Napoli wing-back Leonardo Spinazzola believes Antonio Conte's side are prepared for an arduous battle to retain their Scudetto and do not see falling short as an option.

The reigning Serie A champions sit third in the table after 17 matches, only two points behind leaders Inter and one back of AC Milan, who are second.

Conte's team have battled through an injury crisis in recent weeks, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Billy Gilmour among those unavailable, while Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa is representing Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.

But they have still registered back-to-back wins upon returning to league action after winning the Supercoppa Italiana before Christmas, beating Lazio 2-0 last time out.

Spinazzola, who got the opening goal in that game and was joined on the scoresheet by Amir Rrahmani, says Conte has instilled a warrior-like spirit in his squad.

"The season is still very long, and we know there will be difficulties, especially this month with a calendar that is frightening," he told reporters.

"We don't think we can go to the end and lose – we have to fight until the end.

"If anyone beats us, they are better than us, but we must fight until the end – this is what the coach has always transmitted to us.

"We have the Scudetto on our chest, and we must honour it until the very end."

Napoli will play seven more games before the end of January, including a mammoth showdown with their title rivals – and Conte's former club – Inter, on Sunday.

But before then, Napoli welcome Hellas Verona to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday, with Paolo Zanetti's side sitting 19th in the table, three adrift of safety. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Napoli – Matteo Politano 

Politano has 98 goal involvements in Serie A (53 goals, 45 assists), after registering a pair of assists against Lazio last time out. 

Since his debut in the competition in 2015-16, he could become just the seventh Italian to reach 100 goal involvements in the top flight, after Ciro Immobile, Domenico Berardi, Lorenzo Insigne, Andrea Belotti, Fabio Quagliarella and Antonio Candreva.

Hellas Verona – Giovane 

Born on November 24, 2003, Giovane is the youngest player to have started all of his team's Serie A matches this season. 

He is also the third-youngest player to be actively involved in 60+ attempts at goal (24 chances created, 38 shots) this season, behind only Nico Paz and Kenan Yildiz.

MATCH PREDICTION – NAPOLI WIN 

Verona have won 14 of their 64 Serie A matches against Napoli (15 draws, 35 defeats). Only against Fiorentina (17) and Cagliari (15) have they recorded more victories in the competition (also 14 against Udinese).

However, Napoli have won five of the last seven league meetings between these sides (one draw, one loss) and are favoured to pick up three points on Thursday.

Napoli have won their last four matches in all competitions, though, all by a 2-0 scoreline. 

They last won five consecutive games in January 2025 (a run of seven wins), and last won five straight without conceding a goal in February 2023, under Luciano Spalletti.

And Verona have lost their last eight Serie A matches against the reigning champions, conceding more than four times the number of goals they have scored during this run (five for, 21 against).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Napoli – 67.6%

Hellas Verona – 13.4%

Draw – 19%