Napoli v Roma: probable line-ups and how to watch

Roma have named their squad for the Napoli fixture at the Maradona, with the match less than 24 hours away. Gian Piero Gasperini's list was released shortly after Napoli's own squad announcement by Allegri. Paulo Dybala is out, though he hopes to be back in contention against Cagliari. Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mile Svilar are also unavailable. Bryan Cristante could return to the starting line-up. Two Primavera players feature in the squad. Di Nunzio made his debut against Genoa last weekend, and Mandjou Camara, a 2009-born striker, was already named in the squad for the game against the Rossoblù. The full squad is: goalkeepers Vásquez, De Marzi and Gollini; defenders Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi; midfielders Cristante, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora; and forwards Castro, Malen, Soulé and Camara. The selection gives Gasperini a largely established back line, with Cristante's availability a boost in midfield as Roma travel to face Napoli.

Roma's away ticket sale for the Serie A tenth-round trip to Udine opens on Friday 23 October at 16:00, exclusively through the TicketOne platform. Tickets for the Roma away section cost 40 euros, and sales will close on Saturday 31 October at 18:00, coinciding with the kick-off. The match takes place at the Bluenergy Stadium on Saturday 31 October at 18:00. The club is urging supporters to travel to Udine only if they already hold a valid ticket for the game, in line with instructions from local authorities and public security officials. Entry to the Bluenergy Stadium will be granted exclusively to fans holding a ticket. No tickets will be available to buy at the stadium on the day of the match. Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini's side travel to Udine for the tenth round of Serie A. The club has published full information on prices, deadlines and the procedures fans need to follow to access the ground, for those who intend to follow the team away from the Stadio Olimpico.

Former Napoli and Roma player Luciano Marangon has spoken to Retesport, praising Gian Piero Gasperini's coaching and saying Roma have shown they are stronger than Napoli. Marangon said Gasperini has transmitted his footballing mentality, as he did at Atalanta, which he has taken to extraordinary levels. He added that Gasperini is a man of football who gets the best out of his players, calling it the strongest part of his game, and said he reminds him of Bagnoli from his own era. Looking ahead to Napoli v Roma, Marangon said Gasperini's side have proven they are strong enough to be fighting for first place. He described the match as a test for Roma given the many absences. He also noted that Napoli, coached by Allegri, are facing many problems, though he said he cannot know exactly what they are because he is not inside the club. On Lulli, Marangon said the coach does not worry about the age of his players and will give a game to a young player if he sees quality. He said in Italy a player must be given minutes at the right moments without being made to feel untouchable. He added that Lulli now has the perfect coach to build prospects with the Italian national team. Asked about a Serie A player he identifies with, Marangon said: "No, I haven't seen one for several years."

Roma have named their squad for the Napoli fixture at the Maradona, with the match less than 24 hours away. Gian Piero Gasperini's list was released shortly after Napoli's own squad announcement by Allegri. Paulo Dybala is out, though he hopes to be back in contention against Cagliari. Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mile Svilar are also unavailable. Bryan Cristante could return to the starting line-up. Two Primavera players feature in the squad. Di Nunzio made his debut against Genoa last weekend, and Mandjou Camara, a 2009-born striker, was already named in the squad for the game against the Rossoblù. The full squad is: goalkeepers Vásquez, De Marzi and Gollini; defenders Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi; midfielders Cristante, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora; and forwards Castro, Malen, Soulé and Camara. The selection gives Gasperini a largely established back line, with Cristante's availability a boost in midfield as Roma travel to face Napoli.

