The Italian Super Cup final between Napoli and Bologna will take place on December 22 at Mrsol Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Napoli v Bologna: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Napoli
In the semi-final, Antonio Conte's side beat Milan 2-0. That marked only Napoli's second win in their last six matches in the Italian Super Cup. Additionally, the team kept a clean sheet for just the second time in their previous seven meetings in Italian competitions. As a result, the Neapolitans will appear in their second Super Cup final in three seasons, with their last triumph in this tournament coming in 2014.
- The team have not lost in 90 minutes in 8 of their last 10 matches across Serie A, the Cup and the Supercoppa (6 wins, 2 draws).
- No more than two goals were scored in 90 minutes in 7 of the club's previous 9 meetings in Italian competitions.
- Napoli conceded in regular time in 5 of their last 7 matches in the league, national cup and Supercoppa.
Predicted Napoli lineup (3-4-3)*
Vanja Milinković-Savić – Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Juan Jesus – Leonardo Spinazzola, Elif Elmaz, Scott McTominay, Stanislav Lobotka – David Neres, Rasmus Højlund, Matteo Politano.
Goalkeeper Alex Meret and midfielders André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour and Kevin De Bruyne will miss out through injury. Striker Romelu Lukaku is included in the squad for the tournament but is not ready to start.
Bologna
The club are taking part in their first Italian Super Cup and reached the final after beating Inter on penalties (1-1, 3-2 on pens). Nevertheless, Bologna have failed to win in 90 minutes in 4 of their last 5 matches in Italian competitions (2 draws, 2 losses). Over that stretch the side have not kept a clean sheet, yet in 7 of their previous 8 matches across Serie A, the Cup and the Supercoppa Bologna managed to score in regular time.
- The team have not lost in 90 minutes in 12 of their last 14 matches in the league, national cup and Supercoppa (7 wins, 5 draws).
- The club conceded no more than one goal in 90 minutes in 8 of their previous 9 meetings in Italian competitions.
- Bologna scored in regular time in 7 of their last 8 matches across Serie A, the Cup and the Supercoppa.
Predicted Bologna lineup (4-5-1)*
Federico Ravaglia – Juan Miranda, Torbjørn Heggem, John Lucumí, Emil Holm – Federico Bernardeschi, Nicola Moro, Jens Odgaard, Tommaso Pobega, Riccardo Orsolini – Santiago Castro.
Defender Nicolò Casale and midfielder Remo Freuler will miss the game through injury.
Napoli v Bologna: Match Prediction
Both sides produced strong attacking displays in their semi-finals and, in my view, are likely to provide goals in the final. Napoli have failed to score in just three of their last 18 matches in Italian competitions, and on nine occasions in that period they have netted at least twice. Bologna have also been productive: in their last 13 matches in Italian competitions they failed to score in regular time only twice, and in nine of those games they scored two or more goals. Defensively, both clubs have shown vulnerabilities, with Bologna conceding in five of their previous matches across the league, cup and Supercoppa.
I expect goals at both ends, so my prediction: Both teams to score – Yes
* For each team the starting lineup reflects their previous match in this tournament.
