Preview:Sassuolo vs Napoli - prediction, team news, lineups

Setting off on their quest to defend the Scudetto, reigning Serie A champions Napoli will visit promoted Sassuolo on Saturday evening.

Antonio Conte's side secured top spot after a dramatic last-day finale in 2024-25, and after reinforcing their squad over the summer, they now seek a third Italian title in four years.

Match preview

Starting Serie A's final matchday just one point clear of Inter Milan, who visited Como in a simultaneous Friday night game, Napoli needed a home win over Cagliari to clinch first place in late May.

Two years on from their most recent triumph, they claimed just a fourth Scudetto - after 1986-87, 1989-90, then Luciano Spalletti's class of 2022-23 - after Scott McTominay's spectacular strike settled nerves in Naples and Romelu Lukaku supplied a crucial second goal soon after half time.

Despite a distinct lack of fluency, the Partenopei still won five and drew two of their final seven fixtures while an exhausted Inter team floundered, conceding only two goals in the process.

Then, after Antonio Conte had led a third different team to the title - after Inter and Juventus - he then unexpectedly extended his stay at Stadio Maradona following showdown talks with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

During the summer, the latter has backed up talk of building a dynasty down in Campania, as Conte's squad has been furnished with several new players, including high-profile capture Kevin De Bruyne.

Now, after three straight wins to end pre-season, Napoli begin their title defence in Reggio Emilia, where they cruised to a 6-1 win on their most recent visit.

Back in February 2024, Sassuolo were leaking goals left, right and centre en route to slipping through the Serie A trapdoor, as Victor Osimhen helped himself to a hat-trick and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia bagged a brace.

Napoli have since lost both attacking stars, but few will expect the Neroverdi to end a seven-match winless streak against Saturday's visitors.

After winning Italy’s second tier last season, bouncing back at their first attempt, Sassuolo are now targeting survival under former Lyon coach Fabio Grosso.

The 2006 World Cup winner led a squad featuring several stars that had stayed on despite dropping into Serie B to top spot by a margin of six points from Pisa.

Grosso's side recently finished pre-season with back-to-back friendly draws against Empoli and Brest, then they got up and running for the 2025-26 campaign with a 1-0 home victory over Catanzaro in the Coppa Italia.

Across 19 league games at the Mapei Stadium last season, Sassuolo recorded 14 wins and just three defeats, but they must step up several notches in class this weekend.

Sassuolo form (all competitions): W

Napoli pre-season form: W L D W W W

Team News

Napoli new boys Kevin De Bruyne and Sam Beukema should feature in midfield and defence respectively, while another summer signing, towering centre-forward Lorenzo Lucca, starts up front.

With Giacomo Raspadori and Giovanni Simeone both leaving, Lucca deputises for last term's 14-goal top scorer Lukaku, who suffered a serious thigh injury in the Partenopei's final warm-up match.

Ballon D'Or contender Scott McTominay may find his role adapted to accommodate De Bruyne, but the Scottish star's inspirational work alongside Frank Anguissa and Stanislav Lobotka is set to continue.

While Lukaku and McTominay led the way for Napoli in 2024-25, Armand Lauriente was Sassuolo's main marksman in Serie B.

Despite being linked with a move away, the French winger will now look to build on his tally of 18 second-tier strikes. He could join Domenico Berardi and returning striker Andrea Pinamonti in a familiar attacking trident.

Elsewhere, new arrivals Stefano Turati and Arijanet Muric must vie for selection in goal - the latter is just one of several loanees available to Fabio Grosso.

Torino's Sebastian Walukiewicz, Como forward Alieu Fadera and Marseille-owned midfielder Ismael Kone all featured in last week's cup win; McTominay's international teammate Josh Doig scored the winning goal in that tie.

Sassuolo possible starting lineup: Turati; Walukiewicz, Romagna, Idzes, Doig; Lipani, Boloca, Kone; Berardi, Pinamonti, Lauriente

Napoli possible starting lineup: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Beukema, Olivera; Lobotka; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Lucca

We say: Sassuolo 1-2 Napoli

It may not be a straightforward success for Serie A title holders Napoli, as they must travel to last term's Serie B champions.

Sassuolo could just miss out on a valuable point, as Antonio Conte has increased his attacking options and can now bring some game-changers off the bench.

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