As the Serie A season hurtles towards its climax, Pisa's survival hopes hang by a thread when they welcome Napoli to the Arena Garibaldi on May 17. They're stuck in 20th, scraping together just 18 points from 36 games, and this relegation scrap won't get any easier against a side gunning for glory.
That recent 3-0 thumping of Cremonese shows Pisa can still pull off a surprise, but Napoli's 2-3 slip-up against Bologna hints at vulnerabilities, even for a team sitting pretty in second with 70 points. It's a clash of extremes, and you can't help but feel Pisa might be out of their depth here.
Only one head-to-head meeting this season favors Napoli with a win, so they've got the upper hand already. Injuries are piling up for both squads, though, which could shake things up. Pisa will miss Matteo Tramoni after his muscular issues, along with Calvin Stengs, Francesco Coppola, and Daniel Denoon, who's nursing an ankle problem until late June. Suspensions for Rosen Bozhinov and Felipe Loyola don't help either. Over at Napoli, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne are sidelined with muscular and eye injuries, respectively, while Matteo Politano serves a ban and David Neres deals with his own setback.
Lineups might tell the story. Pisa lines up in a 3-5-2 with Semper in goal and Stefano Moreo leading the charge—his six goals make him the one to watch, even if the team's struggles weigh him down. Napoli opts for a 3-4-3, boasting Rasmus Højlund up front with 14 goals already and Matteo Politano dishing out six assists when he's fit. That attacking flair could tear through Pisa's defense.
With Round 37 upon us, Pisa's position at the bottom screams desperation, while Napoli chase a top finish that keeps their title dreams alive. Expect the visitors to dominate possession and create chances, given their points tally and form.
They should edge this one comfortably, but Pisa might sneak a goal if Moreo finds space. Still, Napoli's quality shines through.
And now for the picks. Napoli look solid favorites based on the standings and their head-to-head edge.
Recommended Bets
Bet 1 @1.40 — Napoli to win, considering their strong second-place standing and recent dominance over Pisa.
Bet 2 @2.10 — Over 2.5 goals, as Napoli's attack with Højlund could exploit Pisa's leaky defense after that 3-0 win.
Bet 3 @3.50 — Rasmus Højlund to score anytime, given his 14 goals this season and Pisa's struggles to keep clean sheets.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
