League leaders Napoli welcome a surprisingly strong Como side on Saturday, who are sitting in fifth place in Serie A, just two points behind AC Milan. The Partenopei lead the table with 21 points, while the visitors, with 16 points, are dreaming of a place in European competition. A point at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona would be an important step in that direction for Cesc Fàbregas’ team.
The recent record between the two teams promises excitement: in February, Como won 2-1 in Naples, while in October 2024, Napoli won 3-1 at home. Both games were high-scoring and evenly balanced at halftime.
Como travels with the momentum of a 3-1 win against Verona, while Napoli last won 1-0 in Lecce, but struggled to build up play for a long time before Anguissa scored the winning goal in the 69th minute. Antonio Conte will still be without Lukaku, De Bruyne, and Meret. Lobotka could return after adductor problems, and Rrahmani is an option after a long break. Como has almost a full squad, with only Dossena and Sergi Roberto missing due to injury. Fàbregas can count on players such as Nico Paz and Morata.
The bookmakers clearly favor Napoli, but Como has already proven this season that it can be a tough opponent away from home.
- Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples
- Date and time: November 1, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 10)
Napoli goes into the game with a lot of confidence after their 3-1 win against Inter and remains the clear favorite despite the absences of Romelu Lukaku and Alex Meret. Como is unbeaten in five games, but does not have the quality to pose a serious threat to the league leaders. The main tip is therefore: Napoli to win at odds of around 1.9.
Napoli have been in strong form recently and have depth in midfield. Billy Gilmour and Frank Anguissa can compensate for the missing players, while Scott McTominay strengthens the team’s offensive power. Como simply lack the consistency to take points off a top team like Napoli.
For conservative bettors, there is a lot to be said for under 2.5 goals: 80% of Como’s last five games have remained below this mark, and Napoli has kept a tight first half in four of its last five games, mostly with under 1.5 goals at halftime. Lukaku’s absence further diminishes Napoli’s firepower, making a controlled, low-scoring duel likely.
A riskier alternative is “both teams to score.” Napoli’s defense has been vulnerable lately, conceding goals in four consecutive games. Replacement goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić does not offer the same security as Alex Meret. Como has scored in 80% of its recent games and could exploit these weaknesses, while Napoli itself has enough quality to score.
Injuries and last-minute lineup changes could still influence the outcome. The odds of around 1.9 for a home win and 4.8 for an away win reflect the market sentiment. Those who want to play it safe should choose under 2.5 or handicap options.
Napoli form & record check
Napoli remain top of the table despite being level on points with their pursuers, but their form in the league has been inconsistent: three wins from five games sounds solid, but this is put into perspective by poor performances and a recent defeat in Turin. The team rarely draws; either they play very well or not at all. Examples of this are the clear 3-1 home win against Inter, marked by De Bruyne’s penalty and his subsequent injury, and a laborious 1-0 win in Lecce, which was only decided late in the game.
Defensively, recurring problems are evident: the 6-2 cup debacle at PSV and regular goals conceded in the league point to vulnerability when faced with intense pressing and quick transitions. In addition, the team often seems to be not fully awake in the first half.
The personnel situation is making things a lot worse. Long-term injuries to Lukaku and De Bruyne, the loss of regular goalkeeper Meret, and Lobotka’s adductor injury are weakening the offense, goalkeeping, and midfield. McTominay and Anguissa are currently carrying a heavy load, Conte’s rotation options are limited, and the strain of playing multiple games in quick succession is growing.
There are clear courses of action for the coming weeks: defensive compactness must be increased, and structured pressing responses and transition security must be practiced. Rotation should be planned with a view to managing the workload, and options for strengthening the midfield are a priority. Tactical adjustments against intense pressing, such as longer balls and targeted runs into space, could be tested. In addition, psychological stabilization is needed for better first halves and more consistent performances.
Napoli are expected to play their usual 4-3-3 formation. Due to several absences, the starting lineup could look like this: Milinković-Savić will replace Meret in goal after the latter suffered a metatarsal fracture. The defense will consist of Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Jesus, and Olivera. Gilmour, McTominay, and Anguissa will play in midfield. Lucca will lead the attack, supported by Politano and Lang on the wings.
Missing players include regular goalkeeper Meret with a metatarsal fracture, striker Lukaku with a thigh injury, and midfielder Lobotka due to injury. This limits Conte’s options, especially in the center and up front.
The mention of De Bruyne’s absence after the Inter game is unclear, as Kevin De Bruyne is a Manchester City player, not a Napoli player. If another player was meant, the correct name should be mentioned.
Como Form & Record Check
Como has been unbeaten in Serie A for weeks and deservedly occupies 5th place in the table. In the last five league games, the team under Cesc Fàbregas has recorded two wins and three draws. The first halves in particular show a high level of effectiveness, while the intensity of performance often drops in the second half.
The 3-1 home win against Verona demonstrated the team’s mental robustness: after conceding an equalizer, Como reacted correctly and decided the game in their favor in the second half. Prior to that, there was a goalless draw at Parma, and at the start of the season, they made an impressive 2-0 statement against Juventus.
Como are solid defensively. They have conceded only four goals in their last five games, and in none of those games did the team fall behind in the first half. Overall, the second halves are comparatively uneventful, which points to tactical discipline and compact play.
Alberto Dossena, who is expected to return after tearing his cruciate ligament in early November, and Sergi Roberto, who has a thigh strain, are still out. With only two points behind Milan and one point ahead of Bologna, Como is well positioned to go into the winter break in the top third of the table.
Como are expected to line up in the 4-2-3-1 formation that Cesc Fàbregas has favored in recent weeks. Butez will be in goal. The back four is likely to consist of Posch, Ramón, Carlos, and Valle.
Caqueret and Perrone will form the defensive midfield duo. Kühn, Paz, and Diao are expected to play in the attacking positions behind the striker, with Douvikas leading the line.
Center back Dossena will be out with a cruciate ligament rupture and Sergi Roberto with a thigh strain. Morata, Baturina, and Van der Brempt are notable alternatives for tactical substitutions on the bench.
Napoli – Como Head-to-head & Statistics
The two teams last met in February 2025, when Como won 2-1 at home. The score was level at half-time, but Como scored the decisive goal in the second half. Both teams had scored one goal in the first half of that game and conceded one goal each.
In October 2024, Napoli won 3-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. That game was also tied at halftime. Napoli decided the game in the second half and secured the three points.
The pattern in both encounters is striking: both games were high-scoring with at least four goals in total, tied at halftime, and both teams scored in each duel but also conceded at least one goal. It remains to be seen whether this pattern of a decisive second half, lots of goals, and both teams scoring will continue in the next encounter.
