Roma hosts Napoli in Serie A showdown
Surprise leader AS Roma hosts defending champion Napoli this weekend in a clash that could reshape the Serie A title race at the top of a tightly packed table.
Roma pulled clear at the summit after last weekend's action with a comfortable 3-1 win at Cremonese, and holds a two-point advantage over AC Milan, which beat neighbour Inter Milan, and Napoli, which kept pace with a win over Atalanta.
Gian Piero Gasperini left Atalanta after nine years to take charge at Roma this season, and while his success in Bergamo was built on attack, Roma has reached the summit thanks to its defensive prowess.
Roma has conceded a mere six goals in its 12 league matches, the best defensive record in Serie A, while 15 goals scored is the lowest among the front-runners. Three points separate the top five, leaving little room for error.
Gasperini's side has yet to draw a game this season, and the win in Cremona was the first time it has netted three goals in a single match this campaign, and Roma's attack showed promising signs that it may finally be clicking into gear.
Evan Ferguson came off the bench to score not only his first goal for Roma, but his first goal at club level for almost 13 months, and if Gasperini can get the Irishman firing on all cylinders, his side's title dream could well become reality.
Antonio Conte's Napoli had held the top spot for most of this season, but two games without a win put a dent in its ambitions before bouncing back last time out.
Napoli can ill afford to lose further ground, while Roma, which has lost to both Inter and AC Milan this season, will be keen to show it has what it takes to take on the top clubs and stay the distance.
Massimiliano Allegri's Milan is right back in the mix after its derby success. Allegri's side has not lost since the opening day of the season, but had won just one of its four games before overcoming Inter.
Milan hosts Lazio on Monday, giving it a chance to move top and pile more pressure on Roma and Napoli.
Inter, three points off the top, is away to Pisa on Monday. Pisa have won one game all season, but it is unbeaten in their last six, which has been enough to drag it out of the relegation zone.
Bologna is fifth, level on points with Inter, and will be expected to take all three points when it hosts Cremonese on Tuesday.
Juventus, meanwhile, has slipped to seventh in the standings, seven points off the top, and after two successive draws, is badly in need of a win when it hosts Cagliari on Sunday.
