Back on top of the table for the first time in over a year, Napoli will aim to continue their fine run at Como's expense when the teams meet at Stadio Maradona on Friday evening.

The hosts have a 100% home record against their Lombardy counterparts in Serie A, but the visitors are also in good form before travelling south to Naples.

Match preview

Inspired by head coach Antonio Conte, new-look Napoli have returned to the summit of Serie A for the first time since the end of their Scudetto-winning season in 2023, with 13 points leaving them one clear of Juventus after six matches.

Shortly after progressing to the last 16 of the Coppa Italia by thumping Serie B outfit Palermo 5-0, the Azzurri were back in action against Monza last weekend, when they scored twice in an 11-minute spell during the first half to effectively wrap up victory.

Extending their undefeated run to five league games, Matteo Politano became one of just three active players to score in 10 successive Serie A seasons - alongside South American duo Duvan Zapata and Paulo Dybala - before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled the home side's advantage.

Despite being without their first-choice goalkeeper due to injury - and reverting to a now unfamiliar back four - Napoli kept a fourth straight clean sheet, making it six shut-outs from eight matches so far this season.

In three Serie A fixtures on home soil, they have secured all nine points on offer, with seven goals scored and just one conceded, so Conte and co will surely be confident of continuing in the same vein this weekend.

History is also on the hosts' side at Stadio Maradona, as Napoli have won 77% of their top-flight contests with Como to date - no fewer than 17 out of 22 previous meetings.

When the clubs most recently met - in Serie B, some 20 years ago - Como actually won both matches, but at Italy's elite level they have never before taken even one point back to Lombardy from 11 visits to Naples.

On this occasion, a club reborn under ambitious owners will hope to end that trend, having recently started to find their feet in Serie A.

Fresh off a first top-flight victory in 21 years, Como earned a hard-fought 3-2 win over Hellas Verona last week, extending their unbeaten streak to three.

In-form striker Patrick Cutrone bagged a brace for the hosts at Stadio Sinigaglia, before Andrea Belotti ended his long goal drought, as they moved on to eight points and up to 10th place in the table.

Ahead of his reunion with former Chelsea coach Conte, Cesc Fabregas will be delighted to see Como finally finding their rhythm, as they have now scored three goals in consecutive Serie A matches for just the second time ever - last doing so during the 1951-52 campaign.

Therefore, Napoli's rock-solid rearguard must be on their toes this weekend, if they want to move further clear of the pack and guarantee first place heading into the international break.

Team News

Only Alex Meret, who is sidelined by a thigh injury, is set to miss out for Napoli on Friday evening, as Elia Caprile continues to deputise between the posts.

Otherwise, Antonio Conte has a full squad to choose from, and he is expected to stick with a back four after recently ditching his favoured 3-4-2-1 formation. That move was primarily to accommodate Scott McTominay in midfield.

Flanking Romelu Lukaku on the left wing, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has five Serie A goal involvements to his name this season, and in his last three league appearances at the Maradona he has scored twice and provided one assist.

Meanwhile, Patrick Cutrone has been Como's most prolific player this term, scoring on four occasions so far. That is already one more than throughout his last top-flight campaign - three goals from 28 games for Empoli in 2021-22.

Fellow forward Alberto Cerri is the visitors' only possible absentee, but he could yet recover from an ankle problem in time to make the squad.

It is expected that Andrea Belotti will start on the bench despite finally scoring last weekend; Nico Paz should support Cutrone up front, while former Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto runs the engine room.

Napoli possible starting lineup:
Caprile; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Kvaratskhelia

Como possible starting lineup:
Audero; Van Der Brempt, Kempf, Dossena, Moreno; Perrone, Roberto; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera; Cutrone

We say: Napoli 2-1 Como

While there is no doubt that Como are capable of causing Napoli some problems, the hosts have toughened up their defence under new management and will be difficult to break down.

As the visitors have conceded the most goals during the final 15 minutes and stoppage time in Serie A so far (five) and Napoli have scored four during that period, it may be a late winner that seals the points.


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