazio 0-0 Verona (5/2)
Napoli
Napoli 0-0 Juventus (17/6)
Napoli 1-1 Inter (13/6)
Napoli 2-1 Torino (29/2)
Napoli 1-1 Barcelona (25/2)
Brescia 1-2 Napoli (21/2)
Both sides will be desperate to get something out of the match and – while Napoli are the more talented of the two sides – Verona’s excellent defence should be enough to at least snag a point from the game.
Prediction: Verona 1-1 Napoli
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