Serie A | Gameweek 38

May 23, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Napoli vs Cagliari

Match preview

Two years on from their most recent triumph, Napoli could win their fourth Scudetto — after 1986–87, 1989–90 and 2022–23 — surpassing Roma to become the southern side with the most championship titles.

Last week, the title race reached its penultimate round, with the leaders visiting lowly Parma on 'Super Sunday', when nine games were played simultaneously. Meanwhile, Inter hosted Lazio, and the already fascinating plot saw no shortage of late twists.

Despite hitting the woodwork twice through Frank Anguissa and Matteo Politano, Napoli were forced to settle for a goalless draw at the Stadio Tardini. Meanwhile, their Milanese rivals squandered a two-goal lead at the San Siro, with controversial VAR decisions influencing the outcome of both matches.

Nevertheless, the Partenopei maintained their slender advantage and, despite a distinct lack of fluency, have won four and drawn two of their last six matches, conceding only two goals.

Coach Antonio Conte, who is trying to lead a third team to the Italian title after Inter and Juventus, may only stay for one year due to his frosty relationship with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis. However, it could end in glory.

Napoli are still masters of their own destiny: victory this weekend would secure the title, and even if they lose and Inter draw, a dramatic play-off for the top spot would take place next Monday.

They are on course for the lowest points average of any Serie A winner since Juventus in 1994–95. It has been far from a vintage campaign, but Conte claims their achievements merit acclaim nonetheless.

Stripped of former stars Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, his side could become the first in a 20-team Serie A season to win the title after finishing 10th the previous year, beating his own record with Juve in 2011–12 — they had previously finished seventh.

Napoli may have scored a modest 57 goals so far — well below their usual standard — but their star player will have fond memories of playing against Cagliari. Romelu Lukaku made his first start for his current club in the reverse fixture in September, scoring once and setting up two goals in an emphatic 4-0 win.

Furthermore, Napoli have won nine of the teams' last 12 league meetings at the Stadio Maradona, averaging 2.5 goals per game. History therefore suggests that they can bring joy to Naples on Friday night.

Meanwhile, Cagliari must play the role of party-spoilers in their final fixture of what has been a relatively successful season.

Last week's 3-0 win over relegation rivals Venezia — set in motion by Roberto Piccoli's 10^(th) Serie A strike of the campaign — secured their safety with one game to play.

The Rossoblu have already accrued as many points as they did last term (36), when Claudio Ranieri guided the Sardinian side to survival on their top-flight return. In fact, they are on track to finish 14th; only a Hellas Verona victory could prevent this.

However, as Davide Nicola's team may already be thinking about their summer holidays — having won just three away games all season — they seem unlikely to stand in Napoli's way.

However, Friday's hosts have recently faltered against lower-ranked clubs such as Venezia, Genoa and Parma, so the carefree Cagliari side may fancy adding their name to that list.

Recent Performance

Napoli Serie A form:WWWWDD

Cagliari Serie A form:LLWLLW

Team News

Although Napoli playmaker Stanislav Lobotka and defensive stalwart Alessandro Buongiorno are hoping to return for the Serie A season finale, having exacerbated existing injuries by returning too early, it remains to be seen whether either of them will be fit enough to start.

Juan Jesus is also set to return after missing several games, but Antonio Conte may still opt to keep faith with Mathias Olivera in the centre-back position, despite the Uruguayan player's usual position being on the left.

If Lobotka is unable to play for the full 90 minutes, Billy Gilmour will remain in central midfield, linking up with his fellow Scotland teammate, Scott McTominay. McTominay has recorded seven goal involvements at the Maradona Stadium so far in 2025.

Romelu Lukaku has played a direct role in nine home goals this calendar year — the most of any Serie A player — and he is expected to be supported by Giacomo Raspadori, with the speedy David Neres being deployed as a substitute.

While Lukaku leads the line for Napoli, Cagliari striker Roberto Piccoli reached double figures for the season last time out. Fellow forward Leonardo Pavoletti, renowned for his 'super-sub' heroics in recent years, returns from suspension to bolster Davide Nicola's options up front.

Zito Luvumbo (thigh) and Gianluca Gaetano (knee) are sidelined by injury, creating an opportunity for Pavoletti or Nicolas Viola to partner Piccoli in attack.

Meanwhile, Napoli loanee Elia Caprile, who swapped clubs with Simone Scuffet in January, will start in goal against his parent club.

Possible starting lineup

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Olivera, Spinazzola; Politano, Anguissa, Gilmour, McTominay; Raspadori, Lukaku

Cagliari possible starting lineup:

Caprile; Zappa, Mina, Luperto; Zortea, Deiola, Makoumbou, Adopo, Augello; Viola; Piccoli