Napoli v Cagliari: Conte eyes rotation, team wary before Juventus | OneFootball

After securing a crucial victory in the league’s big match—a win that cemented their place at the top of the table alongside Milan—Napoli has no time to rest on their laurels. The schedule is relentless and immediately puts the Azzurri up against their first obstacle in the Coppa Italia, a competition in which the Partenopei make their debut directly in the round of 16, thanks to their seeded status. The stage is set at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, a home advantage that is hoped will help their journey in the national cup.

Napoli, Cup Night at the Maradona: One-off Match Against a Cagliari Seeking an Upset

The opponent is Cagliari, a Sardinian side that has already had to give way in the league at Fuorigrotta, thanks to a decisive goal by Anguissa in the final moments of the second matchday. Despite this, the Rossoblù, coached by Fabio Pisacane, come into this clash with high spirits after overcoming two tough rounds: first eliminating Entella on penalties, then handing a clear 4-1 defeat to Frosinone in the round of 32. For the island club, reaching the quarter-finals would be a historic achievement not seen in over two decades; the last time was in the 2004-05 edition, when their run ended in the semi-finals.

Looking ahead to future commitments, especially the direct clash against Juventus scheduled for Sunday evening, coach Antonio Conte is expected to make significant changes. A true revolution is anticipated in the starting eleven compared to the team that won at the Olimpico. In goal, Meret’s injury cements the presence of Milinkovic-Savic. The defense will certainly feature Juan Jesus and Beukema, joined by either Buongiorno or Rrahmani, given Marianucci’s suspension. The midfield will be the engine of the team, with Lobotka and Elmas in the center, flanked by Mazzocchi on the right wing and the returning Spinazzola on the left. Up front, Politano and Elmas will operate on the flanks, supporting center-forward Lucca, with the young Ambrosino ready to come on and Vergara available to lend a hand during the match.

Andrea Alati

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.