Napoli will aim to retain their top spot in Serie A when they travel to fourth-placed Lazio on Saturday.
The Serie A title race takes another pivotal turn as league leaders Napoli travel to face top-four contenders Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday. With Inter Milan and Juventus clashing in the Derby d’Italia, this match could be crucial in determining the Scudetto race and UEFA Champions League spots.
Lazio have already beaten Napoli twice this season, including a Coppa Italia victory and a league win in Naples, and will aim to complete a rare treble over their southern rivals for the first time in 30 years. Meanwhile, Napoli are eager to break their four-game winless streak against Lazio and re-establish their lead at the top.
Lazio retained their top-four spot with a dominant 5-1 win over Monza, where Pedro and Taty Castellanos starred in attack. That victory followed a hard-fought 1-0 win at Cagliari, keeping Marco Baroni’s side in the final automatic UEFA Champions League qualification place.
While Lazio have been impressive in Europe, their home form in Serie A has been inconsistent, with just one win in their last five home league games (against AC Monza). If they want to hold onto fourth place, they must avoid further slip-ups, especially with AC Milan, Fiorentina, and Bologna closing in.
After seven consecutive league wins, Napoli’s momentum has stalled with two straight draws, allowing Inter Milan to cut their lead to just one point. Their 1-1 home draw against Udinese was particularly frustrating, as Scott McTominay’s goal was quickly cancelled out.
Antonio Conte has voiced concerns over Napoli’s squad depth, particularly after the club failed to strengthen significantly in January. However, the Partenopei still boast one of their best-ever points tallies after 24 games and remain on course to challenge Inter Milan for the title. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
SS Lazio
Lazio will be without Matias Vecino, Patric, and former Napoli full-back Elseid Hysaj, all of whom have been ruled out of the squad due to injury. Meanwhile, forward Boulaye Dia suffered a sprained ankle in the 5-1 win against AC Monza, and he remains a major doubt for this crucial clash. If he is unavailable, Pedro or Fisayo Dele-Bashiru could step into the attacking setup.
Head coach Marco Baroni has additional squad depth, with recent signings Arijon Ibrahimovic, Reda Belahyane, and Oliver Provstgaard all fit and available. However, none of them featured in the matchday squad last weekend, and they are unlikely to be handed a starting role against Napoli.
A key player for Lazio in this fixture is Mattia Zaccagni, who has been directly involved in three goals in his last three home games against Napoli (two goals, one assist). His creativity and attacking output could be decisive as Lazio seek their third victory over Napoli this season.
Lazio are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ivan Provedel starting in goal. The defensive line will consist of Adam Marusic at right-back, Mario Gila, and Alessio Romagnoli as the centre-backs, and Nuno Tavares at left-back.
In midfield, Matteo Guendouzi and Nicolo Rovella will anchor the double pivot, offering a mix of ball-winning ability and passing range. The attacking trio behind striker Taty Castellanos is expected to include Gustav Isaksen on the right wing, Pedro as the central attacking midfielder, and Mattia Zaccagni on the left. Castellanos will lead the line as the lone striker, looking to continue his recent goalscoring form.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Pedro, Zaccagni; Castellanos
SSC Napoli
Napoli will have to cope without Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed for Paris Saint-Germain in January, and his designated replacement, David Neres, is also out until March after suffering a muscular injury in the 1-1 draw against Udinese. This leaves Antonio Conte with some tactical dilemmas in the attacking setup.
Additionally, Leonardo Spinazzola, who has previously been deployed as a winger, is also unavailable, meaning Conte could turn to Noah Okafor, who has been injured for most of 2025 but is nearing full fitness. Another option is Giacomo Raspadori, who could be handed his first Serie A start since August.
In defence, Alessandro Buongiorno is finally ready to return from a long-term injury, and he is expected to start alongside Amir Rrahmani at the heart of the defence. This could see Juan Jesus shift to left-back, allowing club captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo to continue on the right as he makes his 200th league appearance for Napoli.
Despite his prolific record against Lazio, where he has scored eight career goals (including four in a single match) against his father’s former club, Giovanni Simeone remains a backup option, as Romelu Lukaku is Conte’s undisputed first-choice striker.
Napoli are expected to stick with their 4-3-3 formation, with Alex Meret starting in goal. The defensive line will likely consist of Giovanni Di Lorenzo at right-back, Amir Rrahmani and Alessandro Buongiorno at the heart of the defence, and Juan Jesus at left-back.
In midfield, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka, and Scott McTominay will form a dynamic trio, offering both defensive solidity and attacking transitions.
The front three will likely feature Matteo Politano on the right, Giacomo Raspadori on the left, and Romelu Lukaku as the central striker. With Napoli aiming to regain momentum in the title race, Lukaku’s physicality and finishing ability will be key in breaking down Lazio’s defence.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Jesus; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Raspadori
Key Stats
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Napoli have failed to win any of their last four Serie A matches against Lazio (D1 L3), after having won each of the previous four. They have also failed to score in their last two meetings, and the last time they went three in a row without scoring against Lazio was back in 1948.
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Lazio can complete a three-game season sweep over Napoli for the first time since 1994/95, when they managed two of those wins in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals under Zdenek Zeman.
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Napoli have won eight of their last 11 away games against Lazio in Serie A (D1 L2). Since 2013/14, no other club has secured as many away victories at Stadio Olimpico against Lazio (Inter Milan and Juventus have won six each).
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Despite sitting in the Serie A top four after 24 games for the first time since 2019/20, Lazio have only won one of their last five home league games (D2 L2), with their sole victory coming against AC Monza.
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After a run of seven consecutive Serie A wins, Napoli have drawn their last two games. The last time they recorded three consecutive league draws was back in December 2014, when Rafael Benitez was in charge.
Player to Watch
Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian striker has been in fine form this season, leading Napoli’s attack with his physical presence and goal-scoring instinct. His ability to hold up play, bring teammates into the game, and dominate aerial duels makes him a constant threat to Lazio’s backline.
With Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sold to PSG and David Neres injured, Napoli will need Lukaku to step up even more, especially with Giacomo Raspadori filling in on the left wing. The service from Matteo Politano and midfielders like Scott McTominay and Stanislav Lobotka will be key in ensuring he gets the opportunities to add to his goal tally.
Facing a Lazio side that has been vulnerable in defence at times, Lukaku will look to capitalize on their weaknesses, particularly in physical battles with Mario Gila and Alessio Romagnoli. His ability to score from different situations — whether inside the box, from set-pieces, or on the counter — will be crucial in Napoli’s push for victory.
Prediction
SS Lazio 1-2 SSC Napoli
Despite Lazio’s recent success in this fixture, Napoli have been strong in Rome, winning eight of their last 11 visits to Stadio Olimpico. With Antonio Conte’s side eager to regain control of the title race, expect a tight contest, but Napoli’s firepower and urgency may see them edge this encounter. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Conte and his charges.
