There are some cracking fixtures to look forward to in Serie A this weekend, with the top eight teams coming together across four fixtures.
However, the pick of the games is arguably the meeting between Napoli and Roma at the Stadio San Paolo on Saturday night.
Following the postponement of Juventus’ fixture last weekend due to snow, Napoli have opened a 4-point gap at the top of Serie A and can maintain or widen the gap with a win in this match.
Roma are in fifth place and 2 points separates them and Lazio who are currently in third. With Lazio playing Juventus on Saturday, Roma could move up two places with a win.
Trends show Napoli are in excellent form and there is no letting up in their pursuit of the Serie A title. They have won each of their last ten league games and have lost only one of their last thirty-eight Serie A games, which was the defeat at home to Juventus earlier this season.
Many onlookers thought that would see an end to Napoli’s title charge but they responded superbly following that defeat to draw one and win ten of their following eleven league games.
Napoli have won each of their last five Serie A games on home soil and have scored 13 goals, at an average of 2.6 goals per game. Last weekend they defeated Cagliari 5-0 away from home and will come into this match full of confidence.
Having made a seemingly strong return to form in Serie A, winning three matches in a row, Roma lost 2-0 at home to a resurgent AC Milan last weekend and this followed a disappointing defeat at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.
Having failed to win six Serie A matches in succession, which included defeats against Juventus, Atalanta and Sampdoria, Roma got back to winning ways with wins over Hellas Verona, Benevento and Udinese.
The true test of their form came against Milan last week but Roma failed to produce the goods, meaning they have won just one of their last five on home soil.
Away from home, Roma’s form is better and they have remained undefeated in their last four league games. There have been victories over Hellas Verona and Udinese and played out draws with inter Milan and Sampdoria.
Only once in their last six away Serie A matches have Roma scored more than a single goal.
Team news and Napoli are still without the injured full-back Faouzi Ghoulam but should otherwise be at full strength.
Roma travel with a doubt over Lorenzo Pellegrini and if he fails to recover in time they are expected to start with Daniele De Rossi and Kevin Strootman in the middle of the pitch.
Napoli have got the bit between their teeth and have shown no signs of slowing down in their attempt to win the title. Roma are sure to give them a good game but this match should end in a home win.