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Coppa Italia | First Round
Aug 10, 2024 at 8.15pm UK
Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Napoli
0 - 0
Modena

Napoli win 4-3 on penalties

Preview: Napoli vs. Modena - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Napoli vs. Modena - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Coppa Italia clash between Napoli and Modena, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Kicking off the Antonio Conte era at Stadio Maradona, Napoli host Modena in the Coppa Italia first round on Saturday.

After making a dismal defence of their Scudetto last season, the Partenopei turned to Calcio's most notorious taskmaster, and the ex-Chelsea boss now takes charge of his first competitive match.


Match preview

Following the high of ending a three-decade drought and being crowned Italian champions in 2023, Napoli were brought back down to earth last term, with title-winning coach Luciano Spalletti proving impossible to replace.

Rudi Garcia, Walter Mazzarri and Francesco Calzona - the latter loaned from Slovakia's national team - all failed to get the Partenopei back on track, as star players such as Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struggled to replicate their magical form of one year earlier.

New coach Antonio Conte took some reassuring that his familiar demands of investment would be met, but after giving the green light to outspoken owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, the ex-Inter Milan manager set about rebuilding for the upcoming campaign.

Napoli had posted four pre-season wins without conceding a single goal before losing 2-0 to Girona last week, and ahead of an opening-day trip to Hellas Verona in Serie A, they will play host in the Coppa Italia.

As a result of finishing 10th, some 41 points adrift of Scudetto winners Inter, they must now enter the cup in its first round, with two hurdles to clear before Italy's top eight enter in the last 16.

One of the worst moments of last season's woes was a 4-0 Coppa Italia exit at home to Frosinone, so the six-time winners will be keen to avoid a similar slip-up on Saturday.

By contrast with their illustrious hosts, modest Modena have never lifted the Coppa, having spent most of their existence in Italy's lower leagues.

It was only in 2022 that the Emilian outfit finally returned to Serie B following bankruptcy five years earlier, and they finished 10th last term - closer to the relegation zone than the playoffs.

A failure to score enough goals kept them out of promotion contention, so experienced French forward Gregoire Defrel was recruited from Sassuolo earlier this summer.

Head coach Pierpaolo Bisoli has tuned his side up for next week's league opener against Sudtirol with two friendly wins and a draw against Cagliari, but first the Canarini must fly south to Naples.

Napoli pre-season form:

  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L

Modena pre-season form:

  • W
  • W
  • D


Team News

While Piotr Zielinski has completed his long-awaited switch to Inter, both Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen remain with Napoli for now - but the latter is not taking part in full training and will play no part this weekend.

New buy Alessandro Buongiorno is sure to start in defence, as Antonio Conte embeds his favoured three-man back line, but it remains to be seen whether Giacomo Raspadori, Giovanni Simeone or even the returning Walid Cheddira will feature up front.

Wing-back Pasquale Mazzocchi hopes to overcome an ankle injury to play a part on Saturday night, when Leonardo Spinazzola should make his competitive debut for the home side.

Meanwhile, Modena's main summer signing Gregoire Defrel is set to feature in the final third at Stadio Maradona, alongside Ettore Gliozzi, who scored in last week's friendly draw with Cagliari.

Former AC Milan man Mattia Caldara has also joined the Canarini this summer, and he should start in central defence.


Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Mazzocchi, Lobotka, Anguissa, Spinazzola; Politano, Kvaratskhelia; Raspadori

Modena possible starting lineup:
Gagno; Zaro, Caldara, Cotali; Santoro, Palumbo, Gerli, Magnino, Ponsi; Defrel, Gliozzi


We say: Napoli 2-0 Modena

New-look Napoli have proved tough to score against in pre-season - perhaps no surprise given the identity of their new manager - and they should see off Modena's challenge this weekend.

Mid-table finishers in Serie B last term, the visitors will not have enough guile to make the most of any rustiness in Antonio Conte's squad.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli139222091129
2Atalanta BCAtalanta1391334161828
3Inter Milan1384131141728
4Fiorentina1384127101728
5Lazio1391328141428
6Juventus136702171425
7AC Milan125432014619
8Bologna124621516-118
9Udinese135261619-317
10Empoli133731011-116
11Torino134361619-315
12Roma133461418-413
13Parma132651721-412
14Hellas VeronaHellas Verona134091732-1512
15Lecce13337621-1512
16CagliariCagliari132561424-1011
17Genoa132561124-1311
18Como132471325-1210
19Monza131661116-59
20VeneziaVenezia132291122-118
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