The Italian football calendar reaches a spectacular crescendo in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as Napoli and Bologna face off in the 2025 Supercoppa Italiana Final. Scheduled for Monday, December 22, 2025, at the King Saud University Stadium (Al-Awwal Park), this match represents the culmination of a revamped four-team tournament that has seen the traditional powerhouses of Milan and Inter fall in the semi-finals.
For Antonio Conte’s Napoli, this is a chance to validate their "Scudetto" credentials with silverware mid-season. For Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna, the reigning Coppa Italia champions, it is an opportunity to prove that their recent rise to the elite of Italian football is no fluke.
The Road to Riyadh: Semi-Final Recaps
Napoli 2-0 AC Milan
Napoli secured their place in the final with a disciplined and characteristically clinical performance against AC Milan. Goals from David Neres and the summer acquisition Rasmus Højlund ensured a 2-0 victory. Conte’s tactical setup successfully neutralized Milan's wide threats, allowing the Partenopei to control the tempo of the game from start to finish. This victory snapped a brief slump for Napoli, who had entered the tournament following consecutive losses in domestic and European play.
Bologna 1-1 Inter Milan (Bologna win on penalties)
Bologna’s path was far more dramatic. After falling behind to an early Marcus Thuram goal, the Rossoblù displayed immense resilience. Riccardo Orsolini converted a vital penalty to level the scores before halftime. Following a scoreless second half and extra time, Bologna emerged victorious in a tense penalty shootout. This win further cemented Vincenzo Italiano’s reputation as a knockout specialist, having now guided Bologna to their first-ever Supercoppa final.
Tactical Breakdown: Conte’s Pragmatism vs. Italiano’s Fluidity
Napoli’s Compact 3-4-2-1
Antonio Conte has transformed Napoli into a defensive juggernaut that excels in transitional moments. In Riyadh, expect Napoli to utilize a 3-4-2-1 formation that prioritizes central density. The back three, led by Alessandro Buongiorno and Amir Rrahmani, provides a platform for the wing-backs—likely Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Leonardo Spinazzola—to provide the necessary width.
The absence of Kevin De Bruyne and Frank Anguissa in midfield is a significant blow, forcing Stanislav Lobotka and Scott McTominay to handle the heavy lifting. The creative burden will fall on David Neres and Noa Lang, who will look to supply Rasmus Højlund against a Bologna defense that can occasionally be vulnerable to direct, physical strikers.
Bologna’s High-Intensity 4-2-3-1
Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna plays with a significantly higher line and a focus on aggressive counter-pressing. Their 4-2-3-1 system aims to trap opponents in their own half. The double pivot of Nikola Moro and Lewis Ferguson is essential for recycling possession and feeding the creative trio of Orsolini, Odgaard, and Cambiaghi.
Bologna’s primary challenge will be maintaining their defensive discipline when their press is bypassed. Against a team with the speed of Neres and the hold-up play of Højlund, any lapse in the backline's positioning could be fatal.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Napoli Team News
Napoli remains without several key figures in the engine room. Kevin De Bruyne and Billy Gilmour are sidelined with injuries, while Frank Anguissa is also unavailable. Romelu Lukaku has recently returned to training but is expected to start on the bench, with Højlund leading the line.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Lang, Neres; Højlund.
Bologna Team News
Bologna is dealing with an injury to Federico Bernardeschi, who suffered a collarbone injury in the semi-final. Remo Freuler and goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski are also notable absentees. Santiago Castro is expected to start up front, though veteran Ciro Immobile remains a potent option off the bench.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia; Holm, Lucumi, Heggem, Miranda; Moro, Ferguson; Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi; Castro.
Head-to-Head and Key Statistics
Bologna has recently held the upper hand in this fixture, a surprising trend given Napoli’s status as reigning Serie A champions.
Last Meeting: Bologna 2-0 Napoli (November 2025, Serie A)
Recent Form: Bologna is unbeaten in five of the last six head-to-head encounters (W2, D3).
Defensive Trends: Ten of Napoli’s last 12 matches have featured Under 2.5 goals, highlighting Conte's focus on defensive stability.
Scoring Streaks: David Neres has scored in each of his last four goal-scoring appearances for Napoli, with all of those goals coming in the first half.
Key Matchups to Watch
Scott McTominay vs. Lewis Ferguson: An all-Scottish battle in the heart of Riyadh. McTominay’s late runs into the box must be tracked by Ferguson, while McTominay will be tasked with disrupting Ferguson's playmaking from deep.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo vs. Nicolò Cambiaghi: Cambiaghi’s pace and crossing ability provided the assist for Bologna's winner against Napoli in November. Di Lorenzo will need to balance his attacking instincts with the defensive necessity of tracking Cambiaghi’s runs.
Rasmus Højlund vs. Jhon Lucumí: Højlund has been in clinical form, but Lucumí’s physicality and recovery speed make him a difficult opponent. If Lucumí can win the aerial duels, Napoli may find themselves struggling for an attacking outlet.
Match Prediction: Tactical Chess in the Desert
This final is likely to be a cagey affair. Antonio Conte’s teams are notoriously difficult to break down in one-off finals, and his side will be motivated by revenge following their league defeat to Bologna last month. While Bologna possesses the "cup magic" that has defined their 2025 season, Napoli's individual quality in the final third—particularly through Neres—should be the difference-maker.
Final Score Prediction: Napoli 1-0 Bologna
