Serie A

Napoli vs. Lecce: vital points at stake

Napoli are aiming to secure third spot, while Lecce hope to build on their victory against Cremonese.

Crucial points are on the line at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in the showdown between Napoli and Lecce. Antonio Conte’s side are coming off the back of wins against Verona and Torino, and are now looking for their third straight win to have a firm hold on third place and, in turn, a Champions League spot. On the other hand, Lecce spurred on by last week’s crucial win over Cremonese, which allowed them to escape the relegation zone, are on the hunt for more points as they look to take advantage of Monday night’s direct clash between Cremonese and Fiorentina.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The official precedents between the two teams in Naples are 19: record of 11 Azzurri victories (latest 1-0, Serie A 2025/26), 6 draws (latest 0-0, Serie A 2023/24) and 2 Salentini victories (latest 2-3, Serie A 2019/20).

Lecce without goals in Naples for 239': last goal signed by Colombo at 31' of Napoli-Lecce 1-1 on 31 August 2022.

DID YOU KNOW?

Napoli coming off 10 consecutive official matches without a clean sheet, with a total of 17 goals conceded. Last clean sheet in Napoli-Sassuolo 1-0 on 17 January 2026 in Serie A.

Napoli team of Serie A 2025/26 that has conceded most penalties to opponents (8).

Napoli team of Serie A 2025/26 that sends most players to score (18), like Juventus.

Napoli team of Serie A 2025/26 that scores most goals in the first 15' of the match (9), like Como and Inter.

Lecce team of Serie A 2025/26 that concedes most goals from opponent substitute players (9), like Verona.

Lecce team of Serie A 2025/26 that scores fewest goals (20), like Pisa and Parma.

COACHES and PLAYERS

Between Antonio Conte and Eusebio Di Francesco 12th official encounter: 7 victories to 1 for the Napoli coach, with 3 draws to complete the record.

Antonio Conte ex of the matchday: the Napoli coach was born in Lecce and grew up footballistically in the Salentini club – in which he played from July 1985 to November 1991, winning a promotion to Serie A at the end of the 1987/88 season and suffering 2 relegations to Serie B at the conclusion of the 1985/86 and 1990/91 championships.

The only Di Francesco victory over Conte occurred in Champions League: October 2016, Roma-Chelsea 3-0, brace by El Shaarawy and goal by Perotti.

The last bench of Eusebio Di Francesco in the previous experience at Lecce was precisely against Napoli (Napoli-Lecce 4-2, 3/12/2011).

Wladimiro Falcone is the goalkeeper with the most saves from shots inside the box in Serie A 2025/26 (68).

Only Idrissa Touré (124) has won more aerial duels than Tiago Gabriel (120) in Serie A 2025/26.

Only Manuel Locatelli (60) and Morten Frendrup (56) have won more tackles than Santiago Pierotti (53) in Serie A 2025/26.

Ylber Ramadani leads Serie A 2025/26 for high (attacking) ball recoveries (75).

Eljif Elmas scored against Torino: it was the Napoli midfielder’s first league goal of the season. He had not scored in Serie A since Torino–Verona on 6 April 2025.

Alisson Santos scored against Torino: it was the Brazilian forward’s second league goal of the season. His first came against Roma on 15 February 2026.

Santiago Pierotti scored against Cremonese: it was the Argentine forward’s first league goal of the season. He had not scored in Serie A since Parma–Lecce 1–3 on 31 January 2025, when he scored a brace.

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: none

Cautioned: Tiago Gabriel (Lecce)

REFEREE

ABISSO (IMPERIALE – CECCON) IV: GALIPO’, VAR: NASCA, AVAR: FABBRI

UPCOMING MATCHES

Cagliari-Napoli (Friday March 20th, 18.30 CET)

Roma-Lecce (Sunday March 22th, 18.00 CET)

(Photo Getty Images)