The hosts come into the game just two points clear of the relegation zone

Lecce will take on Napoli on Saturday, 3 May, in a huge match at both ends of the Serie A table.

The hosts come into the game just two points clear of the relegation zone, and if one of Empoli or Venezia can win this weekend, then a defeat to Napoli would see them drop into the bottom three.

For Napoli, the task is now abundantly clear – pick up ten points from their remaining four league matches and they will win the title. A defeat here simply isn’t an option.

Napoli have a good recent record in this fixture and are unbeaten in their last five matches against Lecce (three wins and two draws). As part of that run, Napoli defeated Lecce 1-0 in the reverse fixture in Naples earlier this season. Lecces’ last victory over Napoli came in February 2020 when they defeated Gli Azzurri 3-2.

For many people in Italy, Napoli are far from the best team in Serie A, but what they do have is a manager in Antonio Conte who knows exactly how to get the maximum from his squad and a group of players who will die for the shirt.

The complete embodiment of this Napoli side is Scott McTominay, who only signed for the club last summer. The Scottish midfielder has had a dream debut season in Naples and he has already proven to be a man for the big occasion with a string of important goals as Napoli have taken control of the title race in Italy.

Another former Man Utd man who is having a good season for Napoli is Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian forward, like so many in this Napoli squad, had a point to prove at the beginning of the season, and that chip on his shoulder has served him well this season. He has 12 goals and 10 assists to his name in Serie A so far.

Napoli will be without Alessandro Buongiorno once again this weekend after the defender was rushed back too early last weekend. The former Torino man joins Juan Jesus and David Neres in the treatment room. Lecce will welcome back Nikola Krstovic and Medon Berisha from suspension for this one.

Lecce: Falcone – Guilbert, Baschirotto, Gaspar, Gallo – Ramadani, Coulibaly – Pierotti, Helgason, Karlsson – Krstovic.

Napoli: Meret– Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Marin, Olivera – Lobotka, Anguissa – Politano, McTominay, Spinazzola – Lukaku.