Pisa vs Napoli – News and Probable Lineups

Pisa, who have not managed to defeat Napoli for nearly four decades, host the dethroned Serie A champions Napoli this Sunday in their penultimate round of fixtures.

Following a weekend filled with uncertainty regarding the matches, Antonio Conte’s squad is set to journey to Tuscany for their midday clash, with the goal of securing Champions League qualification.

Match overview

With their relegation already sealed, Pisa were never expected to come out on top against a Cremonese team sitting just above the relegation zone, fighting to maintain their top-flight status.

As it turned out, that expectation was correct, with Oscar Hiljemark’s side losing their composure and finishing the match with Rosen Bozhinov and Felipe Loyola sent off in a 3-0 defeat in Lombardy.

Returning home for their last match of the season, the hosts face another significant challenge against the former titleholders.

Fans might understandably be reluctant to anticipate Sunday’s match, given that their team has suffered seven consecutive defeats, conceding 17 goals while scoring only twice.

Adding to the gloom for the Nerazzurri is their inability to secure a win in this matchup, with their last triumph over their Naples rivals dating back to January 1986.

Conte’s team arrives in Tuscany with the aim of preserving their unbeaten record against Pisa, a streak that has lasted 40 years across 12 encounters, 10 of which they have won.

Nevertheless, the Partenopei could be at risk of having their season dwindle, as evidenced by last week’s 3-2 defeat to Bologna, considering the Rossoblu were previously winless in four matches across all competitions — failing to score in each of those — before triumphing against Napoli at the Maradona.

Napoli, who hadn’t lost a league match at home since December 2024, have now faced two home defeats in their last three outings, with only a 4-0 win over struggling Cremonese serving as their solitary victory.

Traveling to Pisa provides them with an opportunity to bounce back, given the hosts’ lack of motivation and terrible form, alongside Napoli’s need for points to potentially secure their top-four position.

As the team currently sitting in second place — with 70 points — enters the final two rounds, they remain at risk of falling out of the Champions League spots, but a maximum points haul at Pisa would ensure their continued presence in Europe’s elite tournament, thanks to their head-to-head advantage over fifth-placed Roma (67 points).

Team News

Bozhinov and Loyola are set to miss the match for the home side following their red cards against Cremonese, while Matteo Tramoni, Calvin Stengs, Françasco Coppola, and Daniel Denoon are expected to be unavailable due to injuries.

Pisa’s most recent goals have come from Simone Canestrelli and Mehdi Leris, both defenders, which underscores the home team’s challenges in producing offensive quality.

Stefano Moreo remains the team’s leading scorer with six league goals, yet he has not found the back of the net since scoring a penalty in a match against Cagliari back in March, which was seven games ago. The forward has not scored from open play since netting two goals in a 6-2 defeat at Inter de Milão in January.

An eye issue that kept Kevin De Bruyne out of action against Bologna will be assessed, but David Neres and Romelu Lukaku may also be absent as they recover from ankle and hip injuries, respectively.

Matteo Politano will be sidelined for Sunday’s fixture due to a suspension from last week’s yellow card, leading Conte to either change his right wing-back or adjust the tactical setup against the relegated team.

While Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay are among the top scorers for Napoli, Hojlund has gone six league matches without scoring—though he has provided two assists during this timeframe—while the Scotland international has also not scored in consecutive games.

Winter signing Alisson Santos has netted in two of his last three league outings, having doubled his Serie A total since arriving on loan from Sporting Lisbon; however, all four of his goals have been at the Maradona, and he aims for his first away goal with the Partenopei.

Pisa probable starting XI:

Always; Canestrelli, Caracciolo, Calabresi; Leris, Marin, Aebischer, Akinsanmiro, Angori; Stojilkovic, Moreo

Napoli probable starting XI:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Gutierrez, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Young, Santos; Hojlund

While there may be a sense of disappointment within the Napoli locker room, defeating a listless Pisa should be the minimum expectation for the struggling visitors.

With a win ensuring Champions League football for Conte’s squad, they should be eager to face a team with little incentive in Sunday’s crucial fixture.