mdingwall
Administrator
Looking forward to this.
PREVIEW
An agonising 33-year wait for a Serie A (SA) title looks like it could come to an end this season for Napoli, who sit 12 points clear at the summit at the halfway stage. The Partenopei’s return of 50 points after 19 games is the highest in their history, a total largely built on an imperious run of seven consecutive home league wins, leaving Napoli on the brink of securing eight home victories on the spin in league action for the first time since 2016.
Luciano Spalletti’s men are now set to face another stern test of their credentials against Roma, one of a number of teams in a tightly grouped pack behind Napoli. The sight of José Mourinho - who turned 60 on Thursday - in the opposition dugout may be the only reason for scepticism for Spalletti given he’s won just one of seven personal H2H meetings with ‘The Special One’ (D3, L3), although encouragingly that success was in this season’s reverse fixture (W 1-0).
An unblemished restart after the FIFA World Cup break (W4, D1) has Roma fans dreaming of a return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2018/19. Consecutive 2-0 wins over Spezia and Fiorentina have helped earn the Giallorossi their best points tally at this stage in five seasons, though there is still work to do if Roma are to secure that elusive top four finish.
A large factor in Roma’s success has been their impeccable form on the road, with Mourinho’s side travelling to Naples bidding to preserve a seven game unbeaten run in SA away games (W5, D2). Continuing that against Napoli may perhaps prove a bridge too far though, especially as Roma haven’t won on any of their last four trips to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona (D2, L2) and may also have Wednesday’s upcoming Coppa Italia quarter-final at the back of their minds.
Players to watch: Scorer of the decisive goal in this season’s reverse, Victor Osimhen has netted four goals in as many SA appearances since the restart. Napoli are an opposition Roma forward Paulo Dybala has enjoyed facing, winning eight personal H2Hs while directly contributing to eight goals (G3, A5).
Hot stat: No SA side has scored more goals beyond the 76th minute than Napoli’s 11 ahead of the round.
PREVIEW
An agonising 33-year wait for a Serie A (SA) title looks like it could come to an end this season for Napoli, who sit 12 points clear at the summit at the halfway stage. The Partenopei’s return of 50 points after 19 games is the highest in their history, a total largely built on an imperious run of seven consecutive home league wins, leaving Napoli on the brink of securing eight home victories on the spin in league action for the first time since 2016.
Luciano Spalletti’s men are now set to face another stern test of their credentials against Roma, one of a number of teams in a tightly grouped pack behind Napoli. The sight of José Mourinho - who turned 60 on Thursday - in the opposition dugout may be the only reason for scepticism for Spalletti given he’s won just one of seven personal H2H meetings with ‘The Special One’ (D3, L3), although encouragingly that success was in this season’s reverse fixture (W 1-0).
An unblemished restart after the FIFA World Cup break (W4, D1) has Roma fans dreaming of a return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2018/19. Consecutive 2-0 wins over Spezia and Fiorentina have helped earn the Giallorossi their best points tally at this stage in five seasons, though there is still work to do if Roma are to secure that elusive top four finish.
A large factor in Roma’s success has been their impeccable form on the road, with Mourinho’s side travelling to Naples bidding to preserve a seven game unbeaten run in SA away games (W5, D2). Continuing that against Napoli may perhaps prove a bridge too far though, especially as Roma haven’t won on any of their last four trips to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona (D2, L2) and may also have Wednesday’s upcoming Coppa Italia quarter-final at the back of their minds.
Players to watch: Scorer of the decisive goal in this season’s reverse, Victor Osimhen has netted four goals in as many SA appearances since the restart. Napoli are an opposition Roma forward Paulo Dybala has enjoyed facing, winning eight personal H2Hs while directly contributing to eight goals (G3, A5).
Hot stat: No SA side has scored more goals beyond the 76th minute than Napoli’s 11 ahead of the round.
