Antonio Conte is set to make his highly anticipated return to Serie A this Sunday evening as Napoli visits Hellas Verona at the Stadio Bentegodi.
After a disappointing title defense last season, Napoli is eager to turn the page under their new manager, while Verona also embarks on a fresh journey with a new leader on the sidelines.
Match Preview
In 2023, Napoli ended a 30-year wait for the Scudetto, but last season’s struggles left them far from those heights. With Luciano Spalletti’s departure, the Partenopei cycled through Rudi Garcia, Walter Mazzarri, and Francesco Calzona, but none could recapture their past glory. Despite the efforts of stars like Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the team ended a disappointing 10th, prompting club president Aurelio De Laurentiis to call upon Antonio Conte.
Conte’s task is formidable: rebuilding a Napoli side that seemed lost last season. Osimhen’s future remains uncertain, and recruitment challenges have further complicated the rebuild. Despite a strong pre-season, a recent loss to Girona and a shaky Coppa Italia win over Serie B’s Modena suggest there’s still work to be done.
On the other side, Verona narrowly avoided relegation last season, thanks to a late surge under Marco Baroni. Now, with Paolo Zanetti at the helm, the Gialloblu aim to solidify their Serie A status. However, an early exit from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Cesena has not set a promising tone for Zanetti’s tenure.
Napoli boasts an impressive record against Verona, having gone unbeaten in 13 of their last 14 Serie A meetings. Verona’s last win came in January 2021, a 3-1 triumph at home. Can Zanetti’s side upset the odds, or will Conte’s Napoli kick off the season with a win?
Team News
Victor Osimhen remains sidelined for Napoli, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has an impressive scoring record against Verona, is expected to start. New signing Alessandro Buongiorno will likely feature in Conte’s preferred three-man defense. In attack, Giacomo Raspadori, Giovanni Simeone, and Walid Cheddira are vying for a spot in Osimhen’s absence.
For Verona, new signings Jackson Tchatchoua and Suat Serdar are set to play a role, while Daniel Mosquera or Casper Tengstedt could make their Serie A debut upfront. However, they will be without Juan Manuel Cruz, who is recovering from a serious thigh injury.
Prediction
We say: Hellas Verona 0-1 Napoli
Napoli’s seven-match winning streak on the opening day of the Serie A season is likely to continue. Despite a rocky pre-season, Conte’s men should have enough to edge out a Verona side still finding its feet under new management.
