Overview
Entering the closing day of Serie A 2024-2025 with only 1 point more than Inter Milan, Napoli needed a home win against Cagliari to officially win the championship.
2 years after the last time stepping up to the podium, Napoli has won the fourth Scudetto in history (after the seasons 1986-1987), 1989-1990 and 2022-2023). Scott McTominay's spectacular goal relieved the huge pressure in Naples, before Romelu Lukaku managed to score another important goal right before the break.
Despite lacking smooth play, Napoli are still unbeaten in their last 7 matches of the season (W5 D2). Meanwhile, Inter are clearly exhausted and are just a shadow of themselves.
After completing the campaign, Antonio Conte became the third coach to have won the Serie A with 3 different clubs (after Inter and Juventus). The Italian tactician has since extended his surprise deal with Napoli following tense talks with President Aurelio De Laurentiis.
This summer, Conte emphasized his ambition to build a new dynasty in Napoli. They also recruited a series of bright faces, most notably Kevin De Bruyne. With more strength, the defending champion entered the new season with confidence after 3 consecutive victories in the preparation stage.
Their journey to defend their title will start at Reggio Emilia - where Napoli destroyed the home team 6-1 in the most recent confrontation.
Back in February 2024, Sassuolo collapsed completely on the journey down from Serie A, when Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored a double.
Napoli currently no longer has both of these attacking stars. However, few believe that Sassuolo can end a 7-match winless streak against the defending champions in their reunion at the weekend.
After winning the Serie B title last season and immediately returning to the top flight, Sassuolo is aiming to stay in the league under the hands of Fabio Grosso - former player of Lyon and also the 2006 World Cup champion.
Grosso has rebuilt the team with many key players agreeing to stay after being relegated. And the prize is the top spot in Serie B with a gap of 6 points over Pisa.
Preparing for the new season, Sassuolo ended a series of friendlies with 2 draws against Empoli and Brest. They then opened the 2025-2026 season with a 1-0 win over Catanzaro in Coppa Italia.
Mapei Stadium was a great support with 14 wins after 19 matches in Serie B last season, but to cause a surprise against Napoli, Grosso and his team will have to try harder.
Personnel situation
Napoli's two new recruits, Kevin De Bruyne and Sam Beukema, will play in midfield and defense respectively. Meanwhile, another rookie, striker Lorenzo Lucca, will start in the striker position.
McTominay - the 2025 Ballon d'Or candidate - may have to adjust his role to give De Bruyne a place to play. However, his combination with Anguissa and lobotka still forms the backbone in the midfield of Napoli.
While Lukaku and McTominay are Napoli's inspiration in the 2024-2025 season, Armand Lauriente is Sassuolo's main scorer in Serie B.
Despite being rumored to be out, the French winger will now want to continue to improve his scoring record. He could join Domenico Berardi and Andrea Pinamonti in the home side's familiar attacking trio.
In other positions, Sassuolo's rookies Stefano Turati and Arijanet Muric have to compete to appear in goal.
In addition, defender Sebastian Walukiewicz, striker Alieu Fadera and midfielder Ismael Kone all played in the win over Catanzaro. Josh Doig - McTominay's teammate of the Scotland team - scored the only goal in that match.
Expected lineup:
Sassuolo: Turati, Walukiewicz, Cande, Idzes, Doig, Ghion, Boloca, Kone, Berardi, Pinamonti, Lauriente.
Napoli: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Beukema, Olivera, lobotka, Anguissa, Politano, De Bruyne, McTominay, Lucca.
The match between Sassuolo and Napoli takes place at 11:30 p.m. on August 23 (Vietnam time).
