Round 13 of Serie A offers us a fantastic clash that will determine the top of the table, as current leaders Roma defend their position against reigning champions Napoli, who are just two points behind them.
Only two teams remain undefeated after almost a third of the new season has passed, and those are Roma and Inter Milan. With only three losses, the Wolves are at the top of the standings with 27 points, which is a first in 10 years.
Roma secured a victory over Midtjylland in the Europa League this week, extending their winning streak to four, with their only loss in their last seven games coming away to AC Milan.
Napoli must capitalize on their momentum after achieving back-to-back victories following three consecutive games without a win. Their 3-1 victory over Atalanta last week was impressive, and they defeated Qarabag in the Champions League without any issues during the week.
However, there is one serious problem they need to solve, and that is their away form. Napoli have lost five of their last six away games in all competitions, including three in Serie A. In three of those six games, they failed to score a single goal, and now they face the strongest defense in the league.
How the bookies view it: The Wolves have the edge
Bookmakers found this to be one of the closest fixtures in this week’s schedule, which is reflected in the odds. Both sides have been given near-identical chances to win, although bookies priced Roma at 33/20 as slight favourites, while Napoli are available at 2/1.
And if you’re interested in betting on the draw, you can back it at 19/10.
Recent head-to-head: All about the Champions
While Roma can boast a much better current form, it may not be enough to overcome Napoli and most recent H2H results are against them too. The Wolves last beat the Blues in late 2023 and that remains their only win in the last 10 meetings.
For comparison, Napoli won six of the last 10 H2Hs and only lost three of their last 10 trips to Stadio Olimpico.
Players to watch: McTominay can always make the difference
It is fair to say that Antonio Conte has not had much luck with the injuries this season and his squad has been far from its optimal version. Some players have returned from their injuries, but there is only one truly valuable option for now.
Scott McTominay, for example, appears to have returned his form and was involved in at least one goal in each of his last three appearances for club and country. And with the high number of absences, we expect him to create more than enough opportunities against Roma.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Probable line-ups
Roma: Svilar, Hermoso, Mancini, Ndicka, Wesley, Kone, Cristante, Pellegrini, Celik, Dovbyk, Soule
Napoli: Milinkovic-Savic, Gutierrez, Buongiorno, Rrahmani, Lorenzo, Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay, Elmas, Hojlund, Politano
Anything else catch the eye?
What sets the Giallorossi apart from all other teams in the title race is their phenomenal defensive play. Roma have conceded only six goals in their 12 games so far. They are certainly not among the highest-scoring teams, but Napoli's poor form away from home gives us reason to believe that they can rise to the challenge and win 2-1.
Of course, we expect at least one goal from Napoli, who cannot afford any more losses after losing three of their last four away games in Serie A. Overall, we expect both teams to score and Roma to extend their winning streak with a minimal win.
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