Napoli nearly blew a 6-point lead in the last couple of games but remained at the top ahead of Round 13. Will Roma crush their title dreams on Sunday?
The title race this season is becoming more and more complicated, with Atalanta and Fiorentina joining the usual championship group. Napoli remain the leaders but they lost crucial points in the last couple of games.
To make it worse, they lost exactly to Atalanta and only won a point against Inter. Statistically, Roma should not pose a threat to the Blues at this point in time, but the latest managerial change could complicate the upcoming game.
Claudio Ranieri became Roma's 4th manager in 2024 and will make his third debut with the team on Sunday. His task is to somehow save this season, although Roma sit 11 points below the Top 6 right now, with four defeats in their last five Serie A games.
How the bookies view it: Napoli to make it up to their fans
Bookmakers expect Napoli to bounce back from the negative results and win the match against Roma. Betano estimated their chances at 3/4, while you can bet on Roma at 4/1. The draw currently sits at 23/9.
Recent head to head: Blue dominance
The last few seasons have seen the Parthenopeans dominate this rivalry, with Roma winning only two of the last 10 H2Hs. In turn, Napoli won five times. Another interesting fact is that Roma's last win at this stadium dates back to 2018.
Players to watch: A Scott named Scott
Few Napoli players have played more minutes than Scott McTominay this season and the midfielder has cemented his place in the starting line-up. While his goals are rare, he won Napoli the point against Inter Milan in the previous round.
Probable line-ups
Napoli: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera, Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay, Politano, Lukaku, Kvaratskhelia
Roma: Svilar, Celik, Mancini, Ndicka, Angelino, Kone, Cristante, Soule, Pellegrini, El Shaarawy, Dovbyk
Anything else catch the eye?
Whenever we see managerial changes in big clubs, it often leads to a few solid performances, as all players want to prove themselves in the eyes of their new coach. And Claudio Ranieri is an experienced professional, one who always manages to get the best out of a mediocre squad.
Napoli have the second-best defence in the league but Atalanta showed everyone that they are not invincible. We expect the Blues to win but this match will not be as uneventful as the stats suggest. Both teams scored in seven out of the last 10 H2Hs at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and we expect to see the same again.
One way or another, Napoli have to win this match or they will lose their place at the top. There are a total of five teams within two points and most of them have easier fixtures on their hands. We are entering the busiest part of the season and Napoli need to utilize every opportunity against a struggling team, even if it is one of the usual greats.
This Serie A match between Napoli and Roma will be played on Nov 24, 2024 and kick off at 17:00. Check below for our tipsters best Napoli vs Roma prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
