Preview: Napoli vs. Brest: lineups, team news, and predictions
When Napoli takes on Brest on Wednesday at Stadio Teofilo Patini, they’ll be seeking to make it four wins in a row. The Partenopei have won all three of their preseason friendly since Antonio Conte took over, and Les Pirates are looking to avoid losing back-to-back games.
Last season, Napoli’s Serie A campaign was disappointing as they finished a distant ninth and were not eligible to play in Europe. During a stormy year, the team had three managers; none were able to make a major impact, and they were all finally fired. The team has had a strong preseason debut and is targeting a comeback to the title fight under Conte’s leadership. Napoli supporters are feeling upbeat after their teams’ easy wins over Anaune Val di Non (4-0), Mantova (3-0), and Egnatia Rrogozhine (4-0). But Brest will be a tougher test than the opposition his team has encountered thus far, and Conte will be interested to see how his team performs against better opposition. Victor Osimhen, the club’s best striker, is expected to leave soon.
Brest had an incredible season in 2023–24, finishing in third place and earning a spot in the Champions League for the first time ever. Nevertheless, their first three preseason games have yielded one victory, one tie, and one loss, indicating a mixed bag of preparedness. Their preseason campaign began with a 2-0 victory over Avranches and ended with a 1-1 tie with Lorient and a 1-0 loss to Stade Laval in their most recent match. Before their league debut on August 18 against Marseille, they have three more friendlies to play. Manager Eric Roy will be trying to fine-tune his team for the challenges that lie ahead.
