Playing first in this week's instalment of an absorbing Serie A title race, Napoli will visit Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
Before Scudetto rivals Inter Milan tackle Juventus in the Derby d'Italia, the league leaders head for Rome, having already lost twice to Lazio this season.
Match preview
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Retaining their prized top-four spot in Serie A, Lazio made short work of rock-bottom Monza last weekend, when Pedro struck twice and top scorer Taty Castellanos was on target in a comprehensive 5-1 home win.
Castellanos had also found the net as his side secured maximum points in Cagliari a few days earlier, with back-to-back victories keeping them just ahead of Juventus in the final guaranteed Champions League place.
While the Biancocelesti strolled through the Europa League's first phase and are contenders to lift that trophy later this season, they remain intent on dining at Europe's top table; however, Fiorentina, AC Milan and Bologna are also on their coat-tails.
Therefore, they cannot afford to drop many more points at Stadio Olimpico, having won only one of their last five home games in Italy's top flight - and that was against Serie B-bound Monza.
Marco Baroni's men now face opponents they defeated twice in a matter of days back in December, first winning 3-1 in the Coppa Italia before Gustav Isaksen's goal decided matters in Naples.
In fact, by repeating the feat this weekend, Lazio would record three wins over Napoli in one season for the first time in 30 years.
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As well as that cup exit at Stadio Olimpico, Napoli have not prevailed in any of the last four league meetings between these southern rivals - having won all of the previous four.
Even so, they still boast an impressive record against Lazio in Rome, with eight wins from the clubs' last 11 contests in the capital.
This time around, Antonio Conte's men will be intent on ending a rare wait for success, following back-to-back draws to start February; as a result, Inter have trimmed their lead down to one point with 14 games remaining.
After a run of seven league wins, Napoli were first denied by a last-gasp Roma goal on their most recent visit to the Olimpico, before slipping up at home to mid-table Udinese: Scott McTominay struck first, but the Bianconeri bit straight back, ultimately holding on for a 1-1 draw.
A tally of 55 points may be 10 shy of Napoli's haul at this stage of their last Scudetto-winning campaign - two years ago - but it still represents the Campanian side's fourth-best tally ever after 24 games.
In keeping with events at his prior clubs, Conte has muttered darkly about a lack of mid-term signings, but his squad are still on track to deny Inter back-to-back titles - and they can open up a four-point gap by beating Lazio.
Team News
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Spoiling an otherwise successful game against Monza, Lazio lost forward Boulaye Dia to a sprained ankle; if he fails to return, Pedro and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru are both on standby to deputise.
Matias Vecino, Patric and ex-Napoli full-back Elseid Hysaj will miss out, but Marco Baroni can call upon recent arrivals Arijon Ibrahimovic, Reda Belahyane and Oliver Provstgaard, all of whom were unused substitutes last weekend.
Supporting Taty Castellanos up front, skipper Mattia Zaccagni has scored twice and provided one assist in his last three home games against Saturday's opponents.
After losing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain in mid-season, his in-house replacement David Neres suffered a muscular injury during Napoli's draw with Udinese and has been ruled out until March, forcing Antonio Conte to weigh up several options.
Leonardo Spinazzola has deputised on the wing before but is currently unavailable; loan signing Noah Okafor - who has been sidelined for most of 2025 - can play along the front line; while Italy international Giacomo Raspadori could make his first Serie A start since August.
At the back, Alessandro Buongiorno is ready to complete his return from a long layoff by starting, so Juan Jesus may shift across to the left; captain and right-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo will make his 200th league appearance for the Partenopei.
Of all active Serie A players, striker Giovanni Simeone has the most goals against Lazio, his father's former club - a tally of eight includes four in one match. However, since the start of last season, he has scored just twice, so Romelu Lukaku remains an undisputed first choice.
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Pedro, Zaccagni; Castellanos
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Jesus; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Raspadori
We say: Lazio 2-1 Napoli
Expect a late twist, as these teams have earned the most points from goals scored after the 75th minute so far this season.
As their visitors' new bogey team, Lazio might make it three from three, ending Napoli's nine-game unbeaten streak and denting Antonio Conte's title dreams.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
