Coppa Italia | Second Round

Sep 26, 2024 at 8pm UK

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Napoli vs Palermo

Match preview

Taking 10 points from their last four games has seen new-look Napoli recover from a shaky start to Antonio Conte's reign, in which they needed penalties to shake off Serie B side Modena in the Coppa Italia before losing 3-0 to Hellas Verona in their league opener.

Most recently, the Azzurri saw a three-match winning run ended in Turin, where they were held to a 0-0 draw by Juventus, but they had previously averaged three goals per game in the process of picking up nine points from a possible nine.

With former star Victor Osimhen exiled in Istanbul, Conte has turned to old favourite Romelu Lukaku and irrepressible winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to lead his attack, and a challenge for the top five is Napoli's minimum requirement.

After failing to qualify for Europe at the end of a calamitous 2023-24 campaign, the Campanian club can also concentrate on trying to win the Coppa Italia for the first time in five years.

While Conte may have half an eye on Sunday's league game against Monza, first he will expect his team to take care of business against second-tier opposition in the cup.

Palermo may be a Serie B side at the moment, but they have ambitions of joining Napoli in Italy's top flight next season, having been acquired by the far-reaching City Football Group in the summer of 2022.

Last season, the Sicilian club missed out in the playoffs, so they are now building towards another promotion push under former Sassuolo coach Alessio Dionisi, who was sacked before the Neroverdi were relegated last term.

Dionisi did lead Empoli up to Serie A in 2021, though, and his new side sit in mid-table after five games of the current campaign.

Like Napoli, Palermo have recovered from a sluggish start, and they have just put together a four-game unbeaten streak; unlike Thursday's hosts, they have yet to lift the Coppa Italia throughout their 124-year history.

It is unlikely that the Rosanero will finally end that wait next May, but they will still dream of meeting Lazio in the last 16, which would be their prize for following up last month's first-round win over Parma by beating Napoli at the Maradona.

Recent Performance

Napoli Coppa Italia form:W

Napoli form (all competitions):WLWWWD

Palermo Coppa Italia form:W

Palermo form (all competitions):LLWDWD

Injuries and suspensions

Napoli

1 Alex Meret

Palermo

16 Alfred Gomis

77 Francesco Di Bartolo

5 Fabio Lucioni

28 Alexis Blin

26 Valerio Verre

Possible starting lineups

Napoli(4-2-3-1)

25Caprile(GK)

22Lorenzo(DR)

4Buongiorno(DC)

13Rrahmani(DC)

17Olivera(DL)

99Anguissa(DMC)

68Lobotka(DMC)

21Politano(AMR)

8McTominay(AMC)

77Kvaratskhelia(AML)

18Simone(FW)

Palermo

46Sirigu(GK)

23Diakite(DL)

18Nedelcearu(DC)

43Nikolaou(DC)

27Pierozzi(DR)

8Segre(MD)

30Saric(MD)

11Insigne(AMR)

10Filippo Ranocchia(AMC)

21Le Douaron(AML)

9Brunori(FW)