Napoli host Roma at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday in the 159th Serie A meeting between the sides, a fixture known as the Derby del Sole. Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri faces a difficult start to his tenure, with Saturday's clash offering either a chance to turn things around or added pressure on his position. Last weekend Napoli lost 1-0 to basement side Venezia, their third defeat in seven league matches this season (D1, L3), leaving them nine points behind early pacesetters Inter. Napoli bounced back in midweek Champions League action with a 4-3 win over Bodo/Glimt, their first points in this season's league phase after losses to Arsenal and Villarreal. Roma, by contrast, are enjoying their best Serie A start since 2014/15, with 17 points from seven matchdays. Gian Piero Gasperini's side eased past Genoa last weekend despite the absence of Donyell Malen, maintaining a near-flawless league record this term (W5, D2). Malen returned to the scoresheet on Tuesday as Roma thrashed Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at home for their first Champions League victory this season (D1, L1). History favours Napoli. The Partenopei have avoided defeat in their last eight home meetings with Roma in Serie A (W4, D4), their longest such streak since 1982. In 158 previous top-flight meetings the sides have shared the spoils 55 times (W50, L53). Napoli have lost three of their opening seven Serie A matches for the first time since 2009/10, and they are looking to record three consecutive league clean sheets at the Maradona for the first time since October 2021. Their scoring is a concern: they have netted one goal or fewer in five of their last seven outings. The only two exceptions came at this stadium, where they beat Bodo/Glimt and Frosinone by a combined 7-3. Roma return to the win column after back-to-back Serie A draws, and they have not won away at Napoli since March 2018. Roma had won four successive away league matches before being held to a scoreless draw by Como on their last Serie A trip, keeping three clean sheets in that run. They are the only Serie A side yet to concede a goal away from home this term, and could register four road shutouts to open a top-flight campaign for the first time since 2017/18. Napoli's team news includes Alessandro Buongiorno, David Neres, Costantino Favasuli and Alisson Santos on the sidelines, while Antonio Vergara's return from injury gives Allegri a timely boost. Rasmus Hojlund, the hosts' first-choice striker, has scored just two goals this season. Malen is available for Roma after serving a one-game suspension against Genoa. Paulo Dybala is struggling with a calf injury and will miss the match, along with Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini. Napoli (3-4-2-1): Meret; Beukema, Marin, Rrahmani; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Politano, De Bruyne; Hojlund. Roma (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Lulli, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen. The preview judges Roma to be in far better shape than their rivals, though home advantage and Napoli's historical edge in this fixture remain significant. Prediction: Draw.

Roma's injury crisis deepened as Lorenzo Pellegrini was lost against Slovan Bratislava, adding to a growing list of absentees ahead of the trip to Napoli. Gasperini is working through his options for the Maradona fixture, with Malen and Soulé almost certain to start, but the final place in the attacking midfield remains open. The Pellegrini injury is already the seventh muscular injury of the season, on top of a bone-related problem suffered by Svilar. Dybala and Koné are also on the treatment list. Rodrigo Mora has not convinced, particularly in terms of attitude, in the recent games against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava, which has opened the door for Bryan Cristante, who has just returned from a knee problem. Cristante has not played since 19 September against Inter, just over a month ago, and his availability will be decisive. If he is not fit to start, Mora would almost certainly be given the nod from the first minute, as the pairing of Castro and Malen is not part of Gasperini's plans for a game of this importance. Gasperini has emergency alternatives. He could push Mancini or Hermoso into midfield, or use Wesley as an attacking winger, a solution already seen during a match last season, with Lulli and Molina then occupying the flanks. Napoli, who appear to have found a new balance in recent outings with De Bruyne dropping into the holding role, are just two days away from the clash at the Maradona, and Gasperini still has plenty of selection questions to resolve.

Roma have named their squad for the Napoli fixture at the Maradona, with the match less than 24 hours away. Gian Piero Gasperini's list was released shortly after Napoli's own squad announcement by Allegri. Paulo Dybala is out, though he hopes to be back in contention against Cagliari. Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mile Svilar are also unavailable. Bryan Cristante could return to the starting line-up. Two Primavera players feature in the squad. Di Nunzio made his debut against Genoa last weekend, and Mandjou Camara, a 2009-born striker, was already named in the squad for the game against the Rossoblù. The full squad is: goalkeepers Vásquez, De Marzi and Gollini; defenders Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi; midfielders Cristante, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora; and forwards Castro, Malen, Soulé and Camara. The selection gives Gasperini a largely established back line, with Cristante's availability a boost in midfield as Roma travel to face Napoli.

