Napoli vs Modena Match Analysis & Prediction
10/08/2024 10:15 pm
Kicking off the Antonio Conte era at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli play host to Modena in the Coppa Italia first round on Saturday.
Following the high of ending a three-decade drought and being crowned Italian champions in 2023, Napoli were brought back down to earth last season, with title-winning coach Luciano Spalletti proving impossible to replace.
Rudi Garcia, Walter Mazzarri and Francesco Calzona – the latter loaned from Slovakia’s national team – all failed to get Napoli back on track, as star players such as Victory Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struggled to replicate their magical form of one year earlier.
New coach Conte took some reassuring that his familiar demands of investment would be met, but after giving the green light to outspoken owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, the ex-Inter Milan manager set about rebuilding for the upcoming campaign.
Napoli posted four pre-season victories without conceding a single goal before losing 2-0 to Girona last week, and ahead of an opening-day trip to Hellas Verona in Serie A, they will play host in the Coppa Italia.
As a result of finishing 10th, some 41 points adrift of Scudetto winners Inter, they must now enter the cup in its first round, with two hurdles to clear before Italy’s top eight enter in the last 16.
One of the worst moments of last season’s woes was a 4-0 Coppa Italia exit at home to Frosinone, so the six-time winners will be keen to avoid a similar slip-up on Saturday.
By contrast to their illustrous hosts, modest Modena have never lifted the Coppa Italia, having spent most of their existence in Italy’s lower leagues.
It was only in 2022 that Modena finally returned to Serie B following bankruptcy five years earlier, and they finished 10th last season – closer to the relegation zone than the playoffs.
A failure to score enough goals kept them out of promotion contention, so experienced French forward Gregoire Defrel was recruited from Sassuolo earlier this summer.
Head coach Pierpaolo Bisoli has turned his side up for next week’s league opener against Sudtirol with two friendly wins and a draw against Cagliari, but first Modena must fly south to Naples.
Napoli vs. Modena Head to head
In the previous four meetings between these two teams, they have claimed a victory each while drawing in two.
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10/09/2001Modena4Napoli1Serie B
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03/02/2002Napoli1Modena0Serie B
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22/12/2006Modena0Napoli0Serie B
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19/05/2007Napoli1Modena1Serie B
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10/08/2024NapoliN/AModenaN/ACoppa Italia
Napoli Team News
While Piotr Zielinski has completed his long-awaited switch to Inter, both Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen remain with Napoli for now, but the latter will play no part this weekend.
New buy Alessandro Buongirno is sure to start in defence, but it remains to be seen whether Giacomo Raspadori, Giovanni Simeone or even the returning Walid Cheddira will feature up front.
Napoli's Last 5 Matches
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16/07/2024Napoli4Anaune0Club Friendlies
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20/07/2024Napoli3Mantova0Club Friendlies
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28/07/2024Napoli4Egnatia Rrogozhine0Club Friendlies
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31/07/2024Napoli1Brest0Club Friendlies
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03/08/2024Napoli0Girona2Club Friendlies
Modena Team News
Modena’s main summer signing Defrel is set to feature in the final third at Stadio Maradona, alongside Ettore Gliozzi, who scored in last week’s friendly draw with Cagliari.
Fomer AC Milan man Mattia Caldara has also joined the club this summer, and he should start in central defence.
Modena's Last 5 Matches
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05/05/2024Modena0Como0Serie B
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10/05/2024Lecco2Modena3Serie B
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24/07/2024Modena3Legnago Salus0Club Friendlies
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27/07/2024Modena3Sangiuliano City0Club Friendlies
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03/08/2024Modena2Cagliari2Club Friendlies
Napoli vs. Modena: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
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