Napoli vs Osasuna Preview – prediction, team news, lineups | Pre-Season Friendly
Former Italian champions eye big win over Osasuna, who barely survived relegation last season
Stadio Comunale Teofilo Patini in Italy gears up to host a club-friendly fixture. Italian powerhouse Napoli and Spanish outfit Osasuna take on each other in what is set to be a thrilling contest.
The Naples outfit failed to retain top Italian honours after Inter Milan leapfrogged them to finish atop the points table. Napoli are coming off a win over Carrarese. Rasmus Hojlund and Nascimento found the back of the net in the last game.
They are yet to make big signings, and too many players have departed Naples. Emanuele Rao has been sent to Pisa on loan alongside Giuseppe Ambrosino and Mathias Ferrante. They are led by Massimiliano Allegri, who recently made a move from AC Milan to Napoli.
Despite being level on points with relegated Mallorca, Osasuna salvaged their LaLiga status merely based on goal difference. They are coming after three consecutive wins in the friendlies. With wins over Racing Santander, Ipswich Town and Norwich City FC.
They are led by former Espanyol gaffer Luis Ramis, who will be looking to turn things around for Osasuna next season. They have roped in Jonathan Dubasin from Sporting Gijon. It will be interesting to see if the Spanish outfit can extend their winning streak when they take on Italian powerhouse Napoli next.
Kick-off:
- Location: Castel di Sangri, Italy
- Stadium: Stadio Comunale Teofilo Patini
- Kick-off time: 5:30 p.m. BST / 10:00 p.m. IST
- Date: Wednesday, 5 August
- Referee: TBD
- VAR: Not in use
Form:
Napoli (in all competitions): W-L-W-W-L
Osasuna (in all competitions): W-W-W-L-L
Players to Watch
Frank Anguissa (Napoli)
The Cameroonian midfielder has donned jerseys of teams like Fulham, Villarreal and Marseille before making a move to Napoli in 2021. Since then, he has been a commanding presence in the midfield for Naples and has won the Serie A twice.
A cornerstone of Napoli’s engine room, Anguissa remains a central structure of Allegri’s midfield. Anguissa excels at receiving possession under heavy pressure in tight central corridors. He is brilliant in reading transitional breakdowns.
Jon Moncayola (Osasuna)
Osasuna’s loyal pillar in the midfield and the captain, the 28-year-old Spanish midfielder has donned only Osasuna’s jersey since the very beginning. From playing for Osasuna reserves to captaining the senior side, Moncayola has come a long way.
An Olympic silver medalist with Spain at the Tokyo 2020 Games, he provides stability in the central pivot for Osasuna. They narrowly escaped relegation. This time around, all eyes will be on captain Monca
Match Facts
- These two sides are set to meet each other for the first time.
- Napoli have parted ways with Conte, and Allegri has taken over the reins.
- Osasuna barely escaped relegation last season.
Napoli vs Osasuna: Betting Tips and Odds
- Napoli to win the game – 9/20 with bet365
- Both teams to score – 8/11 with bet365
- Napoli 2-0 Osasuna – 15/2 with bet365
Injury and Team News
For Napoli, Alessandro Buongiorno is out due to injury concerns alongside Billy Gilmour and Stanislav Lobotka. The latter might still be fit to play.
Osasuna have no injury concerns for the next game.
Head-to-Head
These two sides are set to meet each other for the first time.
Predicted Lineups
Napoli predicted lineup (4-3-3)
Alex Meret (GK); Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Luca Marianucci, Leonardo Spinazzola; Frank Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka, Antonio Vergara; Matteo Politano, Rasmus Højlund, Giovane.
Osasuna predicted lineup (4-2-3-1)
Aitor Fernández (GK); Iker Benito, Alejandro Catena, Jorge Herrando, Abel Bretones; Jon Moncayola, Lucas Torró; Rubén García, Moi Gómez, Raúl Moro; Raúl García.
Match Prediction
Despite Osasuna’s winning run, we expect the Italian giants to get the better of the Spanish outfit. Hojlund is in fine form. We expect him to break the deadlock.
Prediction: Napoli 2-0 Osasuna
Telecast Details
Worldwide: TBD
When and where is the Napoli vs Osasuna friendly match?
The match will be played at the Stadio Comunale Teofilo Patini in Castel di Sangri, Italy, on Wednesday, August 5, at 10:00 p.m. IST.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.
In addition to writing articles on World and Indian Football, Saikat has also covered tournaments like the Durand Cup, Indian Super League, and Hockey India League. Notably, his exceptional communication skills have seen him interview legendary icons like Olympic 2024 gold medalist Yibbi Jansen, former Real Madrid player Javi Hernandez, and many more such sporting stalwarts.