Napoli - Fiorentina predictions and free betting tips [18/01/2024]

On Thursday, 18 January, within the framework of the Italian Super Cup semi-final, Napoli will face Fiorentina. For the first time in history, four teams will directly compete for the trophy, and for the current holders of the Scudetto, this is their only chance to achieve something significant in the current season.

Predicted Lineups

Napoli: Gollini; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Rui; Kajuste, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Raspadori, Kvaratskhelia.

Fiorentina: Terracciano; Kayode, Milenkovich, Martinez Quarta, Biraghi; Duncan, Arthur; Sottil, Bonaventura, Ikone; Beltran.

Stadium

The match will take place in Riyadh at Park Al-Awwal Stadium.

Napoli

For the first time since the era of Maradona in 1990, Napoli claimed the Scudetto last season. Following that, head coach Luciano Spalletti decided to resign, causing the team to crumble. Apart from the title race, the hosts currently sit in the 8th position in the Serie A table. The team still aspire a spot in the Champions League (with three points behind the 4th spot), but their current form is not very promising. Neither the appointment of Walter Mazzarri as the coach after Rudi Garcia has yielded the desired effect: Last weekend, the Azure with great difficulty bested sinking Salernitana 2:1 at home - Rrahmani's goal in the added time of the second half clinched the victory. Doing so, Napoli ended a three-game winless streak.

Finishing second in their Champions League group, Napoli will face Barcelona in the round of 16. The club's coaching staff still have to do without injured goalkeeper Meret, defenders Oliviera and Nathan. Additionally, Zambo-Anguissa (Cameroon) and Osimhen (Nigeria) are currently competing in the African Nations Cup. The attacking midfielder Zielinski, rested last weekend, is available to start - Polish aided by wingers Politano (6 goals and 3 assists) and Kvaratskhelia (5 goals and 3 assists). Aspiring the centre-forward place are Raspadori (3 goals and 2 assists) and Simeone (1 goal), and in the midfield, it is likely to see Diego Demme or Kajuste. This winter, Napoli let Macedonian midfielder Elmas go to RB Leipzig but acquired Mazzocchi from Salernitana.

Fiorentina

Having finished in 8th place in last year's Serie A table, Fiorentina also made it to the Conference League final but lost there to West Ham. The Tuscanians have at least European ambitions for the current campaign, and credit to Vincenzo Italiano's team, the visitors currently sit fourth in the standings. However, with just a single point gap from the fifth spot, a Champions League ticket is far from being guaranteed. After five unbeaten rounds (4 wins and 1 draw), Viola dropped points in their last two matches: first lost to Sassuolo (1:0), and then last weekend, shared points with Udinese at home (2:2) - M'Bala Nzola converted a late penalty. White-Purples haven't lifted a trophy over their heads for 22 years, and their first Super Cup since 1996 would indeed make up for this long wait.

Claiming the top spot in their Conference League group, the team advanced directly to the round of 16 of the tournament. Fiorentina still miss central defender Dodo, midfielder Castrovilli, and Argentine winger Gonzalez (6 goals in Serie A), all due to injuries. Adding to that is the absence of Khouma Babacar of Ivory Coast, who is currently competing in the African Nations Cup. Argentine forward Beltran, who transferred to the club last summer from River Plate, has been in good form in recent weeks, netting 4 goals - Vincenzo Italiano has to choose between him and Nzola. Midfielder Faroani transferred from Verona this winter and will compete for a spot in the midfield.

Head-to-head

In October, Fiorentina took away all three points from Naples, where the Tuscanians won 1:3 thanks to the goals of Josip Brekalo, Giacomo Bonaventura, and Nico Gonzalez.

Match prediction: Napoli - Fiorentina

Fiorentina has been a formidable force at home, but away from Artemio Franchi, the White-Purples slightly underperform. However, Napoli has been in crisis since the start of the season: managerial changes, personnel issues, and lack of result in the championship weigh heavily on the players. Viola has already beaten Napoli in the autumn and will strive to do it again (I'm betting on a zero handicap).

Total prediction

Napoli has scored only 2 goals in their last five matches in all competitions, and without Osimhen, who went to the African Cup, the team's attack dimmed even more. I bet on the individual total of the nominal hosts under 1.5 goals.