Roma-Napoli is a match valid for the seventeenth day of Serie A and is played on Saturday at 8:45 p.m.: odds, predictions, TV, streaming.
Neither Roma nor Napoli arrive at the direct clash healthy. And if Serie A ended today both would be out of the top four, with no Champions League. It is a peculiar first leg for Jose Mourinho’s men and Walter Mazzarri’s, currently divided by only two points. Ahead are the partenopei, who continue to look like the distant relatives of those who dominated the length and breadth of the league last year.
Not even time to rejoice over the two consecutive victories with Braga and Cagliari that the Azzurri fans had to reckon with the embarrassment in the Coppa Italia against Frosinone (0-4). The Ciociari, taking advantage of Mazzarri’s pushed turnover, inflicted on Napoli one of the heaviest home defeats in recent years, which was destined to make noise.
The Livorno coach at the end of the game struggled to explain the collapse of his men in the final and also spoke of the presence of some “disgruntled” in the locker room. It is likely, therefore, that in January someone may leave the Campania capital. The season, however, is still “straightenable.” Perhaps it is too late to defend the Scudetto but Napoli can have its say in a fight for fourth place that currently also sees Bologna, Fiorentina and Atalanta as protagonists. A situation, if you will, very similar to that of Roma, which in addition to the game cannot even find continuity. In Bologna, last Sunday, it was really complicated to avoid defeat without two staples like Dybala and Lukaku. And the 2-0 win at the “Dall’Ara” did not surprise even Mourinho himself, who at the end of the match confirmed his desire to continue coaching in the capital. Of course, a lot will depend on the outcome of the next four matches, in which the Giallorossi will face, in addition to Napoli, Juventus, Atalanta and Milan.
Roma-Napoli: the latest news on the lineups
Dybala is doing everything possible to be there in the next game against Juve but the one with Napoli comes too soon for the Argentine. Supporting the returning Lukaku – the Belgian did not play against Bologna because he was disqualified – will be El Shaarawy. New rejection then for Belotti. Captain Pellegrini will be adapted to the left, only bench for Aouar and Sanches, two players who have not convinced Mourinho.
(Mancini IlVeggente.it (Lapresse)
On the other side, Mazzarri will have to do without Olivera and Elmas, the latter injured but in the odor of a transfer. After the Italian Cup turnover up front, the trident formed by Politano, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia will be seen again. The two defensive midfielders will be Rrahmani and Natan.
The prediction
Napoli in recent years has often performed well at the Olimpico. And it has not lost at Roma’s home since 2019. This year, however, the Azzurri have disappointed in direct clashes, losing to Lazio, Juventus, Inter and Fiorentina, drawing against AC Milan and beating Atalanta exclusively. The main problem for Mazzarri’s team is a defense that continues to concede quite a few goals and has not remained unbeaten since early November. In any case, a very balanced match is looming, in which both will do everything to redeem their recent disappointments. The “goal” sign is very likely.
The probable formations of Roma-Napoli
ROMA (3-5-1-1): Rui Patricio; Mancini, Llorente, N’Dicka; Kristensen, Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini, Bove; El Shaarawy; Lukaku.
NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Natan, Mario Rui; Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.
