Opta Focus – Stats and facts ahead of Roma v Napoli
This Sunday evening at 20:45 CET will see the 156th chapter of the Derby del Sole in Serie A take place, one of the most iconic matches in the Italian top flight. While Roma have the upper hand in the head-to-head record (53 wins to Napoli's 49), recent history favours on the Neapolitans, who have remained unbeaten in nine of the last ten Serie A games against the Giallorossi (6W, 3D), although this victory – a 2-0 triumph - came in the same fixture last season, on 23 December 2023. Following a 1-0 win in the first meeting this season on 24 November, in which a former Roma hero in Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal, Napoli could also beat Roma in the second encounter of the campaign for the third time in the last five seasons in Serie A, after having done so in 2020/21 and 2022/23. On the other hand, the Giallorossi are aiming on following up on their excellent recent performances at home, having recorded four wins in the last four in Serie A. Claudio Ranieri’s side will seek to channel the spirit of their last home match against Napoli when they won 2-0 and will try to record two home victories in a row over the Neapolitans for the first time since the period between May 2013 and April 2016, when they went on a four-game winning streak.
Ranieri’s magical touch leads to improved defence and attack
Claudio Ranieri's first game back in charge of Roma was in fact in the reverse fixture against Napoli earlier in the season. Since then the veteran coach has managed the Giallorossi in ten Serie A games. This began with three defeats in the first four matches, but since then Roma have been on the up. In fact, they have remained unbeaten in the last six league games (4W, 2D), winning two of most recent ones - against Genoa and Udinese - and have the chance to win three games in a row in Serie A for the first time since March 2024. What’s more, since Matchday 17 no team has scored more goals in the Italian top flight than the Giallorossi: 15 (the same as Inter), followed by Napoli (13). Their performances have improved, especially at home, as evidenced by the four victories in the last four games at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A. These came against Lecce, Parma, Lazio and Genoa, with an aggregate score of 14-2. Although Ranieri's Roma are attempting fewer shots per game on average this season than they did when Ivan Juric and Daniele De Rossi were in charge (12.1 v 15.3), with the current coach they are scoring more goals per game on average (1.9 v 1.2). The same applies for shots conceded - Roma concede more on average (13 v 11.9), but are letting in fewer goals (1.1 v 1.4).
Dovbyk’s form, Pellegrini’s confidence, Angelino’s creativity
After a difficult first half of the season – which was in part due to Roma’s poor form - Artem Dovbyk is finally finding his feet in front of goal. The Ukrainian striker has scored four of his eight goals in Serie A in his last six appearances. The former Girona player has found the back of the net in three consecutive games for Roma, and as recently as last May he went on a similar scoring streak over in La Liga, striking against Real Betis, Atletico Madrid, Cadiz, Las Palmas and Barcelona. He doesn’t just chip in with goals – in the last six matches in Serie A he has provided two assists, making him the best contributor to goals in the Italian top flight during this period. On the subject of players getting back to their best, Lorenzo Pellegrini is once again reigning supreme in midfield. The Giallorossi captain has scored two goals in his last four appearances in Serie A, including in Roma's most recent fixture. The last time he found the net in at least two games in a row was between January and February last year, when he scored against Hellas Verona, Salernitana and Cagliari. The 28-year-old also opened the scoring in Roma’s 2-0 home win over Napoli last season. Ranieri has played a key role in getting the best out of Roma’s creative players. It’s no coincidence that, since the well-travelled coach took up the reins at Roma for his third spell at the club, Angelino has created 13 open play goalscoring opportunities for his team-mates, more than any other defender in Serie A.
