Napoli vs Frosinone Prediction: Can the hosts afford to rest their key players?

It is Coppa Italia round of 16 action this week, as Napoli host Frosinone at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Tuesday night (20:00).

Napoli's Scudetto defence has been extremely underwhelming. They are 14 points behind leaders Inter Milan and consistency has been a real issue for them this term. 

The ship may have sailed in their title defence but they have made it to the knockout stage of the Champions League and they are now playing for a place in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, with a potential clash with Juventus or Salernitana on the horizon. Due to their participation in Europe, this is where Napoli enter the competition and they will be fancying their chances on home soil.

Here are some of the best markets we've picked out ahead of this cup tie.

Match Odds

Napoli are the favourites to win this game in 90 minutes but backing them doesn't offer much value at 4/11. You can back a draw at 7/2, while Frosinone are 11/2 to pull off an upset and pile more misery on the defending Serie A champions' season.

Both teams to score here is priced at 4/6. Over 2.5 goals is 1/2.

Team News

With Napoli having a contest with top-four rivals Roma to come on Saturday, Walter Mazzarri could rest some key players ahead of the weekend for the cup game in midweek. This could present an opportunity for players Alessandro Zanoli, Giovanni Simeone and Gianluca Gaetano to start against Frosinone.

Simeone or Giacomo Raspadori could be given the nod to start up front if star striker Victor Osimhen is rested for Roma. Napoli are going to be without Mathias Olivera and Eljif Elmas due to injury, while Piotr Zielinski is also a doubt after he pulled out of the squad that faced Cagliari over the weekend.

For the visitors, Riccardo Marchizza and Reinier are all out of action. Anthony Oyono is a doubt after limping off the pitch against Lecce last time out.

Giovanni Simeone to score anytime @ 6/4

When the leading man has a chance of being rested, the deputies always relish a chance to show the manager what they can do. Simeone will be itching for an opportunity to generate more minutes for himself, and if he does get selected and performs well, he will put himself in the conversation for a start against Roma at the weekend.

The son of Atletico Madrid boss Diego has found his game time limited this term, which will be frustrating for any player. But when Osimhen has been performing as well as he has been for Gli Azzurri, you can't be too hung up on being omitted.

The best he can do is make sure that he is ready to step up when called upon, and we fancy him to grab this chance with both hands if he starts against Frosinone. The 28-year-old has started just three games this season in the league and in Europe, and from that has delivered two goals, which is a respectable return.

He will also be hoping that he can help his side progress in the cup as it is currently one of their best chances for silverware this year, and in turn provide him with more opportunities to play.

Napoli to score and both teams to score @ 13/8

With Napoli not being quite as powerful as they were last term, if key players are rested in midweek, victory doesn't seem like it will be straightforward for fringe players.

There may also be eight places separating these two teams in the league, but it is also only eight points between them - further highlighting just how badly Napoli's title defence has been going.

In the meeting between the two teams earlier in the campaign, which was hosted by Frosinone, Napoli emerged as 3-1 winners, but their opponents did well to get on the scoresheet against a full-strength side.

From this, we can assume that they will have a much better chance of scoring against Napoli this time around if they are taking on their fringe players. Mazzarri could well call upon his stars from the bench if the game isn't going to plan, but we think 13/8 offers great value on a home victory, and for there to be goals at both ends as well.