Lecce vs Napoli

Under the southern Italian lights, Lecce are gearing up for one of their toughest nights of the season as they welcome Napoli to the Stadio Via del Mare on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, with kickoff set for 20:45 CET. The atmosphere in Puglia is expected to be intense, as the home side look to defy the odds against one of Serie A’s title contenders. This fixture comes at a delicate moment for both teams — Lecce fighting to climb away from the lower end of the table, while Napoli aim to stay within reach of the top spots despite mounting injury concerns.

The hosts approach this encounter with several problems in their squad. Eusebio Di Francesco must cope without Gaby Jean, who remains out long-term after knee surgery, while Matías Pérez and Filip Marchwiński are both sidelined through muscle injuries. Riccardo Sottil is also a doubt after experiencing discomfort in training. Napoli’s situation is even more complicated. Antonio Conte’s side will travel without Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Alex Meret, Stanislav Lobotka, Amir Rrahmani, and Rasmus Højlund — all nursing injuries. The absences could open the door for younger players like Gianluca Gaetano and Cyril Ngonge to feature, while Pierluigi Gollini is expected to continue in goal.

Tactically, Lecce are expected to approach the game with caution, setting up in Di Francesco’s preferred 4-3-3 system that transitions into a 4-5-1 when defending. The focus will be on compact spacing, aggressive pressing in midfield, and rapid breaks down the flanks, where Lameck Banda’s pace could be key. Conte’s Napoli, meanwhile, will aim to control possession and dictate tempo despite the missing stars. Conte has emphasized a more pragmatic approach in recent matches — structured pressing, patient buildup, and controlled possession. Expect Napoli to rely heavily on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s creativity and Giacomo Raspadori’s movement to find openings.

In the Italian press, this matchup has been framed as a contrast of ambition and resilience. National newspapers have pointed out Lecce’s worrying dip in home form and the pressure Di Francesco faces to secure results. Conversely, Napoli’s injury crisis has dominated headlines, with commentators noting that Conte must find tactical solutions to maintain momentum without several of his most influential players. Analysts have suggested that Lecce could exploit Napoli’s defensive reshuffle, though few believe the hosts have the quality to sustain pressure over ninety minutes.

Pre-match studio analysis has been evenly balanced between optimism and caution. Former Serie A defenders have praised Lecce’s defensive organisation but warned that sustained resistance against Napoli’s technical quality will be difficult. Others have pointed to Conte’s experience and adaptability, predicting that Napoli’s structured pressing and tactical precision will eventually prevail. Pundits agree that the opening quarter of an hour could define the flow of the match — if Lecce withstand the early Napoli pressure and grow into the game, the night could become far more complicated for the visitors. As kickoff nears, all signs point toward a tactical chess match where discipline and patience may prove more decisive than raw attacking power.

Watch and Download Lecce vs Napoli full match replay and highlights, At Sunday, October 28, 2025. The match played at Stadio Ettore Giardiniero – Via del Mare, in EFL Cup, England.

Atalanta vs Milan