Roma vs SSC Napoli Match Predictions & Odds
Serie A Match of the Week
Just Two Points Separate Giallorossi and Partenopei
Defending Serie A champions Napoli have struggled a bit this season and have already changed coaches. Still, they’re just one point outside the top four heading into Matchday 17. Roma have also struggled, and the Giallorossi will host the Partenopei on Sunday as just two points separate the two sides. Ahead of Saturday’s Derby del Sole, we’ll make some Roma vs SSC Napoli match predictions and check out the odds. Should Roma win, they’ll leapfrog Napoli in the Serie A standings.
Roma vs Napoli
Location: Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy
Day/Time:
Head-to-Head
Napoli completed a season sweep of Roma in two Serie A games last season. Victor Osimhen scored in both fixtures as Napoli picked up a 1-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico and a 2-1 win in Naples. Two of the last four Serie A matches between the two teams have finished all square. Napoli are also unbeaten in the previous seven meetings of the Derby del Sole and have lost just one of the last ten.
Inconsistent Roma in Eighth Place
AS Roma’s six-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end on Sunday as they fell 2-0 at Bologna in Serie A. Bologna was the better side in the match and fully deserved the win. As a result, Roma fell to eighth place in the Serie A table, but they’re only three points outside of the top four. Jose Mourinho’s team has been wildly inconsistent in Serie A this season, with a 7-4-5 record.
They also failed to win their Europa League group, so they’ll face Feyenoord in the first knockout round in February. Mourinho has gotten Roma to European finals in each of his two full seasons at the helm, but they’ve finished in sixth place in Serie A in back-to-back campaigns. With Napoli also in a vulnerable spot, some Roma vs SSC Napoli match predictions have the Giallorossi breaking their seven-game winless streak vs. the Partenopei in this match.
However, Roma entered the match as +180 home underdogs. They have been solid at the Stadio Olimpico this season, with a 5-2-1 home record in Serie A. However, both Tammy Abraham and Paulo Dybala are absent from Roma’s front line. Following suspensions, Mourinho will get both Romelu Lukaku and Nicola Zalewski back for this one. Houssem Aouar and Chris Smalling are also out injured.
Napoli Back to Winning Ways
SSC Napoli bounced back from a three-match losing streak last week to get two crucial wins. First, they took down SC Braga in the Champions League to advance to the round of 16, where they’ll take on Barcelona. Last Saturday, Napoli also defeated Cagliari 2-1 in Serie A to move up to fifth in the Serie A table. The defending champions are 14 points behind leaders Inter Milan but would undoubtedly be happy with a top-four spot this season.
Title-winning coach Luciano Spalletti departed after last season and was succeeded by Rudi Garcia. Garcia lasted just a few months, and Walter Mazzarri is back for a second spell in charge. Guiding Napoli to the UCL round of 16 was an important feat, and he’s got Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia looking more like themselves. Osimhen scored and assisted on Kvara’s goal in the win over Cagliari.
Osimhen, who recently won Player of the Year at the 2023 CAF awards, also found the net in the match vs. Braga. Last season’s Serie A top scorer has seven Serie A goals so far. Napoli figures to be a stronger pick for soccer betting in the second half of the season, especially if defensive reinforcements come. While left-back Mario Rui recently returned from an injury, Eljif Elmas and Mathias Olivera are currently out.
Match Analysis & Odds
This Saturday’s Derby del Sole is undoubtedly one of the best games of the week in European football. Both teams still have a lot to prove and are embroiled in what could be a six-team race for the final Champions League spot this season. What immediately stands out on the odds board is that under 2.5 goals come in at -145 odds.
Roma have conceded in each of their last four Serie A matches and Napoli have one of the best frontlines in the league. The first of our Roma vs SSC Napoli match predictions is that more than two goals will be scored. Bettors may want to consider over 2.5 goals at +125 odds as Lukaku also returns to the lineup for the Giallorossi.
Any outcome is possible in this match, as Roma’s moneyline sits at +180, Napoli’s shows +150, and a draw is priced at +205. Recall that Napoli hasn’t lost any of their last seven matches vs. AS Roma. Bettors who think that streak will continue may want to consider Napoli +0.5 at -220 odds. Meanwhile, the oddsmakers list Roma -0.5 at +180. We believe the two most likely goalscorers in this match are Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Roma’s Romelu Lukaku. The odds are in line with that as Osimhen and Lukaku, as anytime goalscorers, display +150 and +185, respectively.
For Serie A news, odds analysis, and more visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
