Napoli vs Udinese – News and Probable Lineups

After passing the Scudetto to new management, Napoli is set to finish their 2025-26 season with a home fixture against Udinese at Stadio Maradona this Sunday.

Having already secured their place in the Champions League, last season’s Serie A winners need only avoid a loss in the final match to secure second place.

Match overview

Napoli requires just one point to solidify their position as runners-up behind Inter de Milão, despite trailing the new Italian champions by 13 points with one game left in the season.

While their defense of the title dwindled by mid-winter, this would mark their sixth finish in the top two since 2016, celebrating two Scudetti in that time.

This season, the sole piece of silverware for the Partenopei was the Supercoppa Italiana, triumphing over Bologna in December, with a lengthy injury list impacting their campaign’s consistency.

Napoli’s exit from the Champions League before the knockout phase was a significant low point in Antonio Conte’s second – and possibly final – season as head coach.

If Conte aims for a summer departure, he will likely want to conclude with another victory at the Maradona, where his side had been unbeaten in 26 league matches before losing two of their previous three games.

Following a commanding 3-0 win against Pisa last time out, the signs appear favorable.

Not only have Napoli achieved 12 wins and drawn two in home matches against Udinese since 2011, but they have only encountered a single loss in their last 19 encounters across all leagues.

Contrarily, Udinese supporters will have a different perspective, given their team’s 1-0 win in the earlier fixture this season.

With Jurgen Ekkelenkamp’s goal finally breaking the Fruilani’s prolonged drought, they could achieve a league double over Napoli for only the second time in their history.

A draw would lift them over the 50-point mark for the first time since 2013, when they managed a fifth-place finish in Serie A.

This season, the Bianconeri still have a shot at a top-10 finish, provided they match Sassuolo’s result on Sunday – winning could prop them even further up the table, potentially displacing ninth-placed Lazio.

Regardless, Udinese has demonstrated growth under Kosta Runjaic, who took over a squad that narrowly avoided relegation back in 2024.

Completely unpredictable – having lost to the lowly Cremonese last week – the team has recorded 14 victories and 15 defeats this season, aiming to achieve some balance in the Serie A finale on Sunday.

Team News

Romelu Lukaku is confirmed to miss Napoli’s final match, while David Neres remains a doubt with an ankle issue.

Conte can reintroduce Matteo Politano following his suspension, adding to his tactical choices; given strong competition for first-team spots, even Kevin De Bruyne was left out of the last matchday squad.

Scott McTominay, who found the net in this fixture last season, is certain to start in midfield and has now achieved double figures for league goals in the past two campaigns.

Having recently secured a permanent transfer from Manchester United, Rasmus Hojlund has accumulated one goal and two assists in his last two outings, yet he has previously played 204 minutes against Udinese without contributing to a single Serie A goal.

Meanwhile, Udinese’s Arthur Atta has netted three times in his last three away matches – one more than he scored in his previous 25 appearances.

Although their top scorer, Keinan Davis, recently returned to the fray, Ekkelenkamp – who secured victory in December’s reverse encounter – is sidelined due to injury.

Joining Hassane Kamara, who is serving a suspension, he will be absent along with Alessandro Zanoli and Nicolo Zaniolo.

Napoli probable starting XI:

Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; De Bruyne, Alisson; Hojlund

Udinese probable starting XI:

Okoye; Kristensen, Kabasele, Solet; Ehizibue, Atta, Karlstrom, Piotrowski, Zemura; Gueye, Davis

Not only does Napoli have historical precedence on their side, but they also possess too much attacking strength for Udinese now that all key players are back to fitness.

Under Runjaic, the Bianconeri are capable of posing a threat to any leading team when they are at their best, but another season of advancement is likely to conclude in defeat at Stadio Maradona.