Emanuele Lulli has signed a new contract with Roma running until 2031, tying the young full-back to the club after he was close to leaving last summer. Lulli, born in Palestrina and a lifelong Roma fan, was reportedly on the verge of joining Avellino when head coach Gian Piero Gasperini took him to pre-season training, watched him closely and halted the move. "Rimane qui" ("He stays here"), Gasperini told sporting director D'Amico. Lulli has made a strong start in Serie A, starting five of the first seven league matches and scoring his first goal against Genoa, in front of Daniele De Rossi. The deal matters for the club's future. Lulli's contract was due to expire in June 2027, which made an extension a priority on D'Amico's agenda. The new agreement runs to 2031 and starts on a base salary of 300,000 euros, rising over the years to around one million euros per season. The renewal was backed by everyone at the club, especially the player himself, who never considered leaving. Lazio also showed interest in him, but Lulli's goal was always to play for the team he has supported since childhood. Lulli's story also reflects Roma's tradition of homegrown Romans in the squad. He starred at Tor Tre Teste, where he played alongside the son of Marco Albergati, who worked for years with Bruno Conti, and Marazico was decisive in bringing him to Trigoria. Against Slovan, Niccolò Pisilli scored while wearing the captain's armband, and Lulli now looks like the club's next future captain. Lulli could start again at Napoli tomorrow, having given way to Nahuel Molina in the Champions League, and he is ready to reclaim the right flank in the league, with the race for the spot open.

Roma are preparing to tie down Emanuele Lulli to a new contract, with the young player nearing a renewal even though his current deal is approaching expiry. His form this season has earned him a growing share of minutes in Gian Piero Gasperini's rotation. Lulli marked his first goal for Roma in last week's win over Genoa, a strike that rewarded his gradual progression into the first team and further strengthened the coaching staff's confidence in him. Ahead of the trip to Napoli at the Maradona, he is reportedly challenging Nahuel Molina for a starting place. Gasperini has already shown he intends to widen his rotations, and Lulli's running, intensity and ability to contribute in both phases of play have made him an increasingly credible option. The renewal would be the natural reward for a path that has taken Lulli from backup to possible starter. Roma are keen to secure one of the most promising products of their youth sector and avoid his contract running too close to its expiry. In just a few weeks, the player has already started to change the pecking order in the squad.

Roma have named their squad for the Napoli fixture at the Maradona, with the match less than 24 hours away. Gian Piero Gasperini's list was released shortly after Napoli's own squad announcement by Allegri. Paulo Dybala is out, though he hopes to be back in contention against Cagliari. Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mile Svilar are also unavailable. Bryan Cristante could return to the starting line-up. Two Primavera players feature in the squad. Di Nunzio made his debut against Genoa last weekend, and Mandjou Camara, a 2009-born striker, was already named in the squad for the game against the Rossoblù. The full squad is: goalkeepers Vásquez, De Marzi and Gollini; defenders Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi; midfielders Cristante, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora; and forwards Castro, Malen, Soulé and Camara. The selection gives Gasperini a largely established back line, with Cristante's availability a boost in midfield as Roma travel to face Napoli.

Napoli host Roma at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday in the 159th Serie A meeting between the sides, a fixture known as the Derby del Sole. Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri faces a difficult start to his tenure, with Saturday's clash offering either a chance to turn things around or added pressure on his position. Last weekend Napoli lost 1-0 to basement side Venezia, their third defeat in seven league matches this season (D1, L3), leaving them nine points behind early pacesetters Inter. Napoli bounced back in midweek Champions League action with a 4-3 win over Bodo/Glimt, their first points in this season's league phase after losses to Arsenal and Villarreal. Roma, by contrast, are enjoying their best Serie A start since 2014/15, with 17 points from seven matchdays. Gian Piero Gasperini's side eased past Genoa last weekend despite the absence of Donyell Malen, maintaining a near-flawless league record this term (W5, D2). Malen returned to the scoresheet on Tuesday as Roma thrashed Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at home for their first Champions League victory this season (D1, L1). History favours Napoli. The Partenopei have avoided defeat in their last eight home meetings with Roma in Serie A (W4, D4), their longest such streak since 1982. In 158 previous top-flight meetings the sides have shared the spoils 55 times (W50, L53). Napoli have lost three of their opening seven Serie A matches for the first time since 2009/10, and they are looking to record three consecutive league clean sheets at the Maradona for the first time since October 2021. Their scoring is a concern: they have netted one goal or fewer in five of their last seven outings. The only two exceptions came at this stadium, where they beat Bodo/Glimt and Frosinone by a combined 7-3. Roma return to the win column after back-to-back Serie A draws, and they have not won away at Napoli since March 2018. Roma had won four successive away league matches before being held to a scoreless draw by Como on their last Serie A trip, keeping three clean sheets in that run. They are the only Serie A side yet to concede a goal away from home this term, and could register four road shutouts to open a top-flight campaign for the first time since 2017/18. Napoli's team news includes Alessandro Buongiorno, David Neres, Costantino Favasuli and Alisson Santos on the sidelines, while Antonio Vergara's return from injury gives Allegri a timely boost. Rasmus Hojlund, the hosts' first-choice striker, has scored just two goals this season. Malen is available for Roma after serving a one-game suspension against Genoa. Paulo Dybala is struggling with a calf injury and will miss the match, along with Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini. Napoli (3-4-2-1): Meret; Beukema, Marin, Rrahmani; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Politano, De Bruyne; Hojlund. Roma (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Lulli, De Roon, Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen. The preview judges Roma to be in far better shape than their rivals, though home advantage and Napoli's historical edge in this fixture remain significant. Prediction: Draw.

Former Roma midfielder Matteo Brighi has said Gian Piero Gasperini's side are title contenders, describing them as the most consistent team in the league so far and the one playing the best football. Brighi, who played 140 matches for Roma and scored 13 goals, spent his career at the club from the summer of 2007 after three years on loan at Chievo. He became a dependable midfield presence under Luciano Spalletti, competing for a starting place alongside De Rossi, Pizarro and Perrotta, and went on to win the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in his first season. In 2008-09 he scored three decisive Champions League goals, including a brace against Cluj, which earned him a recall to the senior Italy squad. Under Claudio Ranieri in 2009-10 he was a quiet but irreplaceable pillar as Roma came close to a historic Scudetto against the Inter side of the Triplete. On the current season, Brighi said: "So far it has been the most consistent team and the one that plays the best football. Inter are strong but have had some ups and downs in matches, whereas Gasp's side haven't, at least in the league. Injuries and condition will be decisive, and they will certainly be a nuisance until the end. I am sure of it." Asked about the midfield, where Koné and Cristante are missing or doubtful from the start, he said: "Koné and Cristante are two pillars of Gasperini's game, but the other pairing has shown it has done very well. The secret of this team is cohesion, everyone knows what they have to do. De Roon knows Gasp well and Pisilli is growing enormously." Brighi also addressed Gasperini's use of Mancini in midfield: "Gasperini tried it, but that was with the game already decided against Slovan. It's fine to try different things, but we are talking about an emergency situation. It's fine for the coach to experiment given the situation." On Niccolò Pisilli, whom he coached in the Under-21s over the past two seasons, he said: "I know Niccolò well. He is a modern midfielder who can do everything. He is proving useful in every zone. I hope he gets closer to Perrotta than to me (laughs), also in terms of his path with the national team. He is a guarantee and Gasperini is counting on him a lot." On the squad, he added: "I'm very sorry for Pellegrini. Unfortunately, with so many matches a wide squad is needed. Gasperini knows how to manage both plenty and difficult moments. The decision rests only with the coach. If he thinks other players are needed, then returning to the market is the right thing to do."