Key Facts
- Napoli travels without Kevin De Bruyne (eye injury), Romelu Lukaku (muscle injury), and the suspended Matteo Politano – three key offensive players are missing.
- Pisa has not won in five league games and has already been relegated; additionally, the suspended Bozhinov and Loyola, as well as the injured Coppola, Denoon, and Stengs, are out – the defense is severely weakened.
- Napoli’s form has been inconsistent: Draws at Parma and Como, as well as losses to Lazio and Bologna, show a lack of consistency despite the 4-0 win over Cremonese.
- The only recent head-to-head match (3-2 for Napoli, Sept. 2025) suggests that goals are possible on both sides, though the data set is too small to indicate a reliable trend.
- Betting on over 2.5 goals seems plausible due to Pisa’s chronic defensive problems, while “Both Teams to Score” appears less convincing given the limited offensive firepower of both teams.
- A scoreless first half is realistic: Napoli has often started cautiously lately and lacks punch due to injuries; major chances are more likely to come in the second half.
Following the unfortunate home loss to Bologna and the absences of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and the suspended Matteo Politano, Napoli travels to Pisa. These personnel issues further increase the pressure in the race for Champions League spots. While Pisa has home-field advantage, they have already been relegated and are winless in their last five league games; the hosts’ defensive instability is clearly evident. Despite the absences, Napoli has enough offensive quality to create chances, while Pisa can be dangerous on set pieces or counterattacks.
- Venue: Arena Garibaldi – Stadio Romeo Anconetani, Pisa
- Date and time: May 17, 2026, 12:00 PM
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 37)
On the betting market, Napoli is considered the clear favorite, which is understandable given Pisa’s slump in form. However, bets on the pace of the game are more interesting than simply picking a winner. A scoreless first half seems plausible, as Napoli has often started games slowly lately and is missing key offensive players. At the same time, Pisa’s defensive weaknesses and previous encounters suggest over 2.5 goals.
Pisa Form & Record Check
Pisa’s 0-3 loss at Cremonese was painful not only because of the result but also due to disciplinary issues: Rosen Bozhinov received two yellow cards within 23 minutes and was sent off, while Felipe Loyola was also sent off with a red card. Both are suspended for the upcoming match, which further exacerbates the already fragile defensive situation surrounding Francesco Coppola and Daniel Denoon. Pisa has lost each of its last five league matches, including home defeats against Lecce and Genoa (both 1-2) as well as away losses at Parma and AS Roma. The pattern is clear: Goals are conceded regularly, especially after halftime, and without Calvin Stengs, who often created links in midfield, the organization will suffer even more.
Pisa is likely to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, presumably with Adrian Semper in goal along with Simone Canestrelli (5), Antonio Caracciolo (4), and Arturo Calabresi (33) in the back three. Rosen Bozhinov and Felipe Loyola are suspended; therefore, Idrissa Touré (15) and Mehdi Léris (7) will likely take the wing positions, while Marius Marin (6) anchors the center. Francesco Coppola, Daniel Denoon, and Calvin Stengs are also likely to be out. Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (14) could partner Marius Marin in the center, while Matteo Tramoni (10) and İsak Vural (21) support Stefano Moreo (32) as a target man up front.
Napoli Form & Record Check
The 2-3 loss to Bologna has noticeably dampened the mood in Naples. Napoli had come back from a two-goal deficit—Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Alisson Santos scored, Rasmus Højlund shone as the assist provider—but then conceded a late goal, losing control of a match that would have been crucial in the battle for Champions League spots. This late setback makes the trip to Pisa more delicate than the standings might suggest. Recent league form has been inconsistent: The 4-0 win over Cremonese showed the team’s potential, but draws at Parma and Como, as well as losses to Lazio and Bologna, point to a squad that doesn’t always consistently control matches. Eljif Elmas is expected to start, while De Bruyne, Lukaku, and Politano are out.
Napoli are also likely to start in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Vanja Milinković-Savić (32) in goal and Giovanni Di Lorenzo (22), Amir Rrahmani (13), and Alessandro Buongiorno (4) forming the back three. Stanislav Lobotka (68) and Scott McTominay (8) are expected to form the central midfield. Due to the absences of Kevin De Bruyne (eye injury), Romelu Lukaku (muscle issues), and the suspended Matteo Politano, Conte could call up Eljif Elmas (20) to the starting lineup, deploy Rasmus Højlund (19) as the lone striker, and bring in Miguel Gutiérrez (3) and Leonardo Spinazzola (37) to provide width on the wings.
Pisa – Napoli Head-to-Head & Stats
The only recent meeting took place in September 2025, when Napoli defeated Pisa 3-2 at home in Serie A. Even then, the favorites’ defense wasn’t flawless; Pisa scored twice and stayed in the game for a long time, but Napoli ultimately maintained enough control to secure the points. This result supports the assumption that the matchup can produce goals (over 2.5 or even 3.5 goals). Since the data set includes only one match, no reliable trend can be derived from it, but it underscores that Pisa’s best chance lies in quick, incisive attacks and disrupting the flow of the game, rather than maintaining sustained control of the match.
