With both clubs exiting Europe in midweek, sixth-placed Lazio and Scudetto contenders Napoli will aim to avoid a Serie A hangover on Sunday.

While the hosts - who were knocked out of the Europa League by Porto - have gone unbeaten in six domestic fixtures, their visitors are without a win in four games following a 4-2 defeat to Barcelona.

Match preview

Held to a 2-2 draw by Porto in Thursday's playoff round second leg, Lazio lost the tie 4-3 on aggregate and slipped out of the Europa League before the last-16 stage.

Given their Coppa Italia defeat to Milan earlier this month, with elimination at Stadio Olimpico went any lingering hope of claiming silverware this year.

Though the Aquile's first-leg loss in Portugal and a 1-1 draw at Udinese last time out in the league means they have not won in three games before Napoli arrive at their Roman headquarters on Sunday, they have lost just one of their last 25 home league matches - winning 19.

Also scoring at a rate of nearly 2.6 goals per game there this term, there is no doubt about the potency of their front line spearheaded by Capocannoniere leader Ciro Immobile, who has scored 19 times so far and is in touching distance of his sixth 20-goal Serie A campaign.

No doubt former Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri - architect of both the Biancocelesti's brilliant attacking play and a worryingly sieve-like defence - will be keen for Immobile to go full tilt to reach that milestone, as Lazio seek revenge for a 4-0 drubbing in November's reverse fixture.

Recent precedent is on Lazio's side as they seek to cut their points deficit to Napoli down to eight, having won their last two home games against the Neapolitans without conceding.

After previously inflicting a remarkable six home defeats in a row against their capital counterparts, third-placed Napoli have been less successful at the Olimpico of late and travel to the Eternal City amid a downturn in fortunes.

Though, in 2022, Luciano Spalletti's side have picked up the most points and conceded the fewest goals in Serie A, the title contenders have drawn their last two league games against Inter and Cagliari, and been beaten by Barcelona on home soil in midweek.

Limping out of Europe with a tame performance in the second leg of the 'Maradona Derby' - hosted at the stadium which now bears the Napoli icon's name - the Partenopei's spirits were crushed during the first half, and they were ultimately eliminated 5-3 on aggregate.

Like Lazio, having exited both the Europa League and Coppa Italia in quick succession, Napoli must now concentrate solely on Serie A, where they sit just three points off the summit following draws for the Milan clubs in Friday's fixtures.

After a weekend where their fellow Scudetto hopefuls faltered, the Azzurri were unable to take full advantage last Monday: spurning a chance to grasp top spot, they took just a point home from their trip to Sardinia, and were indebted to Victor Osimhen for a late equalising header to even salvage a 1-1 draw.

Therefore, Spalletti will be keen for his team to continue a rich recent tradition in meetings with their next opponents: despite being denied in Rome for the last two years, Napoli have enjoyed eight wins in their last 10 league encounters with Lazio - scoring 27 times in the process.

Team News

After missing out in midweek due to suspension, Lazio's in-form forward Mattia Zaccagni returns to action on Sunday and should start, as Pedro is still struggling with an ankle problem and may only be fit enough for a place on the bench.

Centre-back Francesco Acerbi is on the brink of a comeback from the injury which has kept him sidelined for several weeks, but may ultimately have to wait until next week, while his fellow Italy international Manuel Lazzari is definitely ruled out.

The hosts' front three will be led by Ciro Immobile, who missed both the trip to Porto and last Sunday's draw with a fever but returned with another goal in midweek, and has been directly involved in nine goals in his last nine league games against Napoli.

Though Luciano Spalletti has seen several of his injured players return to the fray of late, his main concern when selecting the side to tackle Lazio may be a combination of fatigue and low morale.

For that reason, the Napoli coach may opt to freshen up his starting XI at the Olimpico, but captain Lorenzo Insigne should still start in his familiar left-flank role, despite being yet to score either a goal from open play or away from home in the top flight this term.

Meanwhile, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka, Hirving Lozano and Kevin Malcuit are all absent through injury, and - despite a big blunder at Cagliari - David Ospina should come back in for Europa League regular Alex Meret in goal.

If Victor Osimhen is ruled out, then club record scorer Dries Mertens could feature up front, and the diminutive forward has been directly involved in 13 goals in his 14 league games versus Lazio - including his most recent brace in Serie A, back in November.

Lazio possible starting lineup:
Strakosha; Hysaj, Patric, Felipe, Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni

Napoli possible starting lineup:
Ospina; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Koulibaly, Rui; Demme, Ruiz; Politano, Zielinski, Insigne; Osimhen

We say: Lazio 2-2 Napoli

The influence of 'Sarri-ball' lives on, as both sides favour an attractive, possession based style which should make this clash of two southern rivals a pleasure to watch.

Napoli (84%) and Lazio (82%) have posted the highest passing accuracy in the opposition half throughout Serie A this season, so expect some intricate patterns to be woven in a high-scoring draw.

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