On Saturday, August 1, 2020, the Stadio San Paolo hosts Napoli vs Lazio in Matchday 38 of the 2019/20 Serie A. The Head Referee for the clash will be Gianpaolo Calvarese, the Assistant Referees will be Baccini and Vecchi, the Fourth Official will be Dionisi, and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be Di Paolo with the assistance of De Meo.
Napoli vs Lazio: Match Preview
As it stands in the top flight of Italian football, the Biancocelesti sit in fourth with a record of 24W-6D-7L (78 points), while the Partenopei sit in seventh with a record of 17W-8D-12 (59 points); in Matchday 37, Simone Inzaghi’s team defeated Brescia 2-0 while Gennaro Gattuso’s side was defeated by Inter 2-0.
Looking at the previous matches between the two sides, Lazio have won on two occasions, Napoli have won on seven occasions, and there has been one draw. In more recent times, the Biancocelesti defeated the Partenopei 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in Matchday 19 of the 2019/20 campaign.
Expected Starting Lineups
Napoli (4-3-3): Ospina; Di Lorenzo, Maksimovic, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Fabian Ruiz, Demme, Zielinski; Callejon, Mertens, Insigne.
Suspended: None
Unavailable: Llorente
Yellow-Carded: Zielinski
Lazio (3-5-2): Strakosha; Patric, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi; Lazzari, Milinkovic-Savic, Parolo, Luis Alberto, Marusic; Correa, Immobile.
Suspended: None
Unavailable: Radu, Lulic, Lucas Leiva
Yellow-Carded: Acerbi, Bastos, Cataldi, Jony, Lucas Leiva
Key Takeaways
Lazio are in fine form heading into this encounter winning three straight matches. Immobile continues to impress for Lazio this season as the striker leads the league with 35 goals and has scored six goals in the last four matches.
In the last fourteen games between the two clubs, Napoli has been the better side. Napoli have nine wins, while Lazio have won on three occasions and two draws. Napoli has lost once in their last nine meetings in Serie A. In addition, the capital side has been unable to score more than a goal in the last nine matches.
Prediction
This match takes place after Lazio won 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico against Brescia. It was a deserved result for the Biancocelesti who were the stronger side for most of the match. Joaquin Correa continues to show good form since returning from injury. He scored his second goal in the past two games with his recent tally leading to the eventual game-winner. Immobile also scored in the match and brought his total to 35 goals. He will look to make history in the Serie A, as he tries to surpass Gonzalo Higuain’s record of 36 goals in 2015/16. Brescia’s last victory against Lazio dated back to May 2004 and that drought will continue after their 2-0 loss.
As for the Partenopei, their struggles continue this season after losing 2-0 against Inter Milan at the Giuseppe Meazza. The team has shown signs of inconsistency and poor form this season which has prevented the team from winning matches. Napoli has won twice in their last five matches and will hope to get back into the win column versus Lazio. In their recent match against Inter Milan, Danilo D’Ambrosio led the way as his goal helped the Nerazzurri keep pace for a top-three finish in the Serie A standings. Napoli made a coaching change early in December, replacing Carlo Ancelotti with Gennaro Gattuso, and the results have fared much better with the ex-Milanisti having a record of twelve wins, eight losses and two draws in Serie A with the club. Napoli continues to be their own enemy in their matches with mistakes that should be avoided. Lazio will look to take advantage of a fragile club that has found it difficult to win this season, while Napoli will face a club that is highly motivated at the moment as they have won their three straight matches and will aim to finish in a top-three spot. The biggest incentive this weekend will be Immobile trying to set a new record as becoming the new goal leader all-time in a Serie A campaign.
Prediction: Napoli 1-2 Lazio
