Napoli vs Roma Tips: Top-four rivals set for tense tussle
Napoli's hopes of successfully defending their Serie A title are fading and they started the weekend in third place, nine points behind leaders Inter Milan.
Antonio Conte's champions face a tough home fixture against Roma, who would go level on points with their hosts if they win at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday (19:45 GMT).
Roma have the best defence in Serie A, conceding only 14 goals in 24 games, but they have failed to fire in front of goal this season.
Gian Piero Gasperini's men have scored 29 league goals – only two more than relegation-threatened Fiorentina – and they will be aiming to improve that record on Sunday.
Team news
Napoli have been hampered by injuries this season and Kevin De Bruyne, David Neres, Billy Gilmour, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Frank Anguissa remain sidelined for the Italian champions.
Inspirational midfielder Scott McTominay should return to the starting line-up after being rested for Tuesday's Coppa Italia tie with Como.
Roma forward Paulo Dybala has missed their last two league matches due to a knee injury but he played a full part in training this week and could start in Naples.
January signing Robinio Vaz may return to the squad after recovering from a knock but Evan Ferguson, Manu Kone, Mario Hermoso, Stephan El Shaarawy and Artem Dovbyk are unlikely to feature.
Tip 1 – Draw @ 19/10
Napoli have been involved in several tight matches recently, losing 3-2 to Chelsea in the Champions League before beating Fiorentina 2-1 and Genoa 3-2 in Serie A.
They needed a 94th-minute penalty to clinch three points at Genoa and suffered a disappointing Coppa Italia exit on Tuesday, losing on penalties to Como after a 1-1 draw in Naples.
The dramatic defeat to Chelsea on matchday eight of the Champions League was Napoli's first loss at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona since December 2024 but their standards have slipped since last term's title triumph.
Conte has rarely been able to field his strongest team and summer signing De Bruyne has started only seven of their 24 league games.
The draw looks a good bet when Napoli host Roma as the visitors are rock-solid at the back but underwhelming in attack.
They have won four of their last six games by a 2-0 scoreline and one of the exceptions was a 1-1 draw at home to title contenders AC Milan.
Fifth-placed Roma's limitations are illustrated by their poor record against the sides above them.
They have suffered 1-0 defeats to Inter, AC Milan and Napoli and lost 2-1 at Juventus just before Christmas but should be backed to pick up a point against their depleted hosts.
Tip 2 – Rasmus Hojlund to score, Rasmus Hojlund to have over 1.5 shots on target & Gianluca Mancini to get a card @ 17/1
Rasmus Hojlund was Napoli's hero in Genoa last weekend, scoring twice to take his goal tally for the Serie A campaign to eight.
Hojlund should retain penalty-taking duty after his injury-time spot-kick sealed Napoli's 3-2 victory and he looks a good bet to score against Roma.
The Danish striker had five shots, two of them on target, in his last home league game against Fiorentina and can test Roma keeper Mile Svilar a couple of times on Sunday.
Hojlund is likely to be up against uncompromising Roma centre-back Gianluca Mancini, who looks a leading card candidate this weekend.
It is a crucial game in the battle for a top-four finish and the tension may well get to Mancini, who has been booked in five of his last eight Serie A away matches.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
