Napoli vs Lecce: Preview, Prediction & Betting Picks

As the Serie A season draws to a close, Napoli will host Lecce in what promises to be a compelling finale. This match, taking place on Sunday, holds different significances for both clubs. For Napoli, it is an opportunity to end a tumultuous season on a positive note, while for Lecce, it is a chance to further cement their solid, if unspectacular, campaign. Here, we delve into the details surrounding this fixture, analyzing the seasons of both teams, their current standings, and what to expect from this final clash.

• Both Teams To Score @ -135
• Napoli To Score In Both Halves @ +135
• A Goal In Both Halves @ -190

These odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

• Date: 26/05/2024
• Kick-off time: 17:00
• Location: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Napoli currently sit 10th in Serie A, having accrued 52 points from their 37 matches. This position is a far cry from their lofty ambitions at the start of the season, particularly as they entered the campaign as the reigning Serie A champions. The season has been a stark contrast to the previous year’s triumph, characterized by inconsistency and off-field turmoil.

One of the defining aspects of Napoli’s season has been the instability in their managerial position. The club has gone through three managers since the end of last season, a factor that has undoubtedly contributed to their struggles on the pitch. The constant changes in leadership have made it difficult for the team to find a coherent strategy and maintain form. Currently, Francesco Calzona is at the helm, tasked with steering the team through the final stages of this troubled campaign.

Despite the overall disappointing season, Napoli have had standout performances from two of their star players. Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen have been bright spots, contributing significantly to the team’s attacking output. Between them, they have netted 26 league goals, providing a glimpse of what might have been a more successful campaign had the rest of the team matched their levels of performance.

Lecce, on the other hand, find themselves in 13th place, with 37 points from 37 games. For them, this season has been a mixture of solid achievement and slight disappointment. On one hand, they have surpassed their points total from the previous season (36 points), indicating a level of improvement. On the other hand, there is a feeling that they have not progressed as much as they could have, particularly given their narrow escape from relegation last season.

Unlike Napoli, Lecce have enjoyed a comparatively more stable season in terms of management, with their current manager, Luca Gotti, their second of the season. Under the guidance of Gotti, the team has managed to secure safety well before the final day, which in itself is a commendable achievement. Gotti’s steady hand has provided the team with a clear direction and has helped them avoid the drop, a significant positive considering their struggles in the previous campaign.

Historically, Napoli have had the upper hand in meetings between these two sides. In the last five encounters, Napoli have won three, while Lecce have managed just one victory. The most recent match-up earlier this season saw Napoli secure a comprehensive 4-0 victory, highlighting the gulf in class when they are at their best. However, given the current form and standing of both teams, this final fixture could present a different story.

Under Francesco Calzona, Napoli have shown glimpses of attacking flair, primarily through the contributions of Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen. The Georgian winger’s ability to beat defenders and create chances, coupled with Osimhen’s clinical finishing, means that Napoli possess a potent attacking threat. However, their defensive frailties have been exposed numerous times this season, with Napoli having conceded the most goals of any side in Serie A's top 10.

Lecce, guided by Luca Gotti, are likely to approach the game with a pragmatic mindset. They have shown resilience throughout the season, and their ability to remain organized defensively will be crucial against Napoli’s attacking prowess. Lecce will aim to absorb pressure and hit Napoli on the counter-attack, utilizing the pace and creativity of their forward players.

A win for Napoli would provide a much-needed morale boost to end a disappointing season. It would give the fans something to cheer about and could provide a platform for Francesco Calzona to build on for the next campaign. Conversely, a loss would further highlight the issues that have plagued their season and potentially increase the pressure on the management to make significant changes over the summer.

For Lecce, a positive result would be a fitting end to a season of consolidation. It would affirm their progress and provide a solid foundation to build upon for next season. A win or draw against a team of Napoli’s caliber would be a statement of intent, showing that they can compete with the stronger teams in the league.

The final game of the Serie A season between Napoli and Lecce promises to be an intriguing encounter. Napoli will be eager to end their disappointing campaign on a high note, while Lecce will look to cap off a season of modest improvement with a positive result. With both teams having different motivations and objectives, the match is set to provide an engaging spectacle for the fans.

Napoli Team News

Mario Rui looks likely to be Napoli's only absentee for this game as the left-back continues to miss out through injury.

Piotr Zieliński should be handed a place in the starting lineup as he makes his final appearance for the club before joining Inter on a free transfer in the summer.

Lecce Team News

Lecce will be without Kastriot Dermaku, Mohamed Kaba, Lameck Banda and Nicola Sansone for this one as the quartet remain in the treatment room.

Valentin Gendrey is also a doubt after leaving the pitch injured in the first half of the game against Atalanta at the weekend.

Napoli's form has been very poor in recent weeks as they enter this game winless in their last six games. Most recently, Napoli were held to a 2-2 draw away at Fiorentina in an entertaining game where Amir Rrahmani and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia both registered their names on the scoresheet.

That result was preceded by a disappointing 0-2 defeat at home to Bologna, which followed a 1-1 draw at home to Udinese and a 2-2 draw at home to Roma, two games in which Victor Osimhen (X2) and Mathías Olivera responsible for the goals.

Prior to that, Napoli fell to a 1-0 defeat away at relegation-threatened Empoli, one of their more disappointing results of the season.

Napoli are also winless in their last five games at home, drawing three and losing two of those.

Lecce's form is fairly similar to that of Napoli as they head into this game having won one, drawn two and lost two of their last five games. Their latest outing was a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Atalanta, a result that marked their second successive 0-2 loss having already lost by that scoreline to Udinese the week prior.

Those results were preceded by successive 1-1 draws against Cagliari and Monza, the latter of which saw a chaotic finish where Lecce thought they'd won the game through Nikola Krstović in the 92nd minute, only for Monza to equalize four minutes later.

Prior to that, Lecce recorded an impressive 3-0 win away at Sassuolo, where Valentin Gendrey, Patrick Dorgu and Roberto Piccoli grabbed the goals.

Away from home Lecce have been decent of late, winning two, drawing two and losing one of their last five games on the road.

Despite Napoli's superiority on paper, it's hard to have much confidence in them given their form. On top of that, their showings on home soil have been disappointing while Lecce have very much held their own away from home in recent weeks. Ultimately, we think Napoli will break their winless streak on the final day but don't be shocked if this one ends in a draw. Napoli 2-1 Lecce.

Napoli vs Lecce will be shown live on Peacock Network in the USA