After four-goal European displays in midweek, Napoli and Roma turn their focus back to Serie A, where the visitors are pushing for top spot, while the hosts are aiming to close the gap on their opponents here.
Match News and Current Form
A 1-0 defeat at Venezia last Saturday was Napoli’s third loss in their opening seven Serie A matches this season (W3, D1), having last suffered more defeats at the start of a top-flight campaign back in 2009/10. Massimiliano Allegri’s side quietened speculation surrounding his future with a thrilling 4-3 UEFA Champions League victory over Bodø/Glimt on Tuesday, but a run of five losses in their last nine encounters across all competitions (W3, D1) is cause for alarm. The Partenopei will now look to build on a three-game winning streak on home soil, where back-to-back league shutouts have given them the chance to record three such clean sheets consecutively for the first time since October 2021.
Roma ended a two-match draw streak in Serie A with a 2-0 victory over Genoa last Saturday to stay within two points of the summit. They carried that momentum into midweek, thrashing Slovan Bratislava 4-0, while they have earned 17 points from their first seven league outings this season (W5, D2) - their best return at this stage since 2014/15. Defensive solidity away from home has been central to that success, as the Giallorossi have kept a clean sheet in all three top-flight games on the road this term, standing one shutout away from equalling their record of four consecutive away clean sheets to start a Serie A campaign, set in 2017/18.
Head-to-Head History
Napoli have drawn 55 times with Roma in Serie A (W50, L53), with Napoli remaining unbeaten in their last eight home league H2Hs (W4, D4) - their longest such run since 1982.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Napoli are one of only two sides yet to witness a goal in the opening 15 minutes of a Serie A game this season.
Napoli scored more than once in just two of their last seven matches.
Roma are yet to concede before half-time in Serie A this season.
Roma scored at least twice in six of their last eight away matches.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Scott McTominay lit up Napoli on Tuesday, scoring his first two goals this season, with seven of his last nine having arrived before half-time. Matías Soulé remains a good-luck charm for Roma, who have won ten consecutive matches in which he has netted.
Napoli will be missing Alisson Santos, while Roma will be without Lorenzo Pellegrini, although their talisman Donyell Malen is no longer suspended.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
With both sides discovering their scoring touch in midweek, backing both teams to score and over 2.5 goals here seems smart.
Author: Tomáš Vlasák