Claudio Ranieri makes his return to the Roma hotseat for a third stint as head coach, facing a tough challenge in this season’s first Derby del Sole against Antonio Conte’s Napoli.
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Ranieri has been lured out of retirement to try to turn around Roma’s struggling campaign, which sees them languishing in 12th place in Serie A, while Napoli continue their quest for the Scudetto at the top of the table.
Match Preview
Roma’s Crisis and Ranieri’s Return
Roma’s fortunes have been in freefall, with a poor run of results under former coach Ivan Juric leading to his departure.
The club was on a disappointing stretch, having lost four out of their last five Serie A matches and even suffering back-to-back 3-2 defeats to Hellas Verona and Bologna.
This string of bad results led to Roma’s hierarchy turning to Ranieri, the club’s beloved former coach, to restore order and calm the storm.
Ranieri, who had retired after securing Cagliari’s survival in Serie A last season, now faces a tall order in stabilizing a club in turmoil.
Under his guidance, Roma are still without a win in their last nine away matches in Serie A, and they sit 20th in their Europa League group, making this an uphill battle.
Despite Roma’s poor form, the Giallorossi will look to build on their rich history in this matchup, hoping that their new manager can inspire a much-needed turnaround.
Napoli’s Push for the Title
On the other side, Napoli enters this match as the Serie A leaders, though their lead has been trimmed to just one point over the chasing pack.
Antonio Conte’s side will be eager to extend their advantage and return to their winning ways after a frustrating 1-1 draw against Inter Milan before the international break.
Despite their recent slip-up, Napoli remains in a strong position at the top of the table, and their consistent form has made them one of the toughest teams in Serie A this season.
Conte’s men have been dominant at home, but their last defeat, a 3-0 loss to Atalanta, serves as a reminder that even the best teams can be vulnerable. Napoli will want to bounce back with a decisive victory at home to Roma, putting their title ambitions back on track.
Team News
Roma’s Injury Woes
Roma faces several injury concerns ahead of this clash. Paulo Dybala, their star forward, is still struggling with muscle issues, and although he could feature from the bench, his involvement remains uncertain.
Without Dybala, Roma’s performance has been notably weaker, with a 13% drop in their win-rate. Artem Dovbyk, Roma’s top scorer, will likely start despite carrying a knee problem, while Alexis Saelemaekers returns to training after a long injury absence.
However, Eldor Shomurodov and Mario Hermoso are both ruled out for the game.
Napoli’s Strong Squad
Napoli’s injury list is much shorter, and Antonio Conte is expected to have a fully fit squad for this match. Stanislav Lobotka may return to the starting lineup in midfield, replacing Billy Gilmour.
Additionally, Leonardo Spinazzola, a former Roma player, could start at left-back in place of Mathias Olivera, giving Napoli extra depth in defense.
Romelu Lukaku, who was instrumental for Roma last season, will lead the line for Napoli and pose a significant threat to his former team, alongside other key players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano.
Predicted Lineups
Napoli (4-3-3):
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Kvaratskhelia.
Roma (4-3-3):
Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka, Angelino; Kone, Cristante; Soule, Pellegrini, El Shaarawy; Dovbyk.
Prediction
Roma’s struggles this season, compounded by injury problems and a lack of momentum, will make it difficult for them to compete with a high-flying Napoli side. While Ranieri’s return could provide a boost, Napoli’s quality and depth should prove too much.
The hosts are likely to dominate possession and find the back of the net more than once. With Lukaku leading the attack and Napoli’s midfield solid, they are favorites to win.
Prediction: Napoli 3-1 Roma.
