A new look Napoli kick off their 2022/23 campaign with a bang, visiting the ever hostile Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi to take on Hellas Verona.
Hellas Verona
Under the leadership of Igor Tudor, Bologna finished 9th last season, seven points behind an improved Fiorentina squad who qualified for the Conference League. With numerous changes at the club, another mid-table finish would be considered a success.
Tudor left the Gialloblu to take a position at Marseille and has been replaced by ex-Udinese coach Gabriele Cioffi. Cioffi began the 2021/22 season as the assistant to Luca Gotti, but was handed the reigns after Cioffi was sacked in December. With Cioffi at the helm, Udinese had the 9th best record in the Serie A.
That success will be difficult to repeat at Hellas Verona, who have disbanded their prolific attacking trio during from 2019/20. Gianluca Caprari was sold to Monza and Giovanni Simeone is on the verge of joining Napoli after completing his medicals on Saturday morning. Antonin Barak has been used sparingly during the pre-season amidst speculation that he too could be sold.
In their place, Hellas Verona have purchased Thomas Henry from Venezia and Milan Djuric from Salernitana, to play alongside Kevin Lasagna. Roberto Piccoli provides another option in attack, after joining Hellas Verona on loan from Atalanta, along with promising young midfielder Alessandro Cortinovis. Meanwhile, Hellas Verona continues to do business with Lazio. After purchasing Mattia Zaccagni from Hellas Verona last season, Lazio have acquired centre back Nicolo Casale and winger 20 year old winger Matteo Cancellieri.
SSC Napoli
Napoli competed for the Scudetto through the majority of the 2021/22 campaign, but fell just short. Nevertheless, the Partenopei returned to the Champions League with a 3rd place finish. Napoli are in the midst of a summer revolution, having already bid farewell to four senatori of the club.
Former captain Lorenzo Insigne joined Toronto FC on a free transfer, after signing a contract with the MLS club in January. Left Back Faouzi Ghoulam is still without a club after his contract expired in June. Veteran defender Kalidou Koulibaly was purchased by Chelsea FC for €38 million with one year remaining on his contract. Finally, all-time top goalscorer Dries Mertens joined Galatasaray S.K. after failing to agree to terms on an extension. Meanwhile, Napoli are reportedly close to selling Fabian Ruiz to Paris Saint-Germain FC for €25 million. That transaction could also involve goalkeeper Kaylor Navas as a possible replacement for Alex Meret.
Sporting Director Cristiano Giuntoli has been hard at work signing young replacements on lower salaries. Georgian wonderkid Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was purchased from FC Dinamo Batumi. Napoli won the race for highly-rated Fenerbahçe S.K. centre back Kim Min-Jae. The central defender, who was also courted by Stade Rennais FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC, will replace Koulibaly in the centre of the defense. Though Koulibaly is irreplaceable, Napoli have improved the depth of the back line with the acquisitions of Mathias Olivera from Getafe CF and Leo Østigård from Brighton & Hove Albion FC.
The transfers will not stop there. Simeone will replace Andrea Petagna, who joined AC Monza on a season-long loan. Meanwhile, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis continues an arduous negotiation with US Sassuolo for the purchase of Giacomo Raspadori, who would replace Dries Mertens. Finally, negotiations with Tottenham for the purchase of Tanguy Ndombele have progressed quickly. He would come in to replace Ruiz, should he be sold to PSG.
Injuries/Suspensions
For Hellas Verona, Miguel Velose is suspended due to yellow card accumulation during the 2021/22 campaign. Federico Ceccherini will also miss the match due to an ankle injury suffered during Hellas Verona’s Coppa Italia defeat against SSC Bari.
For Napoli, Matteo Politano is expected to be on the bench after recovering from a minor calf injury suffered during a pre-season friendly.
Probable Formations
Managers’ Comments
Gabriele Cioffi:
“The Napoli we are facing is a team that is not under construction. They have great quality. They have a very high average score, we expect a sparkling Napoli. My focus was not there, neither technical nor tactical. There are some components that should not be underestimated. If a tested champion sees his name in the newspapers every day it is neither hot nor cold. If it happens to a Verona boy, he should give it 99.9%. Despite being professional, our guys are not used to these pressures. I expect a performance of pride.
Luciano Spalletti:
“They have always been a difficult customer, as far as everyone is concerned, but especially for us. Those who think that beating Verona is easy is not a good time, they are merely someone who has never worn football boots! It’s not an easy match. Bari played an extraordinary match, so they’ll be even more aggressive. And they’ll give their best.”
Previous Meetings
| March 13, 2022 | Hellas Verona | 1-2 | SSC Napoli |
| November 11, 2021 | SSC Napoli | 1-1 | Hellas Verona |
| May 23, 2021 | SSC Napoli | 1-1 | Hellas Verona |
| January 24, 2021 | Hellas Verona | 3-1 | SSC Napoli |
| June 23, 2020 | Hellas Verona | 0-2 | SSC Napoli |
Match Officials
Head Official: Michael Fabbri
Assistants: Fabrizio Lombardo and Michele Lombardi
Fourth Official: Francesco Meraviglia
VAR: Aleandro Di Paolo and Daniele Bindoni
