Preseason friendlies: Napoli vs. Celta Vigo, probable lineups

Massimiliano Allegri’s Napoli will face Celta Vigo at 9 p.m. in their fourth preseason friendly in Castel di Sangro. After losing their opener against Arezzo, the Azzurri went on to defeat Carrarese and Osasuna; now, the Tuscan coach is expecting another step up in competition with two weeks to go before the start of the Serie A season.

Allegri is sticking with the 4-3-3 formation, with Hojlund as the center forward flanked by Politano and Alisson Santos. In midfield, Lobotka calls the shots, with Anguissa and Vergara as the two central midfielders. Di Lorenzo and Olivera are on the wings, while Rafa Marin and Rrhamani will be the two center backs in front of Metet.

Spagnoli will start with Jugtla as the lone striker, supported by Iago Aspas and Williot. The two wingers are Javi Rueda and Carriera, with Roman and Febas as the central midfield duo.

Napoli vs. Celta Vigo: Probable Lineups
Napoli (4-3-3): Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Rafa Marin, Olivera, Anguissa, Lobotka, Vergara, Politano, Hojlund, Alisson Santos. Coach: Allegri
Celta Vigo (3-4-2-1): Radu; Javi Rodriguez, Yoel Lago, M. Alonso; Javi Rueda, Roman, Febas, Carreira; Iago Aspas, Williot; Jutgla. Head Coach: Giraldez

In their most recent friendly against Osasuna, also played at the Teofilo Patini last Wednesday, Napoli had already shown encouraging signs. Matteo Politano broke the deadlock with a splendid left-footed volley, before Lorenzo Lucca sealed the 2-1 victory in the second half, nullifying the penalty converted by Budimir for the Spanish side. It’s a scenario Allegri will be looking to replicate today, with even greater consistency and intensity in their play.

Today’s match against Celta Vigo holds special significance for Stanislav Lobotka, who played for the Galician side from 2017 to 2020 before joining Napoli. The Slovakian, a mainstay in Napoli’s midfield, now finds himself facing the team that launched his career in Spanish soccer and represents an important chapter in his career. This matchup adds an extra layer of intrigue to a game that is already rich in technical interest.