Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Turning their attention back in Champions League duties on Wednesday night, Napoli will welcome Sporting Lisbon to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Napoli
Starting with the hosts, sacrificing their spot at the top of the Serie A standings over the weekend as they eventually fell to a 2-1 loss away at bitter domestic foes AC Milan, Napoli have shown some signs of concern over the past fortnight. Getting their Champions League adventure underway with a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City on foreign soil, Antonio Conte’s men have lost two of their previous three appearances across all competitions. However, making real history last season as they clinched an iconic fourth Serie A crown, the former Chelsea boss will be excited to make a return to home soil here. Last seen at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona claiming an action-packed 3-2 win against Pisa, Conte’s side have not suffered a single defeat in front of their own supporters so far this calendar year.
Napoli Team News
Yet to make a single appearance since suffering a muscle injury over the summer, Napoli will once again be without the services of Belgium international Romelu Lukaku on Wednesday night. Likewise, suffering another injury setback, former Verona defender Amir Rrahmani is not expected to feature here.
Bagging what turned out to be a consolation strike away at the San Siro on Sunday and making an immediate impact after arriving from Manchester City over the summer, Kevin De Bruyne will play a leading role here. Opening his account against Fiorentina on his Napoli debut on September 13th, Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund will lead the line.
Sporting Lisbon
As for the visitors, successfully defending their Primeira Liga status last season, Sporting Lisbon have once again come flying out of the traps this time around. Getting their respective European campaign underway with a routine 4-1 victory at home against Champions League debutants Kairat Almaty, Rui Borges’ men should find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Despite heading into September’s international break with a 2-1 loss against bitter domestic rivals Porto, Sporting have proven that downbeat performance was nothing more than a minor blip. In fact, the reigning Portuguese champions have won seven of their first eight appearances across all competitions. Despite travelling to Naples pencilled in as a real underdog contender, Borges’ side are more than capable of asking some serious questions.
Sporting Lisbon Team News
Both still dealing with respective long-term knee injuries, Sporting Lisbon will once again be without the duo of Daniel Braganca and one-time Benfica youngster Nuno Santos here. Not featuring since the opening weekend of the 2025/26 campaign, Ivory Coast international Ousmane Diomande remains a major doubt.
Enjoying a sensational start to life in Lisbon and now registering seven goals in his last five appearances for club and country, summer recruit Luis Suarez will lead the line in Naples. Heavily linked with a big-money European switch over the past few months, midfield talisman Morten Hjulmand will start in the middle of the park.
Napoli vs Sporting Lisbon Key Factors to Consider
Napoli and Sporting Lisbon’s showdown on Wednesday night will be their first competitive meeting since way back in 1989.
Despite losing two of their previous three appearances across all competitions, Napoli have not suffered a single defeat on home soil since the start of December 2024.
Sporting Lisbon have won seven of their first eight appearances across all fronts so far this season.
Napoli have failed to record a clean sheet in their last four matchups across all competitions – their longest run without a clean sheet since the start of March.
Sporting striker Luis Suarez has registered seven goals in his previous five appearances for club and country.
Conclusion
Suffering real domestic frustration over the weekend as they eventually fell to that 2-1 loss away at bitter domestic foes AC Milan, Napoli will certainly be excited to make a return to home soil here. Although Conte’s men might have rightfully gained a fearsome reputation for their dominance in Naples, Sporting Lisbon are more than capable of asking some serious questions on Wednesday night. With the reigning Portuguese champions enjoying yet another extended purple patch, they will be confident of testing a Napoli defence that has shown some recent issues.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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