Today’s packed Serie A fixture list kicks off at 11.30 UK time with the Derby del Sole between Roma and Napoli.
Click here to follow the build-up and the action as it happens on our LIVEBLOG.
There are currently six points separating the two clubs in the table and they meet at the Stadio Olimpico with a huge amount at stake.
Today’s packed Serie A fixture list kicks off at 11.30 UK time with the Derby del Sole between Roma and Napoli.
Click here to follow the build-up and the action as it happens on our LIVEBLOG.
There are currently six points separating the two clubs in the table and they meet at the Stadio Olimpico with a huge amount at stake.
Roma finally ended their disastrous run of results with a win away to Cesena, but are still only one point clear of arch rivals Lazio and have a host of other teams scrambling for a top three finish.
Rudi Garcia’s men are without a Serie A home victory since beating Inter 4-2 on November 30, managing only six consecutive draws and a defeat to Sampdoria.
Napoli had been challenging Roma for second, but have since plummeted to fifth position after three consecutive away defeats.
Rafa Benitez and President Aurelio De Laurentiis were furious with the referee after their 1-1 draw with Atalanta before the international break and it remains to be seen how that tension will affect their performance.
Francesco Totti, Gervinho, Douglas Maicon, Seydou Keita, Salih Ucan and Kevin Strootman are sidelined.
Victor Ibarbo had been expected to get the nod, as he has scored twice in his last three encounters with the Partenopei and is finally fit again.
Instead, Alessandro Florenzi, Adem Ljajic and Juan Manuel Iturbe form a lightweight and pacey trident attack.
Miralem Pjanic is back after his ban, while Davide Astori is preferred to Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.
Napoli have Gokhan Inler suspended, so Jorginho returns with Raul Albiol and Faouzi Ghoulam bans expired.
Because of fears over crowd trouble, tickets for this game were not available to fans living in Naples, but at least 2,000 supporters are expected to be in the stadium anyway.
Roma: De Sanctis; Torosidis, Manolas, Astori, Holebas; De Rossi, Pjanic, Nainggolan; Florenzi, Ljajic, Iturbe
Napoli: Andujar; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; Jorginho, David Lopez; Callejon, De Guzman, Mertens; Higuain