Napoli is set to clash with Fiorentina on September 20, 2026, at 17:30 in a Serie A match that promises to be pivotal for both teams. Fiorentina, under new management, is looking to bounce back from a rough start, while Napoli is grappling with its own challenges.

Fiorentina has had a tumultuous beginning to the season, having lost all three of their opening matches and scoring just one goal. This poor performance led to the dismissal of their former coach, Fabio Grosso, who had previously enjoyed success with Sassuolo. The club has now appointed Paolo Vanoli, who returns to the helm after a brief hiatus. His arrival has already sparked a positive response, as evidenced by Fiorentina's recent victories over Venezia and a dominant win against Pisa in the Coppa Italia.

On the other hand, Napoli is not in top form either, having lost three of their last four matches, with only one victory to show. Coach Max Allegri, who previously thrived at Milan and Juventus, has yet to meet expectations since taking over Napoli from Antonio Conte. The team is currently facing significant setbacks due to injuries, notably the absence of key midfielder Scott McTominay, which has weakened their lineup considerably.

In terms of historical matchups, Napoli has the upper hand, winning 23 out of the last 44 encounters against Fiorentina, who have only managed to win 9 times. However, with both teams struggling, the outcome remains uncertain.

In terms of squad updates, Fiorentina will miss midfielder Parisi due to injury, while Napoli will be without goalkeeper Meret, McTominay, and Buongiorno. The expected lineups for the match are:

• Fiorentina (4-3-3): David de Gea; Alex Jimenez, Dragusin, Ranieri, Viery; Ndour, Fagioli, Atta; Mastantuono, Beto, Njie.
• Napoli (4-3-3): Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Rafa Marin, Spinazzola; Gilmour, Lobotka, De Bruyne; Politano, Hojlund, Vergara.

Fans can expect an exciting match, with predictions suggesting at least three goals and both teams likely to score. The anticipated scoreline is Fiorentina 2-2 Napoli, reflecting the competitive nature of this encounter.