Roma vs Napoli preview

April 27, 2012
By: Matthew Clarke

This is clearly the last chance for Roma to get back in contention for the Champions League, but beating resurgent Napoli could prove to be a difficult task for Luis Enrique’s side.

Even if club chiefs are adamant they are satisfied with boss Luis Enrique and his achievements, the reality is that nobody at the club can be happy with what the team have shown this term.

While early elimination from Europe was expected to help the team realize their Serie A ambitions, the Giallorossi have failed to keep up with their rivals, who did well to balance between their European and domestic exploits.

Following back to back defeats to Juventus and Fiorentina, Roma sit two points behind Europa League places and five behind the final Champions League berth, meaning that not even a victory over Napoli would help them a great deal.

The hosts, nonetheless, have got to try and win this clash and they are 2.80 (9/5) with bet365 to do so.

Bojan Krkic and Maarten Stekelenburg return from suspensions, but now Daniele De Rossi, Erik Lamela and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo are banned. Nicolas Burdisso, Juan, Bogdan Lobont and Marco Cassetti are long-term worries.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-1-2): Stekelenburg – Taddei, Kjaer, Heinze, Jose Angel – Greco, Gago, Marquinho – Pjanic – Totti, Borini.

Napoli seriously damaged their Champions League hopes with three straight defeats in Serie A, but the Azzurri somehow managed to return to the right track.

Back to back wins over Novara and Lecce saw Walter Mazzarri’s side close the gap behind their top 3 rivals to just one point, but they now need to keep the rich vein of form in order to keep their qualifying hopes alive.

Seeing that Azzurri will face Palermo, Bologna and Siena in the final three league games, odds of 2.38 (11/8) offered by bet365 on Napoli to finish in top 3 look too good to pass.

Walter Mazzarri’s side would make a giant step towards Champions League qualification with a win at Olimpico and at odds of 2.75 (7/4) offered by Ladbrokes, away win look a good bet here.

Goran Pandev returns from suspension, while Ezequiel Lavezzi could make the bench as he steps up his recovery from a leg injury. Marco Donadel, Hugo Camagnaro and Antonio Rosati are definitely out.

Probable starting line-up (3-4-2-1): De Sanctis – Fernandez, Cannavaro, Aronica – Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Zuniga – Hamsik, Pandev – Cavani.

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