Serie A Preview: Lazio vs Napoli – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction | OneFootball

One of the most heavily anticipated fixtures in the Serie A calendar pits top-four hopefuls Lazio against table-topping Napoli this Saturday. The revenge-poised encounter at the Stadio Olimpico could be a season-defining moment for both teams.

Lazio put rock-bottom Monza to the sword last weekend as a 5-1 victory on this ground rubber-stamped their return to form in Serie A. Indeed, Marco Baroni’s charges have emerged victorious from three of their last four league outings (L1) to claw their way back into the top four.

However, there’s no room for complacency, with Juventus and Fiorentina hot on their heels. With only three points separating the sides ahead of the kick-off, Lazio can’t afford a slip-up against a side they’ve already defeated twice this season.

As if a 3-1 defeat in Coppa Italia action wasn’t gut-wrenching enough, Napoli slumped to a narrow 1-0 home loss in Serie A at the start of December. But Antonio Conte’s men have since hit a purple patch. Before back-to-back draws against Roma and Udinese, they had won seven league games in succession.

In doing so, they’ve steered a point clear of runners-up Inter pre-round. Yet, Napoli failed to uphold a first-half lead in both abovementioned stalemates. That’s atypical for Conte’s teams.

Dropping points from winning positions must be frustrating for the former Juventus and Inter manager, who prides himself on tactical discipline and game management.

Match Preview

Lazio

Despite last weekend’s humbling of Monza, Lazio would be naive to tuck themselves into a false sense of security. That victory only served to halt their underwhelming four-game winless home league streak (D2, L2). Furthermore, Napoli’s upcoming visit casts further trouble.

Lazio have ominously lost eight of the last 11 league meetings with the Partenopei at the Olimpico (W2, D1), with no other Serie A team picking up more wins on this ground in that period. It’s also worth noting that Baroni’s lads have won none of their four home matches against current top-eight teams this term (D2, L2).

Meanwhile, late bursts of confidence could help Lazio turn those fortunes around against Napoli. The Bianconcelesti have bagged a league-high 12 goals after the 80th minute this term, doing so in their last two home league outings against Fiorentina and Monza.

Napoli

After wasting points against Roma and Udinese, the visitors are at risk of drawing three successive Serie A games for the first time since December 2014. However, there’s a more pressing matter Conte will be eager to address this weekend.

Following back-to-back scoring blanks against Lazio in Serie A, Napoli could go three consecutive top-flight duels without scoring against this opposition for the first time since 1948. However, Napoli’s formidable away form should keep their spirits high ahead of this trip.

Conte’s charges head into proceedings amid a stellar 11-game unbeaten league run on the road (W8, D3), failing to get on the scoresheet only once in that sequence. Moreover, before being held by Roma, Napoli had scored 2+ goals on four straight Serie A travels.

With three of those four fixtures seeing them bag precisely three goals, the traveling faithful have every reason to look forward to this showdown.

Team News

A sprained ankle means star forward Boulaye Dia will not be at Baroni’s disposal for this contest. Yet, personnel problems don’t end there for Lazio. Patric, Elseid Hysaj, Luca Pellegrini, and Matias Vecino are also on the sidelines.

On the other hand, Napoli will take this trip without David Neres, Matias Olivera, and Leonardo Spinazzola. The Brazilian winger’s absence could pave the way for Giacomo Raspadori’s return to the starting line-up after the Italian ace failed to secure an exit in the January transfer window.

Lazio vs Napoli Potential Starting Line-ups

Lazio (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Pedro, Zaccagni; Castellanos.

Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Jesus; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Raspadori.

Lazio vs Napoli Prediction

With these two teams claiming the most points courtesy of goals netted beyond the 75th minute, a breathtaking finish could be on the cards. Lazio’s potential would significantly dent Napoli’s title ambitions, but as Conte’s new bogey team, the hosts are well-positioned to do just that.

Both sides will take the field in fine form, but we back Lazio to take three points.