Napoli vs Lazio

One of the most highly anticipated fixtures on this weekend’s Serie A schedule pits league-leaders Napoli against sixth-placed Lazio at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

A high-scoring 3-2 defeat away to Inter Milan last time out knocked Napoli down from a 12-game unbeaten start to this Serie A season (W10, D2), putting them in an awkward situation heading into this clash. The last time ‘I Partenopei’ lost back-to-back Serie A matches was in December 2020, coincidentally against the likes of Inter and Lazio that time! Interestingly, Luciano Spalletti’s side conceded as many goals against Inter (3) as they had in their previous ten league outings combined. Adding to Napoli’s confidence, they have defeated Lazio in their last four Serie A encounters on home turf, netting 2+ goals on each occasion, at an average of 3.5 per game. Perhaps surprisingly, only 42.31% of their Serie A goals scored this season have come at home (11/26).

Meanwhile, Lazio surrendered a three-game unbeaten Serie A streak (W2, D1) last time out with a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Juventus. However, a 3-0 away win over Lokomotiv Moscow in midweek Europa League action must have restored some confidence in the traveling camp, as ‘I Biancocelesti’ gun for their first Serie A away win since a 3-1 beating of newly-promoted Empoli in August. Maurizio Sarri’s men have since failed to win any of their five league games on the road (D2, L3), conceding an average of 2.4 goals per match. Though they stare at the prospect of losing back-to-back Serie A fixtures without scoring for the first time since January 2017, Lazio can draw confidence from their recent free-scoring form on hostile turf. The visitors have bagged 2+ goals in their last three competitive travels, with five of their seven goals scored in that run coming beyond half-time.