Can Vanoli’s revival expose an injury-hit Napoli? Fiorentina vs Napoli prediction - 20.09.2026
Fiorentina and Napoli will meet at the Artemio Franchi on Sunday, September 20, in the fifth round of the 2026/27 Serie A season. Kick-off is scheduled for 12:30 CEST. The Viola have three points after four league games, while Napoli have collected six, but both teams arrive with renewed confidence after winning their latest matches.
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Fiorentina: Vanoli has quickly changed the mood
Fiorentina’s start to the season was disastrous. Fabio Grosso was dismissed after three consecutive Serie A defeats against Roma, Frosinone and Torino, during which the Viola scored only once and conceded nine goals. Paolo Vanoli returned to the club on September 7 and immediately produced a response.
His first league game back ended in a 4-2 victory away to Venezia. Franco Mastantuono was the star with a hat-trick, while Mateo Pellegrino added another goal. Four days later, Fiorentina defeated Pisa 3-0 in the Coppa Italia despite Vanoli changing eight starters, with Pellegrino, Wilfried Gnonto and Pedro Gonçalves finding the net. Two successive victories and seven goals have completely changed the atmosphere around the team.
There are still obvious defensive concerns. Fiorentina have conceded 11 goals in their opening four Serie A matches and are yet to keep a league clean sheet. Mastantuono, however, is already on three league goals, making him the team's main attacking threat ahead of Napoli's visit.
Napoli: a much-needed victory, but the injury list remains a problem
Napoli also needed a reaction last weekend. Massimiliano Allegri's side had lost three consecutive matches across all competitions against Como, Inter and Arsenal before beating Bologna 1-0. Stanislav Lobotka scored the winner, while Napoli controlled much of the second half and finally stopped their losing run.
The visitors have six points from four Serie A matches, with six goals scored and five conceded. Rasmus Højlund has already scored twice in the league, while Kevin De Bruyne, Matteo Politano and Noa Lang give Allegri several ways to create chances around the striker.
Personnel remains the bigger concern. Scott McTominay, Alex Meret and Alisson Santos are expected to miss the trip, while Alessandro Buongiorno, Luca Marianucci and Giovane also remain unavailable in the latest squad forecasts. Frank Anguissa is another major doubt: Napoli's official training update on September 15 confirmed that the midfielder was still working individually on the pitch.
Probable lineups
- Fiorentina: De Gea — Alex Jimenez, Dragusin, Ranieri, Viery — Ndour, Fagioli, Atta — Mastantuono, Beto, Pedro Gonçalves.
- Napoli: Milinkovic-Savic — Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Rafa Marin, Spinazzola — Gilmour, Lobotka, De Bruyne — Politano, Højlund, Vergara.
The final attacking choices remain open for both coaches, with Njie and Pellegrino pushing for a Fiorentina start, while Lang and Favasuli are alternatives for Napoli. There are no suspensions currently listed for either side.
Match facts and head-to-head record
Recent meetings strongly favor Napoli: the Partenopei have won four of the last five matches against Fiorentina, with the other ending in a draw. More importantly for this prediction, all five produced at least three goals, both teams scored in four of them, and Napoli found the net in every one. Fiorentina have a 5-11 goal difference after four league rounds this season, compared with Napoli’s 6-5.
Fiorentina’s revival should make this more open: prediction for Fiorentina vs Napoli
Vanoli has given Fiorentina the immediate attacking lift they desperately needed. Seven goals in two matches, Mastantuono’s form and the increased competition in attack suggest the Viola are far more dangerous than they were during the opening three rounds. At the same time, one strong cup performance cannot erase their defensive problems: they have conceded in every Serie A game this season.
Napoli are dealing with significant absences, especially in midfield, but Allegri still has enough quality in the final third to punish a Fiorentina defense that has already conceded 11 league goals. Napoli have also scored in every Serie A match this season, while the recent head-to-head record points towards another game in which both attacks get opportunities.
Rather than choosing a winner in a match between two sides still searching for consistency, the goals market looks more convincing. Fiorentina’s attacking improvement and defensive vulnerability combine well with Napoli’s quality up front and their own early-season imperfections.
Prediction: Both teams to score — Yes.
