On August 26 at 2:45 AM, in the second round of Serie A, Napoli will host last season’s dark horse, Bologna.
After Conte took over Napoli, the team expanded its roster during the summer transfer window and entered the season with high aspirations. However, in the first two matches of the season, the team, which underwent changes in management, personnel, formation, and playing style, has yet to resolve its integration issues, resulting in poor performances in both matches. In the Italian Cup match against Serie B side Modena, Napoli narrowly advanced via a penalty shootout, and in the league opener, they suffered a humiliating 0-3 defeat to Verona, exposing many problems.
At the pre-match press conference, Conte stated, “If you get hit, you must face it bravely. If you are knocked down, you must stand up and fight back,” encouraging the team. This match is a double opportunity for Napoli to prove themselves. Firstly, the team needs to respond to the criticism following their poor performances in the first two games of the season; secondly, last season Napoli suffered a 0-2 defeat at home to Bologna, ending their winning streak against this opponent, and they hope to turn the tables.
Bologna stunned Europe by securing a Champions League qualification spot as a dark horse last season. During the summer transfer window, Bologna lost several key figures, with coach Motta moving to Juventus and core players Calafiori, Zirkzee, and others departing, generating nearly €100 million in revenue for the club. The team invited the well-regarded Italiano to take charge and spent €48.5 million on nearly ten new signings who have gained some recognition – and they may announce two more deals soon, demonstrating their unwillingness to be a one-season wonder. However, the team has recently faced setbacks, with new signing Cambiaso and last season’s standout midfielder Lewis Ferguson both suffering severe ACL injuries.
In the opening round of Serie A, Bologna managed only a 1-1 draw at home against Udinese. Facing a strong opponent in this match is an opportunity to test their mettle, and the players have expressed that the upcoming Champions League challenge makes facing Napoli a perfect chance to prove that their success last season was not a fluke!
In terms of head-to-head records, Napoli holds a clear advantage with 5 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses in the last 10 encounters. When playing at home, Bologna has won 2 and lost 8 out of their last 10 visits to Napoli.
In terms of squad availability, Napoli has a full-strength lineup, and pre-match reports suggest that Conte might use Oliveira as a surprise left wing-back, replacing captain Spinazzola. For Bologna, besides long-term injured players Cambiaso, Ferguson, and Azuchi, wing-back Holm, center-back Lukuymi, and midfielder Urbanski have also been training irregularly due to physical reasons, making their participation uncertain.
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