Like several of the Champions League hopefuls Napoli too have endured a rather indifferent start to the 2010-11 campaign by their high standards but have now started to come into the groove.
Last weekend Walter Mazzarri’s side came from behind to defeat Cesena 4-1 away from home. The win propelled them to sixth place in the table with eight points from five matches, just two behind leaders Inter and Lazio.
On Thursday evening Napoli held Steaua Bucharest to a 3-3 draw in a Europa League group game away from home and seem to have regained their momentum and form that almost saw them qualify for the Champions League places towards the end of the 2009-10 campaign.
Out Of The Blue
Roma’s inception to the campaign has been ruthlessly disappointing but since last weekend things have taken a surge towards the brighter end of the spectrum. The 1-0 win against Italian and European champions Inter in Rome was a huge morale-booster that saw them defeat Cluj 2-1 at home in midweek in the Champions League.
At the moment Roma are third from bottom in Serie A with five points from five matches. Yet a closer look at the table would suggest that things are not as desperate as they seem as the Lupi are a win away from fifth-placed Milan.
However, whether Roma can get that victory against Napoli in Naples can be put forward as a topic for debate. Claudio Ranieri’s side have lost all their away games this season, both in Serie A and in the Champions League, and against a Napoli side tremendously good in Naples it will not be easy for the former Italian champions.
TEAM NEWS
Napoli
Lucarelli is a long-term injury concern for the Azzurri but Mazzarri has all the other players available for the visit of Roma.
Roma
Julio Sergio, Taddei and Adriano will miss the trip to Naples with injuries. Mexes is suspended and so is Perrotta.
Prediction
This will be a very interesting and entertaining game with both sides committed to playing good, attacking football. It is a difficult match to call and it could just finish in a draw.
Napoli 2-2 Roma 
