Big Game Focus: Napoli v Lazio

 

High flying Lazio visit the Stadio San Paolo to face a struggling Napoli in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia. The team for Rome are looking to make it seven wins in a row in all competitions. Napoli will be aiming to bounce back from last weekend’s humiliating home defeat to Fiorentina in Serie A. Here’s the Big Game Focus. Bet on the game here. 

Napoli have lost three of their last four games in all competitions. Last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat to Fiorentina summed up the Partenopei’s season which has been underwhelming. They have won just three games in their last 16 in all competitions. A change of management to Gennaro Gattuso has not brought an immediate impact at the Stadio San Paolo. The Coppa Italia might be their only hope of silverware this season, with the Scudetto looking like a step too far and the Champions League seeming impossible. Can Gattuso turn things around at Naples?

The visitors, on the other hand, are having a memorable season. Lazio’s 11 league wins in a row have left them third in the Serie A, just six points behind leaders Juventus with a game in hand. Simone Inzaghi’s side are unplayable at the moment should be confident against this Napoli side. Can they inflict more misery on Gattuso’s men?

Betting preview

Lazio are unstoppable at the moment. They beat Napoli 1-0 in the league two weeks ago. They’re unbeaten in their last six Coppa Italia matches, winning four in that run. Napoli’s three victories in 16 matches makes grim reading for them ahead of tonight’s clash. The hosts have also been knocked out of the competition in the last six seasons by Italy’s top clubs including; AC Milan, Atalanta, Juventus, Inter, Lazio and Roma. It’s difficult to see a home win since they’ve registered just two wins since October. Therefore, you can back an Away Double Chance at odds of 1.50. 

Five of the last six matches between these two rivals have seen three or more goals scored. Five of Lazio’s last six matches in all competitions have seen Over 2.5 Goals. Four of Napoli’s last six home games have seen Over 2.5 Goals. You can back Over 2.5 Goals at odds of 1.75. 

Four of the last six matches between these two saw both teams find the back of the net. Napoli have kept just one clean sheet in their last six matches while the visitors have kept two from their last six. For that reason, you can back Both Teams to Score at odds of 1.60. 

Team news

Napoli have a few injury concerns ahead of this fixture. Dries Mertens remains sidelined, following adductor problems, while Kalidou Koulibaly is also out with a shoulder injury.

The visitors will be without Adam Marusic, Danilo Cataldi and Ricardo Kishna who are out injured.

Possible line-ups

Napoli: Ospina; Hysaj, Manolas, Di Lorenzo, Luperto, Allan, Ruiz, Zielinski, Callejón, Milik, Insigne​

Lazio: Strakosha, Lazzari, Radu, Acerbi, Gabarron, Luis Alberto, Leiva, Milinkovic-Savic, Immobile, Caicedo, Jony