Prediction: AS Roma vs Napoli

Verdict: Over 2.5 goals scored – yes

Best Odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: 888sport

Two of the best teams in the Serie A over the past decade will meet this Sunday in a thrilling encounter, as Roma will host Napoli in an authentic clash of titans in Stadio Olimpico. Napoli want to take another step towards securing a Champions League spot, while Roma wants to clinch a Top 4 finish but will also be pending on what happens with Inter Milan and AC Milan during the weekend. This matchup between two heavyweights will kick-off at 14:00 hrs BST,

AS Roma

Roma are in a complicated position entering this week. The Giallorossi side currently sit in fifth position with 47 points and have a four-point gap to close with the fourth-placed side, AC Milan. However, they must pay attention to the sides behind them. If several results go against them, then Roma could drop all the way to eighth place since Lazio (45), Atalanta (45) and Torino (44) are following them. But Claudio Ranieri’s men need to focus solely in this match, because they’ll be playing against one of the tougher opponents in the league. But the Capitol city side are currently going through a good run of form at the moment since they have won three of their last five matches. However, and on the same note, Roma have lost two of their past three matches. Things get better at home, though, since Roma have lost just once in their own turf during the entire campaign (W8, D4, L1) and have secured 13 of their last 15 home points available. Can they extend that solid run of form against Napoli?

Team News

Roma will be quite depleted entering this match. William Bianda (knee), Stephan El Shaarawy and Alessandro Florenzi (both calf) are out.

To make things even more complicated, several other players are doubtful. The list includes Aleksandar Kolarov (thigh), Kostas Manolas (muscle), Javier Pastore (calf), Lorenzo Pellegrini (muscle) and Cengiz Under (thigh).

Napoli

Napoli, on the other hand, are going through a complicated situation. Even though they’re still alive on the title race, everybody knows that ship sailed long ago so their biggest consolation prize will be to end up as “the best of the rest” in second place. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have something to play for in this match besides their pride. The Partenopei side currently sit in second with 60 points (W18, D6, L4) and have a seven-point advantage over Inter Milan, who sit in third place. They have practically secured a Champions League spot given the way they’ve played the entire season, but they can’t get complacent. Especially considering their recent form has been a rather indifferent W2, D2, L1 across all venues. Thankfully for them, they’ve been excellent on the road thanks to a W7, D3, L3 mark and only 12 goals conceded in those 13 matches. Would that be enough to get past the challenge of a Roma side that desperately need the three points?

Team News

Napoli will be shorthanded defensively ahead of this contest. Raul Albiol (knee), Piotr Zielinski (suspension) and Vlad Chiriches (thigh) are all out.

Lorenzo Insigne (groin), David Ospina (head) and Amadou Diawara (foot) are all injured.

Key Factors to Consider

• Four of the last five matches between these two sides have seen both sides scoring.
• Beware of Napoli’s strong starts – they have scored the opener in five of their last seven matches.
• Roma have not been able to keep a clean sheet in their last five meetings against Napoli.
• Roma’s last three home matches have ended with a 2-1 score. They won all three of those games,
• Both teams have scored in each of Roma’s last eight home league matches. The same thing has happened in only one of Napoli’s last six away Serie A contests.

Conclusion

Serie A matches tend to be quite tight, but this is a special scenario. Both sides are loaded upfront, and both need the three points in order to keep their European ambitions alive and well.

Expect this one to end with at least three goals scored in total.

Verdict: Over 2.5 goals scored – yes

Best Odds: 3/4

Bookmaker: 888sport