Napoli look to bounce back from their third league defeat of the season, while Lecce hope to end a run of five consecutive losses with no goals scored.
US Lecce
Lecce have lost five consecutive matches, while failing to score a single goal during that run. Nevertheless, the Salentini remain comfortably clear of the relegation zone, eight points ahead of Hellas Verona. While Lecce will be eager to end their current of losses, they’ll also be mindful of an important match against Sampdoria on the horizon.
As a result, Marco Baroni, who won the Scudetto as a Napoli player in 1990, could make changes to the squad he fielded against Empoli.
SSC Napoli
Napoli look to recover from their third loss of the season and second defeat immediately upon returning from an international break. Napoli have responded well to their previous losses. After losing to Inter in January, Napoli rattled off eight consecutive victories in the league. After suffering defeat to Lazio, Napoli won two in a row.
The visitors will be eager to return to winning ways before flying to Milano to kick off their Champions League Quarter-final tie against AC Milan. Failing to win in Lecce could cause Napoli to doubt their chances of advancing to the Semi-finals of the Champions League or even their chances of winning their first Scudetto in 33 years.
Injuries/Suspensions
Lecce will be without central defenders Kastriot Dermaku and Marin Pongracic. Dermaku has been out since November with pubalgia while Pongracic continues to recover from ankle surgery in December. Kristoffer Askildsen was left out of the matchday squad for a minor intestinal issue.
Alexis Blin is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. However, Samuel Umtiti and Youssef Maleh both return from suspension. Three Lecce forwards are at risk of suspension: Gabriel Strefezza, Lameck Banda and Lorenzo Colombo.
For Napoli, Victor Osimhen continues to recover from the minor muscular injury that kept him out of the squad for the Milan match. Meanwhile, Bartosz Bereszyński and Mathias Olivera have recovered from their respective injuries.
Probable Formations
Manager’s Comments
Marco Baroni:
“We have to be aware that we have to play a perfect game and our opponent has to play a bit below their level. We need the right grit and determination. We face a very strong team. Even in Europe, Napoli have kicked everyone. With strength, identity and compactness, we will try to compete with them.”
Luciano Spalletti:
“Lecce are trained very well, they are doing very well on the pitch. They have suffered consecutive defeats as a result of specific episodes. They weren’t deserved defeats and they’ve also beaten very big teams, in which their idea of total football was seen: pressing, turning the ball over, returning immediately behind the ball. The environment is in love with football, there is infinite passion. Then, if they have a different ranking in the table than ours, it is because there are certain values that, if you’re good at demonstrating them on the pitch, a competitive match is possible. If, instead, you’re convinced it’s a filler match before more important matches, then it will be like the other night where the opponent passes through our gate with little aggression.”
Previous Meetings
| August 31, 2022 | SSC Napoli | 1-1 | US Lecce |
| February 9, 2020 | SSC Napoli | 2-3 | US Lecce |
| September 22, 2019 | US Lecce | 1-4 | SSC Napoli |
| April 25, 2012 | US Lecce | 0-2 | SSC Napoli |
| December 3, 2011 | SSC Napoli | 4-2 | US Lecce |
Match Officials
Head Official: Gianluca Manganiello
Assistants: Alberto Tegoni and Valerio Vecchi
Fourth Official: Giacomo Camplone
VAR: Valerio Marini and Daniele Chiffi
