Napoli vs Roma Prediction: BTTS is a solid play

Arguably the biggest game in Serie A on Sunday comes from Naples as Roma make the trip to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium with eyes firmly on a Champions League spot for next season.

Our Serie A Betting Expert Daniele Fisichella got the assignment for this one, so check out his Napoli vs Roma Predictions in his full match preview for us for the 17:00 kick-off, live on TNT Sports 3 in the UK...

The Giallorossi are marching towards qualification for Champions League for the first time in six years.

Thanks to their stoppage time win in Udine on Thursday, where they played the remaining 20 minutes of the game suspended two weeks ago, they have a four-points-lead over Atalanta.

The Bergamaschi have a game in hand but Roma can look at the upcoming tough fixtures, both in Italy and in Europe, with optimism.

On Sunday they face Napoli, a side that is the shadow of the one that dominated last year’s Serie A and that, at best, can qualify to play in the Conference League next year.

Last weekend, the Neapolitans continued to struggle to find consistency (they’ve only win on of the last six games) and handed vital points to another team at the bottom of the table.

Empoli was the beneficiary this time, after Napoli’s 2-2 home draw against Frosinone a fortnight ago.

There’s little to get excited about the Azzurri this season but, if anything, last year’s champions are contributing to keep alive the race to avoid relegation.

Franco Calzona’s side has made a bad habit of conceding extremely cheap goals, often the result of hopeful and simple crosses, and its attacking plays is stuttering.

Despite their recent 3-1 defeat at home against Bologna (only the second in 13 league games under Daniele De Rossi), the visitors continue to look a stronger and more cohesive group, with more tactical discipline than Napoli.

The hosts lack a game plan and depend too much on the strokes of genius of some of their top players.

The appointment of Roma’s former captain as manager has completely transformed the team from Italy’s capital.

Thanks to Thursday’s victory De Rossi has equalled José Mourinho’s points tally (29), but with seven less games played.

Results have backed up the team’s change of attitude under the new manager and some of his tactical tweaks to a formation that often presents four attacking players.

In fact in the last 14 Serie A matches only two sides (Inter, 35 points, and Bologna, 30) have done better than Roma.

Team News:

Rrahmani and Mario Rui are back from suspension, and will regain their places in the starting XI as centre-back and left-back respectively.

Olivera has largely resumed work with his teammates since Thursday and will be on the bench.

In midfield, Zielinski remains favourite to start over Traorè. Politano, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia will play upfront.

Roma are without Llorente and Paredes (both suspended) as well as N’Dicka and Lukaku, injured.

The Belgian might be fit enough to make the bench, but could be rested ahead of Thursday’s game in the Europa League against Bayer Leverkusen.

Azmoun, who scored against Bologna, is expected to start upfront alongside Dybala with Bove and Huijsen also coming into the 4-3-3 formation.

Napoli vs Roma Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Napoli vs Roma page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Napoli are nine points behind Roma in the table but are considered favourite (19/20) to win on Sunday evening.

Last season’s champions have only won five games at home but have beaten Roma twice last season (2-1 at home and 1-0 away). The Giallorossi haven’t tasted victory in Napoli since 2018.

Roma have only won five away league games this season but Napoli’s record at home is very poor. In fact, they’re 11th in the home table, with fewer points and goals scored than newly promoted Cagliari.

Both the draw (5/2) and a Roma win (3/1) pay really well considering the visitors are certainly the most in form of these two sides.

Over 2.5 Goals (odds 5/6) has been a winning bet in five of Roma’s last six away games. Two of Napoli’s last three league games have gone over 3.5 goals.

However, five of the last six meetings have produced only two goals or fewer. Under 2.5 Goals odds are also 5/6.

Draw or Roma @ 5/6

The next two weeks will be decisive for the visitors, who approach this game full of confidence.

They’re galvanized by a late winner on Thursday and only failed to score in one out of six away games under De Rossi in the league.

Napoli have obtained the three points in just one (2-1 against Juventus) of the seven home matches they played against top sides.

The hosts top the ball possession table in Italy but their territorial domination is often utterly sterile.

In fact, they’ve scored 29 fewer goals than leaders Inter and last Saturday against Empoli, they finished the first half with 71% possession but only one shot against the Tuscans’ six.

Both Teams To Score – Yes @ 8/11

Napoli have kept no clean sheets in the last 14 games in all competitions. The visitors have Serie A’s third-best attack but their goalkeepers have remained unbeaten in only four away games this season.

Both teams have scored in four of Roma's last six Serie A away games, and the same happened in 12 out 16 Napoli’s matches at home.

You can check out all of Daniele's Serie A Betting Tips here each week along with those of our other Italian Football writers...