Massimiliano Allegri has urged Napoli to keep their composure as they target a first home win of the season against Bologna in Serie A.
Allegri is yet to taste victory at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, having lost to Como in his first outing on home soil in Serie A, before falling to a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League in midweek.
That marked a third straight loss for Napoli in all competitions, having also thrown away a 2-0 lead against Inter in a 3-2 defeat last time out in the league, at San Siro.
But the Partenopei have not registered three consecutive defeats in Serie A since January 2020 under Gennaro Gattuso, and it is a record Allegri is desperate to avoid matching.
He insisted Napoli cannot let outside noise get to them, though, if they want to get back to winning ways and close the gap to the teams at the top.
“It is an opportunity for us to start winning at home,” Allegri said.
“We haven’t done that yet, and there isn’t much to talk about; we know the situation we are in. We have lost three consecutive matches, so there isn’t much to say and only things to do.
“We have enough players to approach the match in the best possible way. We are the only ones who can turn this trend around; no one will give us anything, and we have to deal with it calmly.
“Regardless of the technical performance we need to deliver, the result is decisive, and everyone will be needed.”
As for Bologna, they are one of five teams still without a victory in Serie A this season (D1 L2), having collected just one point so far.
They have only netted twice, but they have not scored fewer than three goals in their first four matches of a campaign since 2018-19 (0 on that occasion).
Final touches ahead of Bologna clash https://t.co/gXSFyD42kF
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) September 12, 2026
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Napoli – Rasmus Hojlund
Hojlund has scored in four of his last five Serie A appearances, including his two most recent (against Como and Inter).
He could score in at least three consecutive league games for the third time across Europe’s big five leagues, having previously done so in January 2023 with Atalanta (three) and between December 2023 and February 2024 with Manchester United (six).
Bologna – Artem Dovbyk
Dovbyk, who scored against Sassuolo last time out, has not found the net in consecutive Serie A games since March 2025.
The Ukrainian forward has scored four of his 16 Serie A goals in September (25%), which is his best return in a single month (also four in January).
MATCH PREDICTION: NAPOLI WIN
Napoli have won nine of their last 12 home Serie A games against Bologna (L3); however, the Rossoblu have won two of the last three such matches.
Bologna have won their last two Serie A matches against Napoli, having registered just one victory in the previous 11 (D4 L6).
The last time Bologna recorded more consecutive wins against the Azzurri in the top flight was between 1935 and 1937, five on that occasion with Arpad Weisz as manager.
Napoli have failed to score in three of their last six Serie A games against Bologna, after an uninterrupted run of 20 meetings with a goal against them (scored 55 goals, 2.75 average per match).
Despite losing their last away game against Atalanta, Bologna have won six of their last eight Serie A away matches (L2); since February, only Como (seven) have won more, while Inter and AC Milan have also won six.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Napoli – 51.6%
Draw – 25.6%
Bologna – 22.8%
