Fansided

Crotone vs. Napoli live stream: Watch Serie A online

By Clemente Lisi

NAPLES, ITALY - MARCH 12: Napolis player Lorenzo Insigne celebrates after scoring goal 3-0 during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and FC Crotone at Stadio San Paolo on March 12, 2017 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - MARCH 12: Napolis player Lorenzo Insigne celebrates after scoring goal 3-0 during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and FC Crotone at Stadio San Paolo on March 12, 2017 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Crotone host Napoli on Friday, Dec. 29 in a clash between two teams at opposite ends of the table. Here’s what to know before you watch.

Related Story: The 20 biggest egos in soccer

Serie A dumped its two-week Christmas break this season in favor of an English-style calendar that sees clubs playing through the holidays. As a result, Crotone and Napoli will do battle on Friday at the 16,500-seat Stadio Ezio Scida in an encounter that highlights two teams living through some very different circumstances this season.

The Partenopei have been in first place on-and-off for the past 18 matchdays — winning a staggering 90 percent of their road games — and feature one of the deadliest attacks in Europe with Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne. By contrast, the Calabria-based club are currently doing battle dangerously close to the relegation zone and in desperate need of points.

Napoli hold a 4-1-1 all-time record against Crotone and should dispatch of them fairly easily given the lopsided rosters. Nevertheless, Napoli have been very good at not underestimating opponents this season. Even with their formidable record, Napoli have lost some surprising games this season, including to Shakhtar Donetsk on the road in their Champions League group-stage opener.

While Napoli play some of the best soccer in Europe under manager Maurizio Sarri, Crotone have already undergone a coaching change. Former Inter Milan and Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga took over as coach on Dec. 8 for the sacked Davide Nicola. Zenga got his first win on Dec. 17, a 1-0 victory against Chievo Verona on a goal by striker Ante Budimir. Zenga began his coaching career while still a player for the New England Revolution of MLS in 1998, the last player-coach in that league’s history.

“Staying up is Crotone’s objective,” Zenga told reporters earlier this month. “This team has its own precise identity, which shouldn’t be changed at all. Our situation isn’t dramatic, but this shock destabilized things. First we’ll work to bring the group back together, then to stay in the [first] division.”

While Crotone want the points in a bid to stave off relegation, Napoli need the win in order to keep pace with Juventus and Inter Milan in what has been one of the tightest races for the Scudetto in recent memory. Any lapse could cost Sarri’s men in what will be their last game of the calendar year and the official halfway mark of the league season. For a team hungry to win the Scudetto, anything less than a victory at Crotone will be seen as a setback.

Next: Best live streams to watch sports and TV shows

The match between Crotone and Napoli will be broadcast live on beIN Sports. Live streaming is also available on beIN Sports Connect, which you can access with your cable or satellite subscription, either online or through their app.

Date: Friday, Dec. 29
Start time: 2:45 p.m. ET
Location: Crotone, Italy
Stadium: Ezio Scida Stadium
TV Info: beIN Sports
Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect, Fubo.TV 

Can Napoli get past a relatively easy opponent or will a new coach inject a winning attitude at Crotone?

Home/Serie A