Napoli confirmed Billy Gilmour will undergo surgery on Monday to address a reported groin injury.

The Scotland international has been absent for the past month, while he also missed his country's crucial World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark.

Gilmour's setback adds to Napoli's woes in the heart of midfield, with Kevin De Bruyne and Frank Anguissa already long-term absentees for Antonio Conte's side.

"Billy Gilmour will undergo surgery in London on Monday, accompanied by Gennaro De Luca from the club's medical staff," a statement on Napoli's website read.

Napoli can leapfrog Roma with victory when the sides lock horns in a blockbuster clash at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

The Partenopei are fresh from a 2-0 victory over Qarabag in the Champions League in midweek, with Conte pleased by his players' performance levels.

"Napoli was not dead, so it's not about being alive," he said. "It's about working and always giving everything we've got.

"We can win games or not, but the lads know they must give everything each time."

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is relishing the prospect of his side challenging themselves against a title rival.

"We're eagerly anticipating the game against Napoli, it's fair enough that we think about that," he said. "However, to prepare well, you also have to play well.

"The teams know each other well. Napoli's strength is their squad. They have a great team, they're champions of Italy. We know that we have to play to the best of our ability. We'll play against one of the strongest teams in Italy. 

"Unlike we did against Inter and AC Milan [both 1-0 defeats], we have to get a better result. We measure ourselves against the strongest teams. Let's see where we are."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Roma – Matias Soule

Soule has scored nine Serie A goals for Roma, including one in their last league match against Cremonese.

The Argentine is looking to become only the third non-Italian player to reach double figures for the Giallorossi in the competition before turning 23, after Erik Lamela (19) and Cengiz Under (13).

Napoli – Matteo Politano

Politano has attempted more shots without scoring than any other player in Serie A this season (23), with his last goal in the competition coming against AC Milan in March.

However, having scored his first Serie A goal against Roma in September 2015, he has provided a total of four assists against the Giallorossi, only registering as many against Udinese, Hellas Verona, and Torino in the top flight.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Napoli are unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 Serie A meetings with Roma (W6 D4), with the only exception being a 2-0 defeat in December 2023.

Although, the Partenopei have lost three of their last four Serie A away games, while failing to find the net on the road from open play since September.

Roma have only conceded six goals in Serie A this season, only shipping fewer in their opening 12 games of an Italian top-flight campaign on two previous occasions (four in 2003-04 and three in 2013-14).

The Giallorossi have won just two of their last nine home league meetings with Napoli (W2 D2 L5).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Roma – 37.1%

Draw – 30.3%

Napoli – 32.6%