Fiorentina vs Napoli

Napoli’s Serie A title pursuit continues at Stadio Artemio Franchi with a high-profile encounter against top-four hopefuls Fiorentina. 

Fiorentina’s unlikely Scudetto pursuit suffered multiple blows toward the end of 2024, with one point from their last three Serie A outings (D1, L2) resulting in a nine-point gap to leaders Atalanta. Raffaele Palladino’s charges have seemingly run out of steam after a scintillating league start, as evidenced by their longest winless run in all competitions since February (D2, L2). Another failed attempt to take three points would yield the club’s longest run without a victory since September 2022. That’s a distinct possibility, considering Fiorentina’s last home league triumph against Napoli dates back to April 2018. They’ve since failed to beat Napoli in six consecutive top-flight meetings in Florence (D3, L3), conceding at least two goals on four occasions, including an action-packed 2-2 draw in this corresponding fixture last term.

Entertainment has been at a premium in Napoli’s recent Serie A games. Antonio Conte’s side squeezed past relegation-threatened Venezia 1-0 last weekend to extend their winning league streak to three matches. With Atalanta away for Supercoppa Italiana duties, ‘I Partenopei’ can move three points clear at the table’s summit with a win here, and a three-match winning league streak on the road bodes well. Defensive solidity has been a hallmark of Conte’s early tenure, with Napoli boasting the best defensive record in Serie A this season with just 12 goals conceded. Conte will be out for another clean sheet against a Fiorentina side he has only lost to twice across his previous 14 managerial H2Hs against (W9, D3).