Napoli seal Lukaku deal ahead of Bologna clash.
Napoli vs
Bologna
As Napoli's under-fire manager Antonio Conte seeks redemption in their Serie A clash against a confident Bologna under Vincenzo Italiano, the stage is set for a captivating encounter at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, where both teams aim to prove their mettle following contrasting starts to the season.
Napoli
Napoli's new manager, Antonio Conte, is under immense pressure after a disastrous start to the 2024/25 Serie A campaign, highlighted by a shocking 3-0 loss to Hellas Verona. This defeat, against a team that narrowly avoided relegation last season, marked Napoli's worst opening-round result of the century.
The match was a stark reminder of their shaky form, following a precarious Coppa Italia performance where they needed penalties to overcome Serie B side Modena. Napoli’s recent home form has been particularly alarming, with last season seeing them win just a third of their home games [6W, 7D, 5L], which led to a poor bottom-half finish in terms of home performance.
Included in their home struggles was a 2-0 defeat to Bologna in their penultimate home game, a result that casts a shadow as they prepare to face the same opponents again this weekend. Conte has focused solely on Sunday’s game, stating, “I want to talk about Bologna. As you know, it’s a big match. You know what they did last year. Let’s put all our focus on the game; it’s more important to me.”
While a deal for Lukaku has been sealed, Conte is expected to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation with Giovanni Simeone in attack. Victor Osimhen remains in doubt, having not featured for the club amid his anticipated departure.
Bologna
Vincenzo Italiano made his Serie A managerial debut with Bologna in a 1-1 draw against Udinese. His side dominated with 74% possession, attempting 22 shots on goal in that match.
Bologna enters Match Day 2 under Italiano with a sense of optimism, aiming to avoid defeat. Just two months ago, Antonio Conte praised Italiano as "one of the most promising coaches," after Italyano's achievements with Fiorentina, including a top-half finish and a second UEFA Conference League final.
Italiano's goals for Bologna likely include securing a third consecutive top-half finish, making early points crucial before the European competitions add pressure. Their strong away record as underdogs, with only one loss in 11 games, boosts their confidence ahead of the Napoli clash.
They are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring Argentine striker Santiago Castro. However, Nicolò Cambiaghi and Oussama El Azzouzi will miss the game, and Scottish midfielder Lewis Ferguson is also sidelined due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
