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0 vs 2
Played
February 12, 2011 2:45 PM EST
Stadio Olimpico — Roma
Referee:‬ M. Bergonzi‎
Attendance:‬ 32354‎
 
 
Edinson Cavani 50′ (PG)
 

Serie A Preview: Roma - Napoli

The Azzurri will hope for a win in Rome and put more pressure on leaders Milan at the top of the table...

By Subhankar Mondal

Jeremy Menez - AS Roma (Getty Images)
Scudetto Challenge Over?

Last weekend was supposed to be Roma's final chance to resuscitate their Scudetto ambitions. The former Italian champions had been somewhat inconsistent in the new year and despite a game in hand had fallen off the pace - a win against Inter was to turn around their fortunes.

However, Roma lost 5-3 at San Siro and now Claudio Ranieri's side have been reduced to target a Champions League spot. Stationed outside the top-six in seventh, the Giallorossi have mustered 39 points from 23 matches and are three points behind fourth-place Lazio and a massive ten points behind league leaders Milan.

Like Inter, Napoli will provide a similarly tough test, which Ranieri knows as much, and says, "The game against Napoli will be very difficult. Napoli are a great team. In the last game against them we played well, but the created more chances.

"I think it's the players who render the team to win, not the formations we play. How do you stop Marek Hamsik? By not turning up so the game is cancelled."

Milan, Here We Come

At the start of the 2010-11 campaign, Napoli were expected to engage in a multi-way battle for a Champions League place. With the second half of the season well under way, the Partenopei have emerged as genuine contenders for the Scudetto, and have sustained their consistency and focus.

Heading into Week 25, Walter Mazzarri's side are just three points behind league leaders Milan with 46 points from 24 matches. With the Rossoneri having dropped points in their last two encounters, Napoli have gained ground, their 2-0 victory over Cesena last weekend seeing them bounce back brilliantly from the shock defeat to Chievo.

In the reverse fixture in the league this season, Napoli defeated Roma 2-0 but Mazzarri claims that they cannot rely on past exploits and says, "Roma are a great side, one of the strongest in the league and they are full of champions, so it will be hard for Napoli.

"It will be an important test for us to understand where we are at mentally. The nice thing about this championship is that everything is unpredictable."




TEAM NEWS

Roma

Adriano is injured and will miss the game. Mexes and Nicolas Burdisso are suspended.

Napoli

Grava and Vitale are injured and are unavailable for the trip to Rome.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ May 19, 2013 AS Roma 2 - Napoli 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Jan 6, 2013 Napoli 4 - AS Roma 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
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Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Apr 28, 2012 AS Roma 2 - Napoli 2
  • Player Ratings
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  • Play by Play
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Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Dec 18, 2011 Napoli 1 - AS Roma 3
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Feb 12, 2011 AS Roma 0 - Napoli 2
  • Player Ratings
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  • Play by Play
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Last Five Matches
AS Roma
May 19, 2013AS Roma 2 - Napoli 1ITA1
May 12, 2013Milan 0 - AS Roma 0ITA1
May 7, 2013AS Roma 0 - Chievo 1ITA1
May 4, 2013Fiorentina 0 - AS Roma 1ITA1
Apr 28, 2013AS Roma 4 - Siena 0ITA1
Napoli
May 19, 2013AS Roma 2 - Napoli 1ITA1
May 12, 2013Napoli 2 - Siena 1ITA1
May 8, 2013Bologna 0 - Napoli 3ITA1
May 5, 2013Napoli 3 - Inter 1ITA1
Apr 27, 2013Pescara 0 - Napoli 3ITA1
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
27Julio SergioGoalkeeper
7John Arne RiiseDefender
-JuanDefender
-Marco CassettiDefender
87Aleandro RosiMidfielder
20Simone PerrottaMidfielder
16Daniele De RossiMidfielder
11TaddeiMidfielder
30Fabio Henrique SimplicioMidfielder
9Mirko VučinićStriker
22Marco BorrielloStriker
32DoniGoalkeeper
7Paolo CastelliniDefender
-Simone LoriaDefender
33Matteo BrighiMidfielder
27Leandro GrecoMidfielder
7Jérémy MenezMidfielder
10Francesco TottiStriker
1Morgan De SanctisGoalkeeper
3Salvatore AronicaDefender
28Paolo CannavaroDefender
14Hugo Armando CampagnaroDefender
38Andrea DossenaDefender
5Walter GarganoMidfielder
-Michele PazienzaMidfielder
11Christian MaggioMidfielder
21Ezequiel LavezziStriker
7Edinson CavaniStriker
17Marek HamsikMidfielder
-Gennaro IezzoGoalkeeper
18Juan Camilo ZúñigaDefender
13Fabiano SantacroceDefender
-CribariDefender
19Hassan YebdaMidfielder
11José SosaMidfielder
9Giuseppe MascaraStriker
Probable Lineups
Julio Sergio 27
John Arne Riise 7
Juan 0
Marco Cassetti 0
Aleandro Rosi 87
Simone Perrotta 20
Daniele De Rossi 16
Taddei 11
Fabio Henrique Simplicio 30
Mirko Vučinić 9
Marco Borriello 22
Morgan De Sanctis 1
Salvatore Aronica 3
Paolo Cannavaro 28
Hugo Armando Campagnaro 14
Andrea Dossena 38
Walter Gargano 5
Michele Pazienza 0
Christian Maggio 11
Ezequiel Lavezzi 21
Edinson  Cavani 7
Marek Hamsik 17
Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Roma 0
Napoli 0
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Edinson  Cavani Edinson Cavani
Striker
Napoli
29 7
Antonio Di Natale Antonio Di Natale
Striker
Udinese
23 4
Pablo Daniel Osvaldo Pablo Daniel Osvaldo
Striker
Roma
16 2
Stephan El Shaarawy Stephan El Shaarawy
Midfielder
Milan
16 0
Germán Denis Germán Denis
Striker
Atalanta
15 5