With Roma and Napoli set to clash at the Stadio Olimpico this weekend, we take an in-depth look at history of the Derby del Sole (Derby of the Sun).
Northern Italy is regarded as the heart of Italian football, with powerhouses such as Juventus, Milan, and Inter hailing from the region. However, Roma (Central Italy) and Napoli (Southern Italy) are seen as the biggest clubs outside of North Italy.
The first Derby del Sole took place all the way back in 1928, with Roma winning 4-1 on that occasion. Since then, the two rivals have faced each other 170 times in all competitions.
Here is a breakdown of all the meetings.
As you can see, Roma have the upper hand when it comes to the overall head-to-head record. The club from the capital have claimed 63 victories over Napoli, meaning they have a win rate of 37% in the Derby del Sole.
Napoli have defeated Roma on 52 occasions, resulting in a win rate of 30%. The other 55 meetings ended in a draw (33%).
The biggest Derby del Sole win came back in 1959, when Roma thrashed Napoli 8-0. The biggest victory since the turn of the millennium came in 2020, when the Neapolitans beat the Romans 4-0.
On the topic of goals, the top scorer in Derby del Sole history is Dino da Costa. Between 1955 and 1961, the Brazilian-Italian forward scored eight goals for Roma against Napoli.
Fast-forward to today – Napoli head into Sunday’s showdown on a five-game unbeaten streak in this fixture, having claimed three wins and two draws since their last loss against Roma.
Last season, the rivals played out a goalless draw at the Stadio Olimpico before drawing 1-1 in Naples. When you look at the bigger picture, Roma have only managed to win one of their last eight meetings with Napoli.
As we head into Matchday 11 of the 2022/23 Serie A campaign, unbeaten Napoli find themselves atop the table after winning eight and drawing two of their ten games. Meanwhile, Roma sit fourth – four points behind Napoli – with a record of seven wins, one draw and two losses.
Can Napoli maintain their unbeaten record and extend their lead at the Serie A summit? Or will Jose Mourinho’s close the gap between them and their Derby del Sole rivals? We’ll have to wait and see!