Serie A | Gameweek 33

Apr 19, 2025 at 5pm UK

U-Power Stadium

Monza vs Napoli

Match preview

In search of a third successive victory at the Stadio Maradona, Napoli welcomed a struggling Empoli side to Campania earlier this week, hoping to close the gap on leaders Inter with a home win.

Once again, midfield powerhouse Scott McTominay was the difference, scoring either side of a Romelu Lukaku strike to secure three valuable points: five of the Scottish star's goals this season have come with the score at 0-0, and no other midfielder has scored more openers in all of Serie A.

This result came after a run of just two wins from nine, as the Partenopei have let top spot slip from their grasp, drawing six times since February and losing half a dozen points to Inter.

Nonetheless, Napoli remain the Nerazzurri's only title rivals and can go one better on Saturday night - a day before their Milanese counterparts travel to top-four challengers Bologna.

While Inter face a busy run-in with competition on three different fronts, Conte's side can concentrate on each of their six remaining Serie A fixtures, starting with a trip north to face the bottom side.

Not only did Napoli win 4-2 in Monza at this time last year, but they also came out on top in the reverse fixture in September - a 2-0 win at the Maradona - so they will be looking for three wins on the spin this weekend.

Since finally reaching the promised land in 2022, Monza have scored twice in their two home games against Napoli, but goals - like points - have been harder to come by this season.

So far, the Bianconeri have lost 21 games and won just two, leaving them 11 points adrift of safety and with little chance of avoiding the drop.

Alessandro Nesta's return in mid-February after being sacked midway through the season has resulted in six defeats from eight, and the final blow to any slim hopes of survival came last week.

A 1-0 defeat to 19th-placed Venezia in a must-win game for both clubs saw Monza come up short once again, with their last win dating back to January.

Before facing the might of Napoli, the Serie B outfit will have to address a glaring weakness at both ends of the pitch, having scored the fewest headed goals (two) and conceded the most (17) this season, while their next visitors have yet to score a single headed goal in Serie A.

Recent Performance

Monza Serie A form:LLDLLL

Napoli Serie A form:DWDWDW

Team News

Napoli will welcome back Frank Anguissa and captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo after both served suspensions against Empoli, but Antonio Conte could be without a couple of defenders due to injury.

Juan Jesus has been ruled out with a thigh problem, while Alessandro Buongiorno is still struggling to recover from the adductor problem that kept him out on Monday.

That could mean a reshuffle at the back, but the visitors are likely to start with some familiar faces in midfield: alongside Anguissa and Stanislav Lobotka, Scott McTominay has scored eight Serie A goals so far this term, surpassing his previous best for a single season.

While Napoli's attack is led by Romelu Lukaku - flanked by David Neres and Matteo Politano, the latter of whom scored in the reverse fixture in September - Monza have recently turned to Keita Balde and Dany Mota.

Mota has already equalled his personal Serie A goalscoring record of seven, but the Portuguese striker has only been involved in one goal this calendar year.

With Balde set to miss out through injury, either Gianluca Caprari or Silvere Ganvoula should start up front alongside Danilo D'Ambrosio, captain Matteo Pessina and Napoli youth product Armando Izzo.

Meanwhile, Georgios Kyriakopoulos has returned from a one-match ban and is in line to reclaim his place on the home side's left flank.

Possible starting lineup

Monza possible starting lineup:

Turati; Pereira, Caldirola, Carboni; Birindelli, Ciurria, Bianco, Akpa Akpro, Kyriakopoulos; Mota, Caprari

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Marin, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Neres