Preview: Napoli vs Roma - prediction, team news, lineups

[(SSC Napoli) Strength]:
1. SSC Napoli's core midfielder McTominay was forced off with an injury in the last league match and missed the midweek Coppa Italia clash against Como. He is likely to return to the squad for this game.
2. SSC Napoli striker Rasmus Hojlund scored a brace in the last league match, helping the team secure all three points at home. He currently leads the club's scoring charts with 8 league goals this season.
3. SSC Napoli's recent league performance has shown signs of improvement. After winning 3-2 away against Genoa in the last league match, they have achieved two consecutive league victories.
4. SSC Napoli have a powerful offensive force. The team have scored 8 goals in the last 5 official matches, averaging nearly 2 goals per game.
5. SSC Napoli's home performance in the league is reliable. This season, they have achieved 8 wins and 3 draws in 11 home games, ranking 2nd in Serie A for home record.
6. In their last 10 league meetings, SSC Napoli have recorded 5 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss. In the 4 home matches among those, they remained unbeaten with 2 wins and 2 draws.
 

[(SSC Napoli) Weakness]:
1. SSC Napoli centre-back Juan Jesus was sent off with a red card in the last league match and will be suspended for this game. Five players, De Bruyne, Anguissa, Gilmour, Di Lorenzo and Neres, are still unable to play due to injuries.
2. SSC Napoli were eliminated from the Coppa Italia in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout against Como. The match ended 6-7 on penalties, dashing their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
3. SSC Napoli have struggled in defense recently. The team have conceded 10 goals in their last 5 matches across all competitions, averaging 2 goals conceded per game.
 

[(AS Roma) Strength]:
1. AS Roma striker Malen performed heroically in the last league match, scoring a brace to guide the team to all three points at home. He was undoubtedly the hero of the victory.
2. AS Roma won 2-0 at home against Cagliari in the last league match, ending their three-game winless streak in official competitions and showing some signs of improvement in form.
3. The defense of AS Roma in the league is particularly outstanding. In the 24 rounds of the league this season, they have only conceded 14 goals, making them the team with the fewest goals conceded in Serie A. Furthermore, they are yet to concede a single penalty in the league, highlighting their remarkable defensive discipline.
4. AS Roma's recent offensive performance in the league has been decent. The team have scored 7 goals in the last 5 league matches, averaging 1.4 goals per game.
 

[(AS Roma) Weakness]:
1. AS Roma midfielder Kouadio Kone and three forwards, Shaarawy, Evan Ferguson and Dovbyk, are still out due to injuries in this game. Robinio Vaz and Hermoso are in doubt for the match.
2. AS Roma's recent away performance in the league has dropped significantly. The team have achieved only 2 wins and 4 losses in their last 6 away league matches, with a win rate of merely 33%.
 

[Tips]:
SSC Napoli were knocked out of the Coppa Italia on penalties in midweek, but have responded with back-to-back league wins. They boast potent attacking firepower and a strong home record, though defensive frailties persist.

On the other hand, AS Rome have been performing poorly overall recently, winning only one of their last four games across all competitions, and their away performance has dropped significantly. However, the team's overall offense and defense remain solid.

In historical encounters, SSC Napoli have held a clear advantage. However, the AH line is not in favor of SSC Napoli enough.

AS Rome are expected to keep unbeaten away from home.
 

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