SSC Napoli
vs
Lazio Roma
Kick-off
19:30 GMT
20 January 2019
With Christmas and the New Year feeling like months ago, the football season is getting ever closer to its business end. That’s certainly the case in Serie A and the race for Champions League spots is certainly an interesting one. Napoli host Lazio on Sunday in a game that will have a big impact on the top four positions.
Lazio won’t be able to take any confidence from their recent encounters with Napoli in the league as they haven’t beaten them in the last seven meetings which goes back to 2015. Napoli have won six of those, including when they met earlier in the campaign where they narrowly beat them 2-1. There have been over 2.5 goals in six of the last eight fixtures between the two with both teams scoring on six occasions.
A win for Napoli is vital as they intend to close the gap on runaway leaders Juventus. However, both Kalidou Koulibaly and Lorenzo Insigne are suspended for the clash whilst Marek Hamsik is still injured. Latest matches: SSC Napoli
13.01.2019
Copp
SSC Napoli
US Sassuolo
2:0
W
29.12.2018
Seri
SSC Napoli
Bologna FC
3:2
W
26.12.2018
Seri
Inter Milan
SSC Napoli
1:0
L
22.12.2018
Seri
SSC Napoli
Spal 2013
1:0
W
16.12.2018
Seri
Cagliari Calcio
SSC Napoli
0:1
W
In order to keep pace with the sides above them, Lazio would ideally need to avoid defeat on Sunday and they’re not doing too badly on the injury front: Adam Marusic is suspended while Felipe Caicedo, Senad Lulic and Bruno Jordao are all doubts. Latest matches: Lazio Roma
12.01.2019
Copp
Lazio Roma
Novara Calcio
4:1
W
29.12.2018
Seri
Lazio Roma
Turin FC
1:1
D
26.12.2018
Seri
Bologna FC
Lazio Roma
0:2
W
22.12.2018
Seri
Lazio Roma
Cagliari Calcio
3:1
W
17.12.2018
Seri
Atalanta Bergamasca
Lazio Roma
1:0
L
With better recent form and some favourable results in this fixture, Napoli go into the match as big favourites and they should be able to win. Although, some of their big absentees might leave the door open for Lazio to cause a shock and the visitors will be confident of scoring. A Napoli win with both teams scoring looks like a reasonable prediction for the clash.
20 January 2019 - 19:30 GMT
Share your opinion about this preview by leaving a comment below.