Lazio vs Napoli

Napoli will be desperate to avoid losing four successive away matches in Serie A for the first time since 2015 when they meet top-four hopefuls Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.

Back to Serie A action following a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-finals, Lazio will be looking to pick up where they left off before jetting off to Saudi Arabia. Maurizio Sarri’s men have pieced together an eye-catching four-game winning league streak for the first time this season to move within a single-point distance of fourth-placed Fiorentina at the start of this round. Stadio Olimpico forms the perfect backdrop for Lazio’s bid to maintain their form resurgence in Serie A, considering they’ve only lost once in their last 12 home outings (W10, D1). However, ‘I Biancocelesti’ can’t take anything for granted after suffering back-to-back 2-1 home league defeats to Napoli. That said, Lazio ran out 2-1 victors in the reverse fixture in September.

Meanwhile, Napoli suffered a Supercoppa Italiana heartbreak as Lautaro Martinez’s stoppage-time winner inspired Inter to a 1-0 win in the title-deciding fixture in Riyadh earlier this week. Walter Mazzarri’s troubled side can draw confidence from ousting Fiorentina 3-0 in their semi-final tie beforehand and beating Salernitana 2-1 at home in their last Serie A match. But you’d need to go back to September for the last time ‘I Partenopei’ won two consecutive league games, suggesting a third straight victory in the capital is far from a foregone conclusion. Stuck in mid-table after only winning once in their four previous Serie A contests (D1, L2), the reigning champions need a win here to stay within touching distance of the Champions League qualification spots.