Napoli vs Lazio

Reigning Serie A champions Napoli continue their title defense at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona against underperforming Lazio.

Scudetto-winning manager Luciano Spalletti has left Napoli in good hands as Rudi Garcia’s return to Serie A after a seven-year absence couldn’t have started any better. After Victor Osimhen’s brace inspired ‘I Partenopei’ to a come-from-behind 3-1 win at newly-promoted Frosinone on the opening weekend, Garcia’s side netted on either side of halftime again to beat Sassuolo 2-0 at home last week, making it six consecutive H2Hs without losing. Napoli had enjoyed another substantial unbeaten streak before Lazio’s shock 1-0 win in this corresponding fixture last term knocked them down from a seven-match undefeated H2H home run (W6, D1). Keen to exact revenge, Garcia’s men can draw confidence from stringing together six successive home league outings without a defeat (W4, D2) since an embarrassing 4-0 loss to AC Milan in early April.

Lazio’s current form suggests Napoli’s stellar home form is safe and sound, proving last season’s runner-up finish was nothing but a fluke. After surrendering a halftime lead in a dismal 2-1 defeat at below-par Lecce on the opening weekend, Lazio relinquished a 37-match unbeaten home run against newly-promoted clubs in Serie A last time out, going down 1-0 to Alberto Gilardino’s Genoa. As a result, ‘I Biancocelesti’ could be staring down the barrel of a hat-trick of defeats at the start of a new Serie A campaign for the first time in the club’s illustrious top-flight history! However, Lazio fared reasonably well when faced against the odds last term, racking up four victories on seven Serie A travels as pre-match outsiders (L3), giving Sarri some hope ahead of this ominous-looking trip. Interestingly, none of Lazio’s last seven away league games have ended level (W4, L3), an ‘all-or-nothing’ approach that could backfire again.