Sports Mole previews Sunday’s friendly clash between Napoli and Egnatia Rrogozhine, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Napoli seek to continue their strong pre-season form when they face Albanian outfit Egnatia Rrogozhine at Stadio Teofilo Patini on Sunday.
Antonio Conte‘s men have recorded consecutive triumphs since returning to team training under the taskmaster, and they seek to continue that run against a side already competing competitively this term.
Match preview
© Imago
Despite the uncertainty surrounding a few star players in Conte’s side, the former Juventus and Inter Milan boss has got to business with the Partenopei, clinching victories over Anaune Val di Non and Mantova.
The opening 4-0 triumph under the new head coach was followed by a recent three-goal spree in the first 20 minutes against the newly promoted Serie B outfit.
Jesper Lindstrom, one of the goalscorers in that win, has departed the club for Everton, but Walid Cheddira and a new arrival from Roma, Leonardo Spinazzola, could play pivotal parts for Conte’s men against the Conference League hopefuls.
Conte has heavily rotated in the opening two non-competitive matches of his reign, and he could seek to add minutes to the side that starts on Sunday.
The Italians are undoubted favourites to notch a third straight triumph in the off-season, but their opponents aim to pose problems for the Partenopei.
While few would have heard about Egnatia before Sunday, the Albanian club head into the fixture the sharper side after playing competitively this term.
Eliminated on penalties by Borac Banja Luka in their Champions League qualifying match, Edlir Tetova‘s men have since dropped into the continent’s third-tier competition, keen to advance beyond the second qualifying round.
They have played the first leg of their tie against Icelandic side Vikingur Reykjavik, notching a 1-0 win away in the lead-up to the reverse fixture on August 1.
Facing Napoli more than prepares Tetova’s side for whatever Reykjavik will throw at them in the second leg of that tie as the first-time Albanian champions seek to benefit from the experience of playing Conte’s team.
Napoli friendly form:
Egnatia Rrogozhine form (all competitions):
Team News
© Reuters
Victor Osimhen‘s future at the club remains uncertain, and it is instructive that the Nigerian has not featured so far in pre-season as he wants a transfer away.
Spinazzola could get more minutes from the start as he continues to be acquainted with his new colleagues in Naples.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Giacomo Raspadori and Stanislav Lobotka could all get minutes on Sunday, with Di Lorenzo possibly featuring for the first time since recommitting to the club after discussing with Aurelio De Laurentiis and Conte.
It remains to be seen how strong Tetova goes on Sunday, with the club’s Conference League second-round qualifier imminent.
Lorougnon Doukouo netted the Albanian club’s only goal in their first-leg win, and the Ivorian could hurt Napoli if he starts against the Serie A side.
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Caprile; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus; Mazzocchi, Anguissa, Lobotka, Spinazzola; Politano, Raspadori; Simeone
Egnatia Rrogozhine possible starting lineup:
Dabjani; Xhemajli, Malota, Aliyev; Fangaj, Ahmetaj, Aleksi, Ndreca; Kasa, Drame; Doukouo
We say: Napoli 2-0 Egnatia Rrogozhine
Despite their limited match action compared to their Albanian opponents, Conte’s side should have too much for Egnatia on Sunday, with the Partenopei boosted by their returning captain and midfield lynchpin Lobotka.
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