Serie A Preview: Napoli, Fiorentina out to avenge European exits

Napoli have to recover from their UEFA Europa League exit in quick time, as they host relegated Cesena in a crucial Serie A fixture on Monday.

Rafa Benitez's men exited the semi-finals at the hands of Ukrainian outfit Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, losing the two-leg tie 2-1 on Thursday.

But still in the hunt for the UEFA Champions League next season, the Naples outfit can produce a response at home to second-bottom Cesena at the Stadio San Paolo as they look to put pressure on Roma and Lazio.

Roma (64 points) and Lazio (63) occupy the remaining Champions League spots behind Scudetto winners Juventus (80), but Napoli (60) are well and truly alive for higher European honours next season.

Roma host Udinese on Sunday, after Lazio are on the road at Sampdoria on Saturday.

Cagliari are on the verge of being dumped to Serie B, ahead of their hosting of Palermo on Sunday.

Playing at the same time are Atalanta, who have an eight-point buffer on Cagliari - and if the former defeats Genoa at home, the Sardinians will drop to the second division.

There is a virtual four-way fight for the remaining two UEFA Europa League spots, assuming Napoli have one sealed already.

Fiorentina (fifth, 55 points), Sampdoria (sixth, 54), Genoa (seventh, 53) and Inter (eighth, 52) are all in the race, and are all last-start winners.

Vincenzo Montella's Fiorentina, like Napoli, must respond to a poor loss in the Europa League semis, when they succumbed to Sevilla 5-0 on aggregate, in their clash with bottom side Parma on Monday.

Inter will be hoping Juventus are still distracted from booking a spot in the Champions League final, when they do battle at San Siro to open the weekend's action on Saturday.

Other fixtures at the weekend see Sassuolo host Milan, while Chievo will look to extend a six-game unbeaten streak at Torino, and Empoli and Hellas Verona (both 41 points) go head-to-head.

Latest in
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is expected to sanction plenty of sales this summer
When does the summer transfer window open?
Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta could both do with improving their respective attacks this summer
Arsenal to make bold move for Liverpool star with uncertain Anfield future: report
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Phil Foden of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
'When I see Phil Foden play, he just seems like a shy lad - that holds him back a little bit. He has been tried in every position, but he just hasn’t performed': Ex-England star makes bold claim about Manchester City man
Arsenal's William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes embrace each other in celebration at full-time of the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 25 January, 2025
Arsenal face losing Gabriel AND William Saliba, as new fears arise: report
Kevin De Bruyne of Man City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Ipswich Town FC at Etihad Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Kevin De Bruyne touted for shock move to South American giants: report
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 18: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, celebrates after the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma at BayArena on May 18, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho planning Premier League raid for superstar: report
Latest in News
Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta could both do with improving their respective attacks this summer
Arsenal to make bold move for Liverpool star with uncertain Anfield future: report
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Phil Foden of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
'When I see Phil Foden play, he just seems like a shy lad - that holds him back a little bit. He has been tried in every position, but he just hasn’t performed': Ex-England star makes bold claim about Manchester City man
Arsenal's William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes embrace each other in celebration at full-time of the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 25 January, 2025
Arsenal face losing Gabriel AND William Saliba, as new fears arise: report
Kevin De Bruyne of Man City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Ipswich Town FC at Etihad Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Kevin De Bruyne touted for shock move to South American giants: report
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 18: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, celebrates after the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma at BayArena on May 18, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho planning Premier League raid for superstar: report
Jack Grealish
Manchester City report: Jack Grealish poised for European switch, with price revealed