Naples-Rome, whoever stops is lost. The big match at the San Paolo (18 pm), even more significant after Inter's success, takes on a very important value both in terms of points and morale. Because both teams, despite a ranking in perfect line with the initial objectives, have a great need to get back to winning ways to erase the latest criticisms. This is especially true for Roma (without the derby on 8 November and back from the whistles on Wednesday) but, on closer inspection, it also affects Napoli (soundly beaten in Bologna): in short, no one wants to find themselves doing accounts with a misstep.
“It's the most important match and therefore a lot of heart will be needed – Sarri's message at the press conference. – We will have to go on the field without retro-thoughts related to the standings, head and willpower will count more than tactics. We want to make our people and our city happy." The blue coach leverages on San Paolo and on the union between team and fans, exactly what Garcia's Roma lacks. The latest events (team booed despite Pallotta's qualification and blatant disappointment) are just the tip of an iceberg born in the summer and magnified at the first difficulties. “I would have preferred to take the boos from a full Olimpico and not from a few fans – explained Garcia. – I hope things go well, we miss our stadium.
But enough of all this pessimism: it almost seems that the worst team in Italy is going to face the best and instead we are only 3 points behind. And we miss those from Turin, if we had won it would have been very different". Indeed, the perception of the differences between Naples and Rome far exceeds the gap in the standings. It will be because the Azzurri have won 8 of the last 10 league games while the Giallorossi are returning from 2 draws and 1 defeat, it will be because they are playing at the San Paolo (6 wins and 1 draw so far), it will be because the home attack in goals from 27 consecutive games, