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Napoli logo
Serie A | Gameweek 34
May 7, 2023 at 5pm UK
Stadio San Paolo, Napoli
Fiorentina logo

Napoli
1 - 0
Fiorentina

Osimhen (74' pen.)
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Napoli vs. Fiorentina - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Serie A clash between Napoli and Fiorentina, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Following in the aftermath of their long-awaited title party earlier this week, Napoli return to Stadio Maradona on Sunday, when Fiorentina will visit the new Serie A champions.

Ending 33 years of hurt, Luciano Spalletti's side eked out a draw with Udinese to finally bring the Scudetto back to Naples; meanwhile, the Viola are enjoying their best form of the season and have a European semi-final to look forward to.


Match preview

Napoli's Victor Osimhen celebrates scoring on May 4, 2023© Reuters

Fittingly, the man destined to be this season's Capocannoniere effectively secured an unassailable lead for Napoli at the top of the Serie A standings on Thursday night, as he smashed the ball home to haul his team level in Udine.

Watched by thousands of Neapolitans in the stands of the Dacia Arena and back home at Stadio Maradona - which was packed to the rafters for a screening of the match - the Campanian club became Italian champions for just the third time, by virtue of a tense 1-1 draw.

With 22 goals in 27 league games, Victor Osimhen leads the Serie A scoring charts, sitting three ahead of nearest rival Lautaro Martinez of Inter, and his attacking input has elevated Spalletti's well-oiled machine to top spot.

Despite a recent downturn of fortunes - including last week's 1-1 draw with Salernitana, which forced them to wait a little longer - Napoli have already posted 25 wins and have wrapped up the title with five games to spare.

Before signing off a remarkable season with fixtures against Monza, Inter, Bologna and Sampdoria, the Partenopei now host a side they have scored an average of 2.3 goals per game past in their last eight meetings in Naples, winning five times in the process.

Having inevitably run out of steam towards the end of such a stunning campaign, which also took them to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time, Napoli have won just one of their last five home games in Serie A.

As their Viola visitors are in fine form, celebrating the club's first Scudetto since 1990 with a win, then, may not be an easy task.

Nicolas Gonzalez celebrates scoring for Fiorentina on October 13, 2022© Reuters

On Wednesday night, Fiorentina also found out how tough Salernitana can be to beat under their former coach Paulo Sousa, as Boulaye Dia followed up his party-spoiling strike at Stadio Maradona last week with a hat-trick in the sides' 3-3 draw in Salerno.

Three times the Viola trailed at Stadio Arechi, and on all three occasions they fought back, as equalisers from Nicolas Gonzalez, Jonathan Ikone and Cristiano Biraghi deprived their hosts of victory.

On the back of last Sunday's 5-0 demolition of Sampdoria, Vincenzo Italiano's men sit eighth in the Serie A standings, but eight points still separate them from the final European place, so their route back into continental competition will surely have to come through the cups.

Fiorentina's Europa Conference League semi-final tie with Basel gets under way next Thursday, and they are also into the Coppa Italia final, where they meet Inter later this month.

Winning either competition would not only see Italiano end the club's long silverware drought, but the Viola would also qualify directly for the 2023-24 Europa League as a bonus.

As they have now conceded three goals in both of their last two away fixtures, the Tuscan club could be forgiven for a similar result from their second straight game down in Campania, as their eyes are wandering elsewhere and Napoli will be out to impress the Azzurri-clad hordes.

Napoli Serie A form:


Napoli form (all competitions):


Fiorentina Serie A form:


Fiorentina form (all competitions):



Team News

Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti on September 10, 2022© Reuters

Even with the Scudetto secured, Luciano Spalletti - who has become the oldest coach ever to win Serie A - is unlikely to make wholesale changes, as Napoli seek to celebrate in style. Fringe players such as Diego Demme and Leo Ostigard may be given a rare run-out, though.

The hosts still have Mario Rui ruled out by an injury sustained in their Champions League exit to Milan, so Mathias Olivera continues to deputise at left-back.

Clearly below his dazzling best of late, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has neither scored nor provided an assist since the start of April, but he should still start on Sunday, to the left of star striker Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian's title-winning strike in Udine drew him level with George Weah as the top African scorer in Serie A history, and a 47th goal would take him clear of the Liberian president.

Only injured goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu and suspended centre-back Lucas Martinez Quarta will miss Fiorentina's visit to Naples, so with an almost full squad to choose from, several players could be rotated.

Vincenzo Italiano will want to keep his key men fresh for their first-leg clash with Basel next week, with Nikola Milenkovic also set to replace Martinez Quarta in defence.

Sofyan Amrabat, Luka Jovic and Giacomo Bonaventura are among those contending for promotion from the bench, and the latter has scored five league goals against Napoli to date - though none since 2019.

Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Kim, Ostigard, Olivera; Anguissa, Demme, Zielinski; Lozano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terracciano; Dodo, Milenkovic, Igor, Terzic; Amrabat, Mandragora; Gonzalez, Bonaventura, Saponara; Jovic


SM words green background

We say: Napoli 1-1 Fiorentina

For all the joyous release of the last few days, Napoli have been off the boil for a while now, while Fiorentina may have their minds on other matters. With all the action occurring in the Stadio Maradona stands, it could be a more meandering affair on the field of play; ending in a low-scoring draw.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data


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Game History

How you voted: Napoli vs Fiorentina

Napoli
60.8%
Draw
22.8%
Fiorentina
16.5%
79
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Napoli's Victor Osimhen celebrates scoring their third goal with Piotr Zielinski and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on March 19, 2023
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This weekend's Serie A permutations: Napoli looking to seal historic title
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atalanta BCAtalanta1391334161828
2Inter Milan1384131141728
3Napoli128221991026
4Fiorentina1274125101525
5Juventus136702171425
6Lazio1281325141125
7AC Milan125432014619
8Bologna114611513218
9Udinese125161518-316
10Empoli12363910-115
11Torino124261518-314
12Roma123451417-313
13Parma132651721-412
14Hellas VeronaHellas Verona134091732-1512
15Como122461323-1010
16CagliariCagliari122461222-1010
17Genoa12246922-1310
18Lecce12237521-169
19Monza121561015-58
20VeneziaVenezia122281121-108


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