Napoli vs Como Predicted Lineups: Team News and Expected Starting XI

Napoli welcome Como to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples for a Serie A clash in the early stages of the 2026 season. The hosts arrive in strong shape, sitting 3rd in the table with 3 points after an opening-day win, scoring 2 goals and conceding none. Como, back in the top flight and still finding their feet, are 10th with 1 point from their first outing, having drawn 1-1 away from home.

Recent league form favours Napoli, whose record reads 1 win from 1 (form string: W), while Como opened with a draw (form string: D). Head-to-head history between these sides has been competitive in recent years, but Napoli’s current status as a Champions League-chasing side versus Como’s mid-table aspirations gives this fixture clear weight for both teams. This preview focuses on predicted lineups and the expected starting lineup for each side, rather than official team sheets, to assess how the tactical battle may unfold.

With Napoli tipped as slight favourites by both underlying stats and betting markets, and Como showing resilience but less attacking punch so far, the projected elevens and tactical setups will be decisive. The predicted lineups below are built from available squad lists, early-season form, and key player contributions such as goals and assists.

Napoli Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Napoli have started their 2026 Serie A campaign strongly, winning their only match so far 2-0 away from home, and carrying a clean sheet into this second-round fixture. Their league record (played 1, won 1, goal difference +2) underlines a balanced start: solid defensively and efficient in front of goal, with both strikes coming late in the game. The form indicator sits at W, reflecting a confident group returning to a stadium where expectations are always high.

There are no listed injuries or suspensions affecting the squad, so the coach should have a full complement of players to choose from. That allows flexibility in selecting an expected starting lineup that blends defensive stability with creative quality in midfield and pace up front. Given their early-season numbers and the presence of high-impact players like K. De Bruyne and A. Vergara, Napoli are likely to field an attacking-minded shape, using the ball aggressively but still protecting a back line that has yet to concede this season.

Napoli Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Meret
DF: G. Di Lorenzo, A. Buongiorno, Amir Rrahmani, M. Olivera
MF: S. Lobotka, S. McTominay, K. De Bruyne, A. Zambo Anguissa
FW: N. Lang, M. Politano

This predicted lineup leans heavily on Napoli’s deep pool of midfield talent and their standout early contributors. K. De Bruyne has already produced 1 goal and 1 assist in just 23 minutes of league action, with 24 completed passes, 2 key passes and a rating of 8. His ability to dictate tempo and create high-value chances makes him central to Napoli’s expected game plan, either as an advanced playmaker or a roaming midfielder arriving late in the box.

Alongside him, A. Vergara – another early-season standout with 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 tackles and 6 duels won – is a strong candidate to feature heavily, whether from the start or as a high-impact option off the bench. In this projected XI, the balance is provided by S. Lobotka as the organiser in deeper zones and S. McTominay as a box-to-box presence, allowing De Bruyne and wide attackers to push higher. M. Politano, already prominent in disciplinary stats, brings directness and one‑v‑one threat from the flank, while N. Lang offers vertical runs and creativity from the opposite side. At the back, the combination of G. Di Lorenzo, A. Buongiorno, Amir Rrahmani and M. Olivera is built for a compact defensive block that can still support wide overloads in possession.

Como Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Como arrive in Naples on the back of a respectable start to the Serie A campaign. Their opening match ended in a 1-1 draw away from home, leaving them 10th in the table with 1 point, 1 goal scored and 1 conceded. The form string D reflects a side that has been competitive but not yet able to turn performances into wins. Defensively, they have been reasonably solid, while in attack they have relied heavily on a few key individuals.

As with Napoli, there are no officially listed injuries or suspensions impacting Como’s selection options, meaning the coach can choose from a full squad. That gives scope to repeat the attacking structure used so far, built around their standout forward T. Douvikas, who has already scored 1 goal this season. With lineups today expected to reflect their early-season tactical identity, Como should again set up with a solid defensive base and look to exploit transitions and set pieces at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Como Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: J. Butez
DF: Yan Couto, M. Kempf, A. Dossena, Álex Valle
MF: M. Caqueret, Luis Milla, M. Baturina, L. da Cunha
FW: Assane Diao, T. Douvikas

This projected Como starting lineup is constructed around the proven spine from their squad list and the early-season output of T. Douvikas. The Greek forward has played every minute so far (90 minutes), scoring 1 goal from 3 shots on target and carrying a rating of 6.6. His presence as the focal point in the final third is essential for Como’s attacking threat, especially away from home, where they will likely have fewer chances and must be clinical.

Behind him, a midfield unit featuring M. Caqueret and Luis Milla should provide control and ball progression, while M. Baturina and L. da Cunha offer creativity between the lines. Wide forward Assane Diao adds pace and direct running, complementing Douvikas’ penalty-box instincts. Defensively, the combination of Yan Couto and Álex Valle in the full-back roles, supported by the experienced pairing of M. Kempf and A. Dossena, aims to manage Napoli’s wide threats and protect goalkeeper J. Butez. Como’s predicted setup is likely to be compact without the ball, with quick transitions towards Diao and Douvikas when possession is regained.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With no confirmed injuries or suspensions for either side, selection headaches are more about tactical preference than enforced changes. That means both managers can field close to their strongest possible elevens, increasing the quality and intensity of this matchup. The absence of major absentees also makes the predicted lineups more stable and allows both teams to build continuity from their opening fixtures.

Napoli Absences:

No significant absences reported.

Como Absences:

No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

From a tactical standpoint, this game sets up as Napoli’s structured possession play against Como’s more reactive, counter-attacking approach. Napoli’s use of a previously employed attacking shape – they have lined up with an offensive system featuring three forwards in their only league game so far – suggests they will again seek to dominate territory and ball circulation. With creators like K. De Bruyne and potentially A. Vergara operating between the lines, and wide threats such as N. Lang and M. Politano, Napoli are well-equipped to stretch Como’s back line horizontally and vertically.

Como, by contrast, are likely to prioritise compactness, especially in central zones, using midfielders like M. Caqueret and Luis Milla to screen passing lanes into De Bruyne and to limit Napoli’s ability to combine around the box. The key matchup will be Napoli’s creative midfield against Como’s double pivot and central defenders. If Napoli can pull M. Kempf and A. Dossena out of position, space will open for late runs from midfield and cut-backs from the byline. On the other side, Como’s best route to goal is through quick transitions to T. Douvikas, supported by the pace of Assane Diao and the passing of M. Baturina. Napoli’s centre-backs Amir Rrahmani and A. Buongiorno will need to manage Douvikas’ movement, while full-backs G. Di Lorenzo and M. Olivera must be alert to wide counters.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Stats suggest a finely balanced contest in terms of raw probabilities: the prediction model gives Napoli a 45% chance of victory, the draw also at 45%, and Como at 10%. That aligns with a scenario where the hosts are favoured but where a stalemate is a strong possibility, especially given Como’s organised approach and recent history of tight encounters between the sides. Overall comparison indices slightly favour Napoli as well, with an overall comparison index of 57.5 versus 42.5 for Como, and a clear edge in defensive metrics.

Betting markets broadly agree that Napoli are marginal favourites rather than overwhelming ones. Home win odds range from 2.38 to 2.55, implying an approximate probability band of around 39–42%. Draw odds sit roughly between 2.88 and 3.31 (about 30–35% implied), while away win prices between 2.69 and 3.12 translate to roughly 32–37%. Combined with the model’s advice of “Napoli or draw and under 3.5 goals”, the expectation is for a relatively low-scoring match where Napoli’s superior individual quality, particularly in midfield, should be enough to avoid defeat and very possibly edge the game.

Predicted Outcome: Napoli 1–0 Como

How to Watch Napoli vs Como Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

Spain: Local Serie A rights holder / streaming platform
UK: Major sports broadcaster with Serie A coverage
USA / North America: Subscription-based soccer streaming service
South America: Regional sports network with Italian football rights
MENA: Pay-TV sports network and associated streaming app