Serie A Preview: Pisa vs Napoli – Team News, Lineups & Prediction

Serie A Preview: Pisa vs Napoli – Team News, Lineups & Prediction

Serie A runners-up Napoli travel to the Arena Garibaldi to take on already-relegated Pisa in their final away match of the season. Boasting a three-point lead over fifth-placed Roma, last season’s champions can secure Champions League qualification with a game to spare.

Despite returning to the top flight after a 34-year absence, Pisa couldn’t hold onto their Serie A status this term. Nailed to the bottom of the standings, the Nerazzurri are at risk of finishing the campaign as the only side not to smash a 20-point barrier, having amassed just 18 points from 36 matches so far.

Oscar Hiljemark’s team had two men sent off in last weekend’s 3-0 rout at the hands of relegation-threatened Cremonese, extending their woeful run to seven consecutive league defeats. Therefore, it’s hard to expect them to put up a fight when top-four-chasing Napoli roll into town on Sunday.

Visiting boss Antonio Conte couldn’t have hoped for a more favorable match-up at this critical juncture, especially after a goal-laden 3-2 home loss to Bologna last time out. Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo scored on his return from injury, while Alisson Santos joined him on the scoresheet at the start of the second half.

However, it was merely sufficient to soften the blow as Napoli suffered only their second home league defeat this season. With nearest competitors Juventus breathing down their necks, the visitors cannot afford another slip-up here if they’re to cling on to the second place.

Match Preview

Pisa

It has been a dreadful season for Pisa as they already prepare for life in the second tier. Still, they could avoid the ignominy of dropping out to Serie B from the foot of the table, looking to haul back a two-point deficit to 19th-placed Hellas Verona, which could prove a tall order.

Indeed, the hosts have picked up just eight points of the last 72 available (W1, D5, L18) and will take the field on a seven-game losing run. Five of those seven defeats saw them fail to find the back of the net, while three came by at least a three-goal margin, testifying to the depth of the crisis at the Arena Garibaldi.

A lack of firepower upfront has been one of Pisa’s main issues this term, as they risk finishing the 2025/26 season as the least prolific side in Europe’s top-five leagues. Hiljemark’s misfiring team has netted just 18 non-penalty goals in Serie A this term, registering a league-high 20 scoring blanks!

Napoli

Despite facing arguably the worst team in the division, Napoli would be well-advised not to take anything for granted. Indeed, six of their eight league defeats this season have come outside the Diego Maradona Stadium, accounting for their worst such tally since the 2014/15 campaign.

On the bright side, the four-time Serie A winners have avoided defeat in all 15 clashes against sides starting this round below 12th in the table (W12, D3). That indomitable run includes a 3-2 win in September’s reverse fixture, which marked Napoli’s tenth win from their last 12 matches against Pisa (D2).

Remarkably, it’s been over 40 years since Napoli last lost to this opposition. That bodes well, as they look to extend their four-game unbeaten run away from home (W2, D2) and bounce back from back-to-back draws with Como and Parma, both of which featured under 2.5 goals.

Team News

Matteo Tramoni, Calvin Stengs, Francesco Coppola, and Daniel Denoon won’t be at Hiljemark’s disposal due to injury. Moreover, Pisa will be without Rosen Bozhinov and Felipe Loyola, who received red cards against Cremonese, leaving the 33-year-old manager short of options at both ends of the pitch.

As for Napoli, Romelu Lukaku remains on the sidelines with a niggling hip injury. With the Belgian star ruled out of this fixture, Rasmus Hojlund is expected to spearhead the visitors’ attack. Meanwhile, Giovane is likely to replace suspended Matteo Politano and join forces with the Danish ace and Alisson in the final third.

Pisa vs Napoli Potential Starting Lineups

Pisa (3-5-2): Semper; Canestrelli, Caracciolo, Calabresi; Leris, Marin, Aebischer, Akinsanmiro, Angori; Stojilkovic, Moreo.

Napoli (3-4-2-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Gutierrez, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Giovane, Santos; Hojlund.

Pisa vs Napoli Prediction

Although the atmosphere in the Napoli dressing room may not be ideal after last weekend’s setback against, the visitors should still have far too much quality and motivation for a struggling Pisa side already destined for relegation.