Napoli vs Lecce Preview: Team News & Prediction

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We have a bit of a southern derby in Serie A on Saturday evening as defending champions Napoli take on struggling Lecce at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Kick-off date/time: 14 March 2026 at 5:00 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – DAZN / US – Paramount+ & DAZN

How to watch online: UK – DAZN / US – Paramount+ & DAZN

Napoli preview: Rediscovering their form

Antonio Conte and his Napoli side appear to be rediscovering a bit of their form as they try to cement themselves in the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots in Serie A after a difficult defence of their title last season.

The Partenopei come into this one on the back of back-to-back victories, having snatched a last-gasp winner against bottom-of-the-table Hellas Verona before defeating Torino by two goals to one in Naples.

Lecce preview: Struggling Lecce

Lecce begin the 29th match day of the 2025/26 Serie A season sitting just three points and a couple of places outside of the bottom three and the relegation places but they are in reasonable form of late.

The visitors’ 2-1 defeat of fellow strugglers Cremonese at the Stadio Comunale Via del Mare in Apulia last weekend means that the visitors have now managed three victories in their last five matches.

Napoli team news: De Bruyne back

Key midfielders Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Kevin De Bruyne have returned to full fitness, albeit Scott McTominay does remain a doubt due to a thigh injury.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Mathias Olivera, Buongiorno, Beukema; Politano, Gilmour, Anguissa, Spinazzola; De Bruyne, Alisson; Hojlund

Unavailable: Rrahmani (Injured), Di Lorenzo (Injured), David Neres (Injured), Vergara (Injured)

Questionable: Juan Jesus (Injured), McTominay (Injured), Lobotka (Injured)

Lecce team news: A few injuries

Angola international defender Kialonda Gaspar is a confirmed absentee alongside Francesco Camarda, while Medon Berisha is also a doubt due to a thigh injury.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Falcone; Veiga, Siebert, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani, Ngom; Pierotti, Stulic, Banda

Unavailable: Gaspar (Injured), Camarda (Injured)

Questionable: Berisha (Injured)

Napoli vs Lecce prediction

With their home advantage, Napoli will be expected to come out on top once again. However, even though they are improving and getting players back to finish this season with a flourish, they are still expected to be some way off fluency. Lecce will be expected to sit deep and frustrate them in Naples and, while Napoli are favourites, it may not be the most entertaining watch for the neutral.

Napoli vs Lecce tip: Napoli to win & under 3.5 goals