Napoli vs AS Roma prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2024-04-27 16:00.
[p]Even though European qualification remains a distinct possibility for Napoli, this is a campaign that their supporters will be desperate to see end. A 1-0 defeat against Empoli last week – their tenth loss of the Serie A season – left the Partenopei a whopping 37 points shy of leaders Inter. The record deficit for the defending Scudetto winners stands at 38 points, so Napoli are well on course to be the worst Italian champions ever![/p]
[p]To avoid such a fate, Francesco Calzona’s men simply must improve on a run of just one win from their last seven matches in all competitions (D3, L3). Their form doesn’t get much better on home soil however (W1, D4, L1), with Napoli earning just 23 of their 49 points at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona – keeping just two clean sheets along the way (W6, D5, L5).[/p]
[p]Roma visit Naples looking to tighten their grip on a UEFA Champions League qualification place, as they begin the weekend with a four-point buffer to the chasing pack. The Giallorossi scored late to beat Udinese on Thursday, with only the final 18 minutes replayed after the original fixture was abandoned when Roma defender Evan Ndicka collapsed.[/p]
[p]Boss Daniele De Rossi admitted to being stumped by preparing his side for such a short match, and even apologised for his overzealous celebrations after the winning goal was scored! Such contrition may not be on display should his Roma side do the double over Napoli for the first time since 1997/98, but to achieve that they’ll have to end a five-match winless run in away H2Hs (D2, L3).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Napoli striker Victor Osimhen scored in both H2Hs last season, but has demons to banish having been sent off in December’s 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture. Paulo Dybala could be Roma’s key man here having directly contributed to goals in four of his last five matches (G1, A3), including assisting the winner against Udinese.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Roma have scored a joint-league high 18 times between the 76th minute and full-time in Serie A this season, including both goals in the reverse fixture.[/p]