Team form
Roma are coming into this tie in fantastic form, having won nine and lost just three of their opening 12 games.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s men have won four of their last five games, including back-to-back victories over Udinese and Cremonese in the last two gameweeks.
They also have the best defensive record in the Italian top-flight, alongside Como, having conceded just six times thus far.
Defending champions Napoli have hit something of a stumbling block in recent weeks, with defeats against Torino and Bologna, as well as a draw with Como, in their last six games.
A 3-1 win over Atalanta at home last weekend ended a two-game run without a victory and could give Antonio Conte’s side confidence for this trip to Rome.
Head-to-head
There isn’t much to separate these two sides on recent head-to-head form, with Napoli having a slender advantage with two wins compared to Roma’s one.
This fixture ended 1-1 last season, as Angelino’s 92nd-minute volley rescued a point right at the death in the Italian capital.
You have to go back four meetings for Roma’s last win over Napoli, when late goals from Lorenzo Pellegrini and Romelu Lukaku earned a 2-0 victory at this venue.
Team news
Both sides have their fair share of injuries. Roma are particularly weakened in attack, where Gasperini will be without Aston Villa loanee Leon Bailey, as well as Paulo Dybala and Artem Dovbyk.
Angelino and Mario Hermoso could return at the back, strengthening Roma’s already solid defensive line.
Conte’s injury concerns are just as extensive. Kevin De Bruyne and Frank Anguissa are out until next year, while Alex Meret looks set to return in mid-December.
Leonardo Spinaazol and Lukaku are closer to returning, but this will likely be too soon for the former Roma forward, who could be back in action from next week.
Key stats
Both sides have solid defensive records this season, with Roma conceding 0.5 goals per game compared to Napoli’s 0.9.
Napoli have received 2.0 cards per game over their last five Serie A outings, while Roma have been booked 1.8 times on average.
Napoli have struggled in front of goal over their last five Serie A games, scoring just 0.8 goals per game on average.
Matias Soule is Roma’s biggest asset, scoring four times and providing two assists in the Serie A this season.
Irish international Evan Ferguson scored his first goal for Roma in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Cremonese.
Prediction
There’s a lot at stake at the Stadio Olimpico, especially with the potential for AC Milan to pile pressure on both sides when they play Lazio at the San Siro 24 hours earlier.
This will be a closely contested game, but Roma have the edge in terms of current form and might just have enough to secure a 2-1 win.
