Serie A champions Napoli will seek to extend their winning run when they take on Cagliari on Saturday night.

Reigning champions Napoli will aim to continue their strong start to the new Serie A season when they welcome Cagliari to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday evening. Antonio Conte’s men kicked off their title defence in impressive fashion, while their Sardinian visitors managed a late escape to salvage a point on opening day.

Napoli looked every bit like champions in their opening game against Sassuolo, dispatching the newly promoted side with authority. Serie A MVP Scott McTominay rose to the occasion once again, scoring the opener with a precise early header before marquee signing Kevin De Bruyne opened his Partenopei account with a somewhat fortuitous free-kick. The champions also struck the post twice, further evidence of their attacking dominance.

Conte’s side appear far more settled than in their last title defence in 2023/24, when inconsistency saw them finish a disappointing tenth. Now unbeaten in 13 league matches stretching back to February, Napoli are building momentum and showing early signs that they intend to make this Scudetto race far less chaotic.

History is firmly on their side too. Napoli have lost just once in their last 28 Serie A clashes with Cagliari, winning 19 of those encounters. The Maradona has also been a fortress in recent meetings, with the Isolani losing each of their last three trips to Naples.

Cagliari’s season began in dramatic fashion, as they extended their unwanted run of winless Serie A openers to 10. Yet a stoppage-time equaliser from former Napoli defender Sebastiano Luperto rescued a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina, sparking scenes of relief at the Unipol Domus. That late strike was in keeping with the Sardinians’ recent habit of decisive goals deep into matches, a trait that helped them survive relegation last term.

After narrowly securing safety under Davide Nicola last season, Cagliari enter a new era under Fabio Pisacane. The former defender has limited senior coaching experience but arrives with momentum, having led the club’s Primavera side to Coppa Italia glory earlier this year. His tenure began with a nervy Coppa Italia win on penalties against Virtus Entella, but earning a point against Fiorentina in his league debut will provide some encouragement.

Pisacane’s squad faces a daunting challenge in Naples. Not only are they up against one of Serie A’s strongest squads, but their recent record against Napoli is bleak, with no victories in this fixture for over a decade. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

SSC Napoli

Antonio Conte will be without two key players for Saturday’s clash. Last season’s top scorer Romelu Lukaku faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious thigh injury during Napoli’s final pre-season friendly, with reports suggesting he could be out for up to three months. Summer recruit Miguel Gutierrez is also unavailable as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery. Beyond those absences, Conte has a full squad to choose from.

In Lukaku’s absence, Lorenzo Lucca will deputise as the centre-forward. With both Giacomo Raspadori and Giovanni Simeone having left the club earlier in the summer, and Rasmus Hojlund yet to arrive as a replacement, the responsibility of leading the line falls on the young Italian striker.

Behind him, Conte will rely heavily on his powerful midfield. Ballon d’Or contender Scott McTominay, fresh from scoring Napoli’s opener last weekend, will feature alongside Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, and Stanislav Lobotka to form one of the strongest midfield units in Serie A.

Napoli are expected to line up in a 4-1-4-1 system. Alex Meret will start in goal, protected by a back four of Giovanni Di Lorenzo at right-back, Amir Rrahmani and Juan Jesus in central defence, and Mathias Olivera on the left. Stanislav Lobotka will sit deepest in midfield as the holding player, with Frank Anguissa and Kevin De Bruyne occupying central roles ahead of him.

Scott McTominay will provide his trademark late runs from midfield, while Matteo Politano operates on the right flank. Up front, Lorenzo Lucca will lead the attack as Napoli’s lone striker against Cagliari.

Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Olivera; Lobotka; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Lucca

Cagliari Calcio

Cagliari arrive in Naples without two of their main attacking options. The club has just sold striker Roberto Piccoli to Fiorentina, depriving them of their leading marksman, while veteran forward Leonardo Pavoletti remains sidelined with a long-term injury.

These absences leave Fabio Pisacane short of firepower up front, meaning Sebastiano Esposito is expected to shoulder the responsibility of leading the line. Gennaro Borrelli, who started against Fiorentina last weekend, could also feature, while Semih Kilicsoy and Zito Luvumbo provide further alternatives in the attacking third.

Defensively, Cagliari are in stronger shape. Yerry Mina is likely to partner Sebastiano Luperto at the heart of the backline. Luperto, who began his Serie A career at Napoli back in 2015, grabbed the equaliser against Fiorentina and continues his impressive streak as the only defender to have scored in each of the past four Serie A seasons. His experience and leadership will be crucial against his former club.

Cagliari are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation. Elia Caprile will take his place in goal, behind a defensive trio of Sebastiano Luperto, Yerry Mina, and Adam Obert. On the flanks, Gabriele Zappa will push forward from the right, with Riyad Idrissi likely to provide width on the left.

In central midfield, Michel Adopo, Matteo Prati, and Michael Folorunsho will form the trio tasked with disrupting Napoli’s rhythm and supporting transitions. Zito Luvumbo should play alongside Sebastiano Esposito in attack, giving Pisacane’s side pace and unpredictability up front.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Caprile; Luperto, Mina, Obert; Zappa, Adopo, Prati, Folorunsho, Idrissi; Luvumbo, Esposito

Key Stats

• Cagliari have lost their last two league matches against Napoli without scoring. If they fail to find the net again on Saturday, it would mark the third time in Serie A history that they have gone three straight games without scoring against the Partenopei, after similar runs in 1966 and 2017-2018.

• Napoli have lost just once in their last 28 Serie A meetings with Cagliari (W19 D8). That sole defeat came in September 2019, when the Sardinians won 1-0 at the Maradona. Overall, Napoli have scored 21 goals across their last eight encounters with Cagliari in the first half of the season.

• Cagliari have lost their last three Serie A away matches against Napoli. Historically, they have also endured extended losing streaks in Naples, suffering four consecutive defeats at the Maradona twice, between 1966-1969 and 2011-2014.

• Napoli are unbeaten in their last 13 Serie A matches (W8 D5). Their most recent league defeat came in February against Como, making this the longest current unbeaten streak across Europe’s top five leagues.

• Cagliari have lost their last two Serie A away games, the most recent of which was also at the Maradona in May. Another defeat here would mean their longest run of consecutive away losses in the league since November–December 2023, when they suffered four in a row.

Player to Watch

Kevin de Bruyne

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All eyes will be on Kevin De Bruyne as he continues to settle into life in Serie A. The Belgian maestro wasted no time making an impression, scoring on his league debut with a trademark free-kick against Sassuolo. Though the strike carried a touch of fortune, it underlined what Napoli have gained by adding one of Europe’s most influential playmakers to their midfield.

De Bruyne’s vision, passing range, and ability to dictate the tempo immediately elevate Napoli’s attacking play. His link-up with Scott McTominay, Frank Anguissa, and Stanislav Lobotka gives Antonio Conte a midfield combination capable of both dominating possession and breaking down stubborn defences.

Against a Cagliari side expected to sit deep and frustrate, De Bruyne’s creativity will be key in unlocking spaces and providing service to Lorenzo Lucca up front. As Napoli look to maintain their perfect start and extend their unbeaten streak, De Bruyne’s ability to control the game and deliver decisive contributions makes him the standout player to watch at the Stadio Maradona.

Prediction

SSC Napoli 2-0 Cagliari Calcio

Napoli arrive in commanding form, carrying both momentum and historical dominance into this fixture. Cagliari, while spirited, lack the quality to seriously threaten Conte’s well-drilled champions, especially away from home. With McTominay in form and De Bruyne already making an impact, the Partenopei should secure another comfortable win before heading into the international break.