It feels like a lot has changed since Napoli finished 16 points clear of runners-up Lazio to clinch the Scudetto last season.
As the two sides prepare to face off at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, ninth-placed Napoli trail sixth-placed Lazio by two points in the Serie A standings.
🤜🤛Work to do#CMonEagles 🦅 pic.twitter.com/RI5weWTV8A— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) January 24, 2024
🤜🤛Work to do#CMonEagles 🦅 pic.twitter.com/RI5weWTV8A
Without star striker Victor Osimhen due to the Africa Cup of Nations, will Napoli’s struggles continue? Keep reading to find out what Forebet’s algorithm predicts.
Lazio head into Sunday’s showdown on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-finals, failing to register a single shot on target.
That loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Eagles, who enjoyed three clean-sheet victories across December and January.
In Serie A, Lazio have won each of their last four matches, suffering a solitary defeat in their previous seven, with their only loss coming against Inter once again.
Having lost just one of their last nine home league games – winning six of the previous eight – the Eagles will be confident of returning to winning ways this weekend.
Napoli also participated in the Supercoppa Italiana earlier this month, defeating Fiorentina 3-0 before losing 1-0 to Inter in the final.
Following Monday’s defeat, Napoli have now lost eight of their last 14 matches across all competitions, picking up five wins and one draw along the way.
Trends show that Napoli have been wildly inconsistent in Serie A this season, recording nine wins, four draws and seven losses in their opening 20 games.
As a result, the reigning champions find themselves 21 points behind table-topping Juventus, meaning their title defence is all but over.
Head-to-head: Although Lazio have won each of their last two meetings with Napoli, the Naples outfit have won six of the previous nine encounters.
The H2H stats also show that Lazio have managed to win just two of their last 11 home league games against Napoli.
Team news: Lazio boast a clean bill of health at the moment. Better still, the hosts haven’t lost any players to the Africa Cup of Nations or Asian Cup.
By contrast, Napoli are without Alex Meret, Natan, Hamed Junior Traore and Mathias Olivera due to injury, while Victor Osimhen and Frank Anguissa are on AFCON duty.
Given that Napoli have lost eight of their last 14 games, Lazio hold the upper hand ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
Forebet predicts that Lazio and Napoli will combine for over 2.5 goals at the Stadio Olimpico, with the hosts outscoring the visitors.