Napoli vs Fiorentina
18th January 1945hrs
Football – Italy – Serie A
Pick Both teams to score
Bookmaker: Bet365
Odds: 3/4 odds taken 2000 GMT, Friday 17 January
Napoli continue to endure a really challenging season. They will, however, be looking to make home advantage count when Fiorentina visit on Saturday evening. A team who can go level on points with their opponents.
Table of Contents
Napoli Preview – Can Napoli find a first home win in Serie A since the middle of October?
It’s been a really testing season for Napoli who find themselves in the bottom half of the table. Considering their relative success in recent times and cementing their place as the second force in Italian football, the drop off this season has been remarkable. Tensions between Carlo Ancelotti and the club’s owner became too much as the two parted ways.
Gennaro Gattuso was the surprise choice as a replacement but it has done little for Napoli’s performances or results.
(odds taken 2000 GMT, Friday 17 January)
Defeats to Lazio and Inter to begin the year man Napoli are now 11 points adrift of the Champions League positions. Whilst those opponents were always likely to be difficult to get anything from, that points gap is already ominous looking. Their recent form us just not inspiring confidence that they can turn this around.
They come into this game with only one win in their last 11 league games and have not won at home since October. These are the issue that Gatttuso has to try and rectify first and foremost before anything else. There was some good news when his team managed to defeat Perugia in the Coppa Italia in midweek, a win he hopes will increase some confidence.
Fiorentina Preview – Will Fiorentina end a run of four games without an away win and continue climbing the table?
The decision to sack Vincenzo Montella at the end of 2019 appears to have been the right one as Fiorentina have yet to lose a game since. Granted, it’s still very early days and there have only been three games but that change of mindset amongst the players is so crucial for teams battling to avoid relegation. The well travelled and experienced Giuseppe Iachini has taken over and having played in Florence for five years, knows what the club is all about.
It’s been a strong start for the new coach, taking four points from two league games and they also pulled off a surprising win over Atalanta in the Italian Cup.
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The last two league results mean Fiorentina are now seven points clear of the relegation zone and can begin looking upwards for the first time in a while. A battle for survival was never the plan or expectation so all concerned will be hoping they can have a much more positive second half to the campaign.
Patrick Cutrone – signed on loan from Wolves this month – scored his first goal for the club in the win over Atalanta and could make his first league start in this game.
Napoli vs Fiorentina Betting Advice
It’s looking increasingly likely that Napoli’s priorities for this season will be getting as far as possible in the Champions League and attempting to secure the Coppa Italia. Their hopes of a top four finish are fading away each week. Fiorentina are looking to continue what has been a positive start to the season. A win here would put them level on points with their opponents.
Key Facts – Napoli vs Fiorentina Betting Tip
- It’s been turmoil in Naples for much of the season and they have not won in their last five home games in the league
- Fiorentina have taken four points from their last two games as they look to pull clear of the relegation zone
- These two met on the opening weekend of the season in a thrilling game which Napoli won 4-3
The game these two played out on the opening weekend remains one of the games of the season in Italy. If we are to get anything like that it will be another treat for all neutrals.
With no wins in five home games for Napoli and four away from Fiorentina I’m inclined to look elsewhere for a betting tip. Six of Napoli’s last 10 at home have ended with both teams scoring as have seven of Fiorentina’s last 10 away games. It’s the selection for this game.
The best betting odds for Napoli vs Fiorentina
Napoli to win: 8/13 at Bet365
Draw: 31/10 at Bet365
Fiorentina to win: 9/2 at Bet365
