As Serie A kicks off 2025, a crucial clash awaits at the Stadio Artemio Franchi as Fiorentina host league co-leaders Napoli on Saturday evening. This match presents Napoli with a golden opportunity to claim sole possession of first place, while Fiorentina aim to halt their recent slide and reignite their own title aspirations.
Napoli enter the new year in scintillating form, having won their last three Serie A matches to draw level with Atalanta at the top of the table. With the Bergamo side occupied by Supercoppa Italiana duties in Saudi Arabia, Antonio Conte’s men have a chance to pull three points clear at the summit.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, have hit a rough patch after a stellar start to the campaign. The Viola sit fifth in the standings but have claimed just one point from their last three league outings. Their most recent result, a 2-2 draw away to Juventus, showcased both their resilience and their recent struggles to secure victories.
Recent history favors Napoli in this fixture, with the Partenopei unbeaten in their last five visits to Florence. Fiorentina’s last home victory over Napoli came back in 2018, courtesy of a Giovanni Simeone hat-trick. Interestingly, Simeone now plies his trade for the Neapolitans and could feature against his former club.
This match pits Palladino’s possession-based, attacking style against Conte’s pragmatic and defensively solid approach. Fiorentina will look to dominate the ball and create chances through quick combinations, while Napoli will aim to exploit spaces on the counter-attack with the pace of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the power of Romelu Lukaku.
For Fiorentina, all eyes will be on Moise Kean, who has been in red-hot form this season. The Italian striker will be crucial to breaking down Napoli’s resolute defense. On the other side, Kvaratskhelia’s creativity and Lukaku’s clinical finishing could prove decisive for the visitors.
Team News
Fiorentina manager Raffaele Palladino has a nearly full squad at his disposal, with only midfielder Danilo Cataldi facing a late fitness test after missing training due to illness. The Viola are likely to field a strong lineup, with Serie A’s current top scorer Moise Kean leading the line.
Napoli will be without key defender Alessandro Buongiorno due to injury, but Antonio Conte otherwise has a wealth of options to choose from. The primary selection dilemma appears to be on the right wing, where David Neres and Matteo Politano are vying for a starting berth.
Expected Starting XIs
Fiorentina: De Gea; Dodo, Comuzzo, Ranieri, Gosens; Adli, Cataldi; Colpani, Beltran, Sottil; Kean
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Neres, Lukaku, Kvaratskhelia
Match Prediction
Given Fiorentina’s strong home record and Napoli’s impressive away form, this match is likely to be a closely contested affair. While Napoli’s recent momentum makes them slight favourites, the Viola’s need for points and home advantage could see honors even. A 1-1 draw seems a probable outcome, which would be enough to send Napoli to the top of Serie A, at least temporarily.
Prediction: Fiorentina 1-1 Napoli
