The Scudetto seems to have suddenly taken another turn: Inter’s two missteps allowed Napoli to first catch up and then overtake them, now trailing Antonio Conte’s Azzurri by three points. With four games to go, the Neapolitans have their destiny in their own hands. By winning their last four games, Di Lorenzo and his teammates would reclaim the tricolor for the second time in two years.
Greater athletic freshness but above all the fact that they only have to play one game a week, as has been said many times, is making the difference. While Inter have had a series of very difficult fixtures in quick succession (Bologna-Milan-Roma-Barcelona), Napoli have been able to take advantage of a far from impossible schedule: although not always shining in terms of play, Conte’s men have won their last three against Empoli, Monza, and Torino, relying mainly on their defensive solidity. Six goals scored and not a single one conceded for a team that can count on one of the best players in the league, undoubtedly the best signing of the season: Scott McTominay, the undisputed driving force with five goals in the last three games.
The Scottish midfielder, who arrived in the summer from Manchester United without much fanfare, would inevitably be the face of the Scudetto if Napoli were to triumph. The road to the tricolore, however, is still long: Conte will be looking to his hometown team, Lecce, who are fighting for survival, for inspiration. The Salento side, forced to take the field last Sunday against Atalanta—under threat of penalty points from the league—despite the pain of the sudden death of club masseur Graziano Fiorita, secured a valuable draw (1-1), which allowed them to move two points clear of the third-bottom teams, Venezia and Empoli. However, Marco Giampaolo’s Giallorossi have not won since last January and have not won at home since December.
Lecce-Napoli: the latest news on the line-ups
With the return of Krstovic, Tete Morente, Berisha, and Ramadani, Lecce should return to a 4-3-3 formation: in attack, in addition to the Spaniard (in contention with Karlsson) and the Montenegrin, Pierotti will start, while the midfield will consist of Coulibaly, Ramadani, and Pierret, with Berisha as the first alternative from the bench. Baschirotto will lead the defense as usual.
Conte will have to do without Buongiorno for the rest of the tournament: another significant absence in a department that is also missing Juan Jesus. Marin will therefore play alongside Rrahmani, with Di Lorenzo and Olivera on either side. There should be no problems in midfield for the returning Anguissa, but Gilmour is ready to step in if needed. Spinazzola is likely to fill in again at left wing, given the injury to Brazilian David Neres.
Odds comparison
Napoli are priced at 1.50 to win on Goldbet, Lottomatica, and Snai. The “No Goals” option is priced at 1.72 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 1.73 on Snai.
More information on bonuses
If you are a new user, in order to compare odds comprehensively, it may be useful to also analyze any bonuses offered by the operators themselves on new registrations.
- GOLDBET – Up to €3050 for sports and casino with 200% on your first sports deposit up to €1000 MORE INFO
- SNAI – €15 free + 50% on your first deposit up to €30 MORE INFO
- LOTTOMATICA – Up to €3050 for sports and casino with 200% on your first sports deposit up to €1000 MORE INFO
The prediction
This is probably the most complicated match for Napoli between now and the end of May, given that Lecce, compared to their next opponents (Genoa, Parma, and Cagliari), is in serious danger of relegation. It will not be a walk in the park for the Azzurri, who remain favorites in a match with less than 3 total goals.
Probable line-ups for Lecce-Napoli
LECCE (4-3-3): Falcone; Guilbert, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani, Pierret; Pierotti, Krstovic, Tete Morente.
NAPOLI (4-2-3-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Marin, Olivera; Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka; Politano, McTominay, Spinazzola; Lukaku.