AS Roma vs Napoli Prediction - Time For The Lupi Bounce Back

Next Saturday, 4th of April 2015, a tremendously inconsistent AS Roma will measure forces with Napoli at the emblematic Stadio Olimpico in Rome for round 29 of the Italian Serie A.

Things have not been easy for Rudi Garcia’s AS Roma, since, with still ten matches to play until the end of the season, the Lupi are already out of the title race and they have a 14 points gap to the league leaders, Juventus. It is fair to consider the Vecchia Signora as the Serie A virtual champions, since only a cataclysm could prevent Massimiliano Allegri’s boys from lifting the trophy at the end of the season.

AS Roma have only won five matches since the new year has started. Last month was particularly painful for the capital city team, who besides being eliminated from the UEFA Europa League, was only able to snatch one miserable win at Serie A. Such win took place two weeks ago on the team’s visit to Cesena, on a match that was decided during the first thanks to a single goal from the team’s vice-captain, Daniele De Rossi. AS Roma’s overall performance was, on the other hand, far from impressive, but in the end proved to be enough for securing the three points.

Their upcoming home match against Napoli will certainly not be an easy one, since the Lupi lost their last three official matches against the Campania based team. AS Roma’s recent poor form could have a negative effect on the team’s motivation levels and they will certainly need to dig deep if they want the secure the three points after such a complicated match.

As for Napoli, the Partenopei are also not living the best of moments, especially at Serie A, where they have failed to win a single match over the past month. In fact, Napoli have only won once last March: it was on a UEFA Europa League’s home match against Dynamo Moscow by 3-1. Rafa Benitez’s men have been having an overall disappointing performance at Serie A this season and currently occupy the 5th place of the league table, one point behind the surprising Sampdoria, who seem to have found, once again, the path to success on the last few matches.

After a goalless draw at Moscow, Napoli failed again to win the game they hosted against Atalanta at San Paolo two weeks ago. The home side might in fact consider themselves lucky since they have managed to snatch the equalizer on the dying moments of the match, thanks to a goal from Duvan Zapata after a precious assist from the team’s captain, Marek Hamsik.

Given both sides' recent poor form, it is fair to say the most likely outcome for next Saturday’s match will be a draw. Nevertheless, by playing in front of their enthusiastic supporters, AS Roma are slightly favourites to win the clash.

AS Roma

Stats: W-1 L-2 D-2

Recent Form - WLLDD

Napoli

Stats: W-1 L-1 D-3

Recent Form - DDLWD

Possible Line-ups

Roma (4-3-3) – De Sanctis - Florenzi - Manolas - Astori - Holebas - De Rossi - Pjanic - Nainggolan - Ljajic - Gervinho - Doumbia

Napoli (4-2-3-1) - Andujar - Maggio - Henrique - Koulibaly - Britos - Inler - Gargano - Callejon - Hamsik - de Guzman - Higuain

Injury List / Suspended Players

AS Roma

Francesco Totti (inj)

Maicon (inj)

Kevin Strootman (inj)

Balzaretti (inj)

Napoli

Michu (inj)

Gargano (inj)

Head-to-head matches:

Top Players:

AS Roma

Daniele De Rossi

Adem Ljajic

Gervinho

Napoli

Marek Hamsik

Gonzalo Higuain

Gokhan Inler

Predictable Goal Scorers:

AS Roma

1. Gervinho
2. Seydou Doumbia
3. Adem Ljajic

Napoli

1. Duvan Zapata
2. Gonzalo Higuain
3. Marek Hamsik

Half-Time Score

AS Roma 1 Napoli 1

Full-Time Score

AS Roma 2 Napoli 2