Five Key Battles in Napoli vs Lazio: Danish Titans Prepare to Lock Horns

At the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli will host Lazio in the biggest showdown of Serie A matchday 11.

While the Partenopei are coming off back-to-back defeats at Juventus and Porto, the visitors will arrive in Naples as the solitary league leaders, riding a six-match win streak and an 11-match unbeaten run.

This contest will feature an interesting tactical warfare between Massimiliano Allegri and his former AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso. The experienced Tuscan won all five of their previous meetings. However, the outcome will be ultimately decided by the 22 men on the pitch.

So let us take a look at five anticipated duels between Napoli and Lazio players, at least based on the expected starting lineups.

With Mattia Zaccagni ruled out with injury, Tijjani Noslin should be moved to the left wing, giving Andrea Pinamonti the opportunity to start his first match since September. The Italian striker certainly earned his chance by delivering the winner in Sunday’s game against Cagliari.

The 27-year-old will meet Amir Rrahmani, who should remember him from an old encounter in 2022, when Pinamonti bagged a memorable brace for Empoli, who beat Napoli 3-2 to end their title aspirations.

The former Sassuolo star will be looking for a similar impact this weekend.

Since Serie A action resumed after the extended international break, Gustav Isaksen may have been the league’s most in-form winger, producing four goals and one assist in five games. On the contrary, Rafa Marin has been enduring difficult times in recent weeks. On Wednesday, he was sent off for a cerebral challenge on Porto striker on Porto striker Samu.

The exhausted defender certainly won’t fancy chasing Isaksen’s fresh legs all over the field. So if his Napoli teammates don’t lend him a hand in this daunting mission, it could be a long afternoon for the Spaniard.

Over the past few years, Zambo Anguissa has arguably been league’s best box-to-box midfielder alongside Nicolo Barella and Adrien Rabiot. But unfortunately for the Cameroonian, recurring injuries are starting to take their toll on his form, even though he’s still delivering ocasional brilliance, like his bicycle kick goal against Roma a couple of weeks ago.

Anguissa’s duel with Kenneth Taylor could represent a change of the guard, as the Dutchman is beginning to make a case for himself as one of the finest midfielders in Serie A. Therefore, a battle with the Napoli stalwart will be a true test to the 24-year-old’s mettle.

Under Allegri, Kevin De Bruyne has been given the license to roam all over the pitch, but he remains most dangerous when lurking just outside the box and trying to put a teammate through on goal. Luckily for Lazio, they might have the perfect antidote in Reda Belahyane, who excells in neutralising creative attacking midfielders.

The Moroccan will have his hands full, as Scott McTominay will also operate in the pockets, but his main mission will likely be denying De Bruyne from the time and space he needs to orchestrate the play for the hosts.

This might be the most anticipated battle of all, as two young, tall, physically-imposing Danes battle it out on Neapolitan soil just hours before they link up at the national team camp.

Rasmus Hojlund had an excellent first campaign in Naples, but he has only delivered three goals in nine Serie A appearances this term. Nevertheless, his absence was heavily felt against Juventus, with the team looking toothless.

On Sunday, the former Manchester United striker will be keen to make an impact, but he’ll have to get past Oliver Provstgaard, who has been particularly solid this term, not to mention Josip Sutalo, whose importance to Lazio is growing with every game.