Napoli-Lille is a friendly and will be played on Wednesday at 20:00: news, statistics, live TV, likely formations, predictions
Napoli’s friendly cycle, which took place between Turkey – where Luciano Spalletti’s team played a mini-retreat – and the ‘Maradona’ stadium, concludes with the challenge against Lille, Victor Osimhen’s former team. The test against the French outfit is the last before the eagerly awaited league match against Inter at the San Siro, scheduled for 4 January.
Last Saturday, meanwhile, the Azzurri had to reckon with a defeat – the second since the season began, the first ever in front of their own public – in the friendly against the Villarreal of former players Reina and Albiol, both of whom were welcomed by the Neapolitan public with all the honours. Against the Yellow Submarine it ended 2-3. It was a game not well played by Napoli, who were also underplayed by Quique Setien’s men. Spalletti, however, cannot make dramas, as it was a match that was essentially useless from the point of view of the result, nor should it be seen as a wake-up call. The Azzurri, on the other hand, had won their previous two friendlies against Antalyaspor and Crystal Palace, beating them 3-2 and 3-1 respectively. The Tuscan coach will, however, want to see a reaction against Lille, a match in which the World Cup veterans Zielinski, Anguissa, Lozano, Olivera and Kim will also be seen.
The transalpine club, led by former Roma coach Paulo Fonseca, will also be reunited with Weah and David, who featured in Qatar 2022 with the US and Canadian national teams. Lille are currently seventh in Ligue 1 and come from a double success in friendlies against Valladolid and Cambuur.
Gudmundsson
The Prediction
As has been the case in previous friendlies involving the Azzurri, there should be no shortage of goals in the Napoli/Lille clash, with Spalletti’s men rehearsing for their tricky match against Inter Milan and looking to immediately redeem last Saturday’s defeat to Villarreal. Both are likely to score
Napoli v Lille matchday squad
- NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Juan Jesus, Mario Rui; Ndombelé, Lobotka, Elmas; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.
- LILLE (4-2-3-1): Chevalier; Diakite, Fonte, Djalo, Ismaily; André, Gomez; Zhegrova, Angel Gomes, Cabella; Virginius.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
