Como vs Napoli – News and Probable Lineups

A defeat would officially mark the end of Napoli’s title defense this Saturday evening, as the current Serie A champions face Como at Stadio Sinigaglia.

With a 10-point deficit behind Inter de Milão and only four matches left, the visitors are resigned to relinquishing the Scudetto eventually; meanwhile, their hosts are deeply entrenched in a competitive battle for a top-four finish.

Match overview

Following their end to a lengthy unbeaten run in Serie A at Stadio Maradona, where they lost 2-0 to Lazio, Napoli responded strongly in their last fixture of April.

Scott McTominay’s remarkable early goal was followed by three strikes in a 10-minute span surrounding half time, leading to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Cremonese, which put the Azzurri two points ahead of third-place AC Milan.

Both teams are certainly aiming to secure the runners-up position behind league leaders Inter, who have looked destined for the title for some time and could finally be declared champions this weekend.

Having faltered at inopportune moments—following five straight victories that made Inter blink—Napoli’s primary objective now is to secure Champions League qualification.

Antonio Conte will be eager to achieve this as soon as possible, with the opportunity presenting itself this Saturday during a challenging trip to the Sinigaglia.

With several unsuccessful journeys across Europe included, Conte’s squad has already suffered nine away losses in all competitions this season, marking Napoli’s poorest record since 2014.

This obviously calls for a cautious approach against Como, especially after they managed to escape with a fortunate 0-0 draw in the previous fixture in November.

In the previous league encounter at Sinigaglia last season, Como also emerged victorious, and they triumphed in the recent Coppa Italia quarter-final against the same opponent in Naples on penalties.

The Lariani subsequently faced Inter in a two-legged semi, shortly after a thrilling 4-3 defeat in Serie A against the same team; a later loss to Sassuolo raised concerns about their form.

Nonetheless, the Lombardy team rebounded with a crucial 2-0 win over Genoa, breaking a four-match winless streak, although Champions League qualification is now beyond their control.

Juventus has taken a three-point advantage in the race for fourth place, while Roma are likewise battling for a position at Europe’s top level; thus, Como cannot afford any slip-ups.

Even if they fall short, the squad skillfully managed by Cesc Fabregas—once a player under Conte during their time at Chelsea—has thrived since the year began.

In 2026, only Inter and Napoli have accumulated more points, and Como are averaging over two goals per game. Furthermore, across the entire season, no team has registered more clean sheets in Europe’s top five leagues.

Team News

Napoli anticipates the return of captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo from injury, as he has been sidelined since January—leaving only Romelu Lukaku, David Neres, and Antonio Vergara unavailable.

Conte is unlikely to make changes to a winning lineup, so the visitors might remain unchanged, with top scorer Rasmus Hojlund leading a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Hojlund has netted 10 times since rejoining Italy’s top division, while one of his former Manchester United teammates is close behind with nine goals for the season.

McTominay, having scored in three consecutive Serie A away matches, could become the first midfielder this century to achieve four in a row.

Meanwhile, Como’s attack is typically spearheaded by Tasos Douvikas and Nico Paz, both of whom have scored a dozen league goals—only Capocannoniere leader Lautaro Martinez (16) has more.

Nico Kuhn and Jesus Rodriguez are also in the mix, but Martin Baturina and Assane Diao appear to be the favored options to round out a dynamic attacking front.

As Mergim Vojvoda and Sergi Roberto have both returned to full training, Jayden Addai remains the only player missing from the hosts’ squad.

Como probable starting XI:

Butez; Smolcic, Ramon, Kempf, Valle; Perrone, Da Cunha; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas

Napoli probable starting XI:

Milinkovic-Savic; Olivera, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, Lobotka, McTominay, Gutierrez; De Bruyne, Alisson; Hojlund

Como can enhance their Champions League ambitions and get the celebrations underway in Milan, with a win for the Lariani also securing Inter’s championship title.

While they convincingly dispatched lower-ranked rivals at home last time out, Napoli’s away form has been inconsistent—leading to the possibility that Conte might be outsmarted by his former player Fabregas.