Ranieri expects Napoli challenge

Claudio Ranieiri is under no illusions about the threat Napoli pose to Roma ahead of their clash at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Napoli are second on the Serie A table, just three points behind league leaders AC Milan and seven points ahead of Ranieri’s Roma.

But they lost their last match 2-0 at Chievo, leading former Chelsea and Juventus boss Ranieri to detect a potential weakness in Napoli when they are playing away from home.

“I’m expecting a very difficult match,” Ranieri said.

“Napoli have got to where they are in the table because they deserve being there, they are playing excellent in the league ? not as well away from home, but they know how to counterattack and use spaces that most others don’t.”

“We have a great team and they will manage (to) stop them.”

Roma lost 5-3 away to defending champions Inter Milan last time out, but Ranieri insists the reverse had little effect on the morale of his squad.

“Luckily, we don’t read too much into a result and manage to resist whatever gets thrown at us,” Ranieri said.

“We don’t win a match and think we have won the championship and when we lose a match, we pick ourselves up and move on.”

“We have the right balance and have already shown that. The team is in good shape, we are focused, we are determined and it will be a great match.”