Napoli vs Bologna Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A
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Antonio Conte is whinging again, which won’t be a surprise to anyone. His Napoli side were hammered by Hellas Verona last weekend, whilst decimated Bologna were held to a 1-1 draw by Udinese.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 25th August, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 10:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ or OneFootball / US – Paramount+
NAPOLI PREVIEW: TICKING TIME BOMB
With Antonio Conte launching into several rants about how poor a state Napoli are in, despite winning Serie A in the 2022/23 campaign, the Neapolitans are looking likelier to repeat last season’s disastrous defence of the Scudetto in which they ended up in ninth and missing out on any UEFA competition for this season.
Victor Osimhen remains at the club and he is essentially Conte’s walking, talking transfer budget but no club has yet to come in for the Nigeria striker. Their 3-0 hammering at the hands of a Hellas Verona side still in disarray off-the-field does set the tone for what could be a short stint for Conte in Naples.
BOLOGNA PREVIEW: TIME NEEDED FOR ITALIANO
In the last couple of seasons, Vincenzo Italiano has developed Fiorentina to two UEFA Europa Conference League finals and a Coppa Italia final without winning any of those matches but he will need to be given time at Bologna to rebuild a club that has been decimated over the summer.
Over the summer, Bologna lost manager Thiago Motta to Juventus as well as several key players including Riccardo Calafiori to Arsenal as well as Joshua Zirkzee to Manchester United. They began their season with a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Udinese in which they were probably second best for large parts.
NAPOLI TEAM NEWS: PHASING DAVID NERES IN
Antonio Conte has been frustrated throughout the summer and his big money summer signing at the back, Alessandro Buongiorno from Torino, has already suffered an injury that sees him sidelined.
However, the former Italy and Chelsea boss will be able to name David Neres in his squad for this weekend following his move from Benfica but he will have to get in beyond Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan; Mazzocchi, Anguissa, Lobotka, Spinazzola; Politano, Giovanni Simeone, Kvaratskhelia
UNAVAILABLE: Buongiorno (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BOLOGNA TEAM NEWS: FIXING PROBLEMS
With Bologna having to deal with several departures this summer, Vincenzo Italiano also has several injury issues to contend with as he takes Bologna down to Naples this weekend.
Defender Jhon Lucumi remains unavailable, whilst Scotland international Lewis Ferguson is expected to be sidelined until the New Year after suffering an ACL injury towards the end of last season.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Posch, Erlic, Beukema, Lykogiannis; Freuler, Moro; Orsolini, Fabbian, Ndoye; Castro
UNAVAILABLE: Jhon Lucumi (Injured), Holm (Injured), Urbanski (Injured), Ferguson (Injured), El Azzouzi (Injured), Cambiaghi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
NAPOLI VS BOLOGNA PREDICTION
Antonio Conte needs a performance and result to try and get supporters on side because his relationship with the already controversial and combustible Aurelio Di Laurentiis is surely on a tightrope as early as one game into the season. Bologna, though, may not be the best opposition for that as they search for a foundation so are likely to be conservative in the opening stages of the season. As a result, a low-scoring affair is to be expected at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
NAPOLI VS BOLOGNA TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
