Coppa Italia Match Overshadowed by Contes 8

Napoli faces Cagliari tonight in a Coppa Italia Round of 16 showdown at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Antonio Conte looks to navigate his squad through the tournament with a smooth passage to the quarterfinals despite managing a lengthy injury list. The winner advances to face either Fiorentina or Como.

🔥 Quick Facts

• Kickoff: December 3, 2025 at 18:00 CET at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
• Competition: Coppa Italia Round of 16 – Winner advances to quarterfinals
• Recent Form: Napoli sits second in Serie A (9 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses); Cagliari 15th (2 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses)
• Turnover Strategy: Conte making 8 changes from the Roma game, featuring Ambrosino, Lucca, and Vergara in the lineup

Conte’s Rotation Plan Takes Center Stage

Manager Antonio Conte faces a critical balancing act tonight. With Napoli preparing for Juventus in their next Serie A fixture and dealing with multiple injuries including Gilmour, Meret, Anguissa, and Gutiérrez, the Italian tactician deploys significant rotation.

Eight changes from the squad that defeated Roma 1-0 suggest Conte prioritizes squad depth development. Young talents like Ambrosino and Vergara get vital tournament experience alongside Lucca in a bold 3-4-3 formation.

Conte’s philosophy emphasizes squad involvement despite injury frustration. He stated that all players must be ready to contribute when opportunities arise in the campaign.

Cagliari Seeks Historic Quarterfinal Breakthrough

For Cagliari, this represents a rare opportunity to advance. The Sardinian club hasn’t reached the quarterfinals in 21 years—their last quarterfinal appearance came in 2004-05.

Manager Fabio Pisacane arrives with tactical intent, employing a 4-2-3-1 formation featuring Pavoletti as the focal point up front. Support comes from Kilicsoy, Gaetano, and Luvumbo in attacking positions.

Recent momentum favors Napoli—they eased past Roma with a clinical 1-0 victory, while Cagliani struggled in Serie A with just 11 points from 13 matches.

Factor	Napoli	Cagliari
League Position	2nd (28 points)	15th (11 points)
Recent Form	Strong (W vs Roma)	Struggling (2W-5D-6L)
Formation	3-4-3 (experimental)	4-2-3-1 (traditional)
Key Outlet	Politano, Ambrosino	Pavoletti, Luvumbo
Historical H2H	42 wins all-time	14 wins all-time

Cagliari’s Underdog Push Against Tournament Favorites

Cagliari enters as significant underdogs but possess tournament experience after eliminating Frosinone 4-1 in the previous round. They beat Entella on penalties in their opening tie.

The Sardinian side needs consistency at the back, led by goalkeeper Caprile and defenders Di Pardo, Luperto, and Rodriguez. Midfield runners Deiola and Adopo provide defensive stability against Napoli’s attacking threats.

Despite league struggles, cup competitions often provide escape routes for teams fighting relegation battles. Pisacane will target quick transitions to exploit any defensive vulnerabilities.

Quarterfinal Destiny: Who Awaits the Winner?

The winner faces either Fiorentina or Como in the quarterfinals. Napoli‘s path depends on tonight’s result against Cagliari, but advancing would mark significant progress in tournament defense.

For Conte, tonight represents a chance to blood youth talent while protecting critical squad players ahead of the Juventus clash. Success could inject confidence heading into the winter transfer window.

The Maradona Stadium hosts this evening’s encounter with Italia 1 providing live broadcast coverage starting at 18:00. Both clubs recognize the tournament’s importance in their respective seasons.

Can Antonio Conte’s Rotated Squad Overcome Cagliari and Advance Tonight?

The ultimate question facing Napoli remains whether youth integration alongside injured absences allows them to maintain their tournament momentum against a hungry underdogs side. Cagliari seeks their first quarterfinal appearance in two decades, making this far more than just another cup tie.

“In Napoli we need to involve everyone. We have quality even with changes. The Coppa Italia offers chances for players to show what they can do.”

— Antonio Conte, Napoli Manager