Following three league games without a win, Serie A champions Napoli claimed maximum points in the midweek round, and they now meet Lecce on Saturday.

While Rudi Garcia's side eased to victory over Udinese, their hosts have just lost for the first time this season - falling to a one-goal defeat that leaves them level on points with the Scudetto holders.

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Overcoming the fallout from Victor Osimhen's missed penalty against Bologna and a social media storm that followed it, Napoli returned to the serious business of winning Serie A matches on Wednesday night, when the Nigeria striker was among the scorers in a 4-1 victory.

Ex-Udinese man Piotr Zielinski converted Napoli's opener from the spot at Stadio Maradona, before Osimhen put the hosts further ahead six minutes before half time.

Last season's Serie A MVP Khvicha Kvaratskhelia later struck the woodwork before finally ending a 17-game run without a goal, and substitute Giovanni Simeone sealed the deal late on; moving his team onto 11 points from six games at the start of their title defence.

Now within four points of leaders Inter, who slipped up for the first time by losing at home to Sassuolo, Rudi Garcia's side can make it three wins from four with success at Stadio Via del Mare this weekend, having also beaten Braga in their recent Champions League opener.

The Azzurri won 2-1 in Lecce last season, following an earlier 1-1 draw in Naples, but since Garcia took over from Luciano Spalletti in the summer they have won only one of their three away fixtures in Serie A - most recently losing to Lazio and then drawing with Genoa and Bologna.

Ahead of two heavyweight home clashes - against Real Madrid and Fiorentina - Napoli will therefore target all three points from their trip to Puglia, but their hosts have proved particularly tough to beat on home turf.

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While Lecce may have won only two of these clubs' last 12 league meetings, recent form suggests another victory could be possible on Saturday, as they boast a flawless record at Via del Mare this term.

Having won three from three there - versus Lazio, Salernitana and Genoa - following a 1-0 defeat of Como in the Coppa Italia, the Salentini could be forgiven for feeling impregnable on home soil, but suffering a first loss of the 2023-24 campaign may potentially disrupt their rhythm.

In the unprecedented position of sitting above their midweek hosts Juventus, neatly nestled inside Serie A's top four, Lecce travelled to Turin on Tuesday with 11 points already in their pocket and full of confidence from beating Genoa four days earlier.

However, having posed little attacking threat throughout a drab encounter, they were ultimately beaten by an Arkadiusz Milik strike in the 57th minute, thus handing coach Roberto D'Aversa his first defeat in seven league and cup matches since stepping into the dugout.

Now, ahead of three contests against likely mid-table rivals - Sassuolo, Udinese and Torino - that lead into November's Coppa Italia tie with Parma, the Giallorossi finish September at home to last season's champions, in a clash which will really test their credentials.

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As a recent hamstring injury suffered by Napoli defender Juan Jesus could keep him out until after the next international break - and Amir Rrahmani is also unavailable - summer signing Natan should again start alongside Leo Ostigard in central defence.

With Real Madrid due in Naples next week, the visitors may opt for some squad rotation amid a tightly-packed schedule, so fringe players such as Giovanni Simeone, Jens Cajuste and Jesper Lindstrom will all hope for promotion to Rudi Garcia's starting lineup.

Despite ending a four-game goalless run in midweek, Victor Osimhen could be rested, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will continue on the left wing after bringing his much lengthier goal-free streak to a halt against Udinese.

Meanwhile, Lecce may reshuffle their front three following a timid display versus Juventus, so Roberto Piccoli and Nicola Sansone could come into the thinking of head coach Roberto D'Aversa.

Another forward, Lameck Banda, is still sidelined with a thigh injury, and midfielder Mohamed Kaba must serve a suspension, but Kastriot Dermaku should return from a muscular injury having been back in training for a few days now.

There is hot competition for places at full-back, as highly-rated Patrick Dorgu vies with Antonino Gallo for selection on the left side of the Giallorossi's back four, while Valentin Gendrey and Lorenzo Venuti battle it out on the right.

Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Gendrey, Pongracic, Baschirotto, Gallo; Rafia, Ramadani, Blin; Almqvist, Krstovic, Strefezza

Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Natan, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Lindstrom, Simeone, Kvaratskhelia

We say: Lecce 1-2 Napoli

It may not be the most harmonious camp at Napoli right now, but last season's champions still possess plenty of punch in attack. Though Lecce have conceded just one goal at home so far, the Azzurri can leave Via del Mare clutching all three points; setting up their big European clash next week.


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