Napolivs.Lazio

The Aquile soared into the Coppa Italia quarter-finals by beating the Partenopei on home turf, and they now aim to repeat the feat in Naples.

Match preview

Exiting at the last-16 stage for a fourth year running, Napoli slumped out of the cup on Thursday evening, losing 3-1 to a Lazio side that also missed an early penalty.

Antonio Conte named an entirely different starting XI to that which lined up in last week's league win over Torino - when his team posted the second of back-to-back victories since the international break - and ultimately paid the price.

With no European football to distract them, Napoli's focus is now totally trained on regaining the Scudetto next spring, having made an impressive start to Conte's first campaign.

Although an unfamiliar back line shipped three at Stadio Olimpico, the Partenopei have kept nine clean sheets in the league this term - plus two in the Coppa Italia - and that foundation has helped their talented attackers thrive.

One of perhaps seven teams vying for top spot in an exciting title race, Napoli now aim to keep one of their close rivals at arm's length - losing to Lazio would see their visitors close to within a point.

Having averaged nearly three goals per game in their last 12 home fixtures against the Aquile - winning eight times in the process - history seems to be on their side. However, they have actually lost the clubs' two most recent meetings in Naples.

In addition to their midweek cup win - in which Tijjani Noslin's hat-trick set up a last-eight tie with either Inter Milan or Udinese - Lazio are unbeaten in three league games against Napoli, having previously lost four on the spin.

They come into this contest sitting just outside Italy's top four, after suffering their first defeat since October last weekend.

Three days after a long winning run was ended by their Europa League draw with Ludogorets, the Rome club were picked off by Parma at Stadio Tardini: they had two goals ruled out and a penalty overturned, as Taty Castellanos scored their only goal in a 3-1 defeat.

That halted a streak of five consecutive league victories for Marco Baroni's men, who are nonetheless still in the thick of things at the sharp end of Serie A.

The Biancocelesti are also top of the Europa League standings and undefeated after five rounds of the league phase, and a win over Ajax next week would put them in great shape to reach the next stage of UEFA's second-tier competition.

Baroni will be aware, though, that all four of Lazio's domestic defeats have arrived on the road, so proving they can beat the top sides outside of Rome will be the next step in their development.

Napoli Serie A form:

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Napoli form (all competitions):

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Lazio Serie A form:

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Lazio form (all competitions):

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Team News

Napoli's main men will all return to the teamsheet after sitting out Thursday's loss in the capital, so stars such as Romelu Lukaku, Stanislav Lobotka and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia should be back in the starting XI.

That would see Giovanni Simeone make way, despite having an excellent record against his father's old club: in addition to his midweek cup goal, Simeone has scored eight in 14 league games against Lazio in Serie A - more than any other active player.

Aside from the injured Pasquale Mazzocchi, Antonio Conte will have full squad available, but Lazio must do without left-back Nuno Tavares and midfielder Matias Vecino; while an ankle issue has been troubling Boulaye Dia.

Furthermore, Nicolo Rovella will serve a suspension after enduring a torrid time against Parma: the deep-lying playmaker missed a penalty, gave away a goal, then received his fifth booking of the league season.

Marco Baroni is set to drop hat-trick hero Tijjani Noslin and cup goalkeeper Christos Mandas back to the bench, bringing in Ivan Provedel, Matteo Guendouzi and Taty Castellanos, among others.

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka; Politano, McTominay, Kvaratskhelia; Lukaku

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Dele-Bashiru; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni; Castellanos

We say: Napoli 2-1 Lazio

Only a weak away record has kept Lazio from matching Napoli's pace so far this season, and that may undermine their hopes of victory at Stadio Maradona.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

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