In this article, Sports Buddy looks at Napoli vs Roma match preview, team news, possible lineup, and prediction.
Napoli vs Roma: Match preview
As the clock ticks down on a challenging European football season, Napoli prepares to host their southern rivals, Roma, at the iconic Stadio Maradona on Sunday evening.
The Derby del Sole carries significant weight for Napoli, who have recently faced setbacks against underdog teams like Empoli and witnessed Inter Milan snatch the Italian championship title away from them.
In contrast, Roma find themselves on the brink of securing a coveted spot in the Champions League. Napoli’s recent performances have been lackluster, with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Empoli following a frustrating 2-2 draw with Frosinone just days prior. Interim coach Francesco Calzona, who took over after the departure of Luciano Spalletti, has struggled to find consistency, winning only three out of his first nine league games in charge.
The team’s once-potent attack has faltered, and Napoli’s defense has been leaky, conceding goals in their last 12 consecutive Serie A matches. This defensive frailty marks a stark contrast to their past glory, with only two longer streaks without a clean sheet in the club’s history, the most recent being in 1998.
With the weight of defending their title lifted following Inter’s triumph in the Milan derby, Napoli may approach the remaining fixtures with newfound freedom. However, they face a tough challenge against Roma, with upcoming matches against Bologna and Fiorentina also on the horizon.
Despite Napoli’s recent struggles, they have historically performed well against Roma at home, remaining unbeaten in their last five meetings at the Maradona. Nevertheless, a humbling 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in December, where Napoli ended the game with nine men, serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of football.
Napoli vs Roma: Team news
With both Amir Rrahmani and Mario Rui returning from one-match bans, Napoli’s defense is expected to regain its usual shape this week, following Francesco Calzona’s adjustments in the Empoli match.
However, left-back Mathias Olivera remains sidelined with a thigh injury, and Piotr Zielinski is out with a muscular issue, as per Sports Mole.
Nonetheless, Napoli should have a full squad to select from, allowing for an attacking trio of Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Matteo Politano to start once again. Politano, who scored his first Serie A goal against Roma nine years ago, has been directly involved in 13 top-flight goals this season and aims to match his best tally set in 2017-18 with just one more goal.
On the other side, Roma will likely keep an eye on their upcoming Europa League clash with Bayer Leverkusen but aren’t expected to rotate their squad extensively. Diego Llorente and Leandro Paredes are suspended, leading to two changes from their previous lineup against Bologna. Additionally, injury concerns loom over Chris Smalling and Romelu Lukaku. Evan Ndicka might return to the bench after recovering from an incident that halted Roma’s game against Udinese. With Smalling and Llorente unavailable and Ndicka possibly not starting, Juventus loanee Dean Huijsen is likely to step in as a deputy in central defense.
In the event Lukaku is unable to lead the line, Stephan El Shaarawy may support either Sardar Azmoun or Tammy Abraham. El Shaarawy boasts an impressive record, having scored five goals in his last six league visits to Naples.
Napoli vs Roma: Possible lineup
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Jesus, Rrahmani, Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Traore; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Roma: Svilar; Karsdorp, Mancini, Huijsen, Angelino; Bove, Cristante, Pellegrini; Dybala, Abraham, El Shaarawy
Napoli vs Roma: Prediction Napoli 1- 2 Roma
Recent history between Roma and Napoli indicates that late goals are a common occurrence, with six out of the last seven goals being scored after the 75th minute. This trend suggests the possibility of a late winner in the upcoming match. Napoli’s home record hasn’t been impressive, opening the door for Roma to potentially compound their woes by securing a rare victory in Naples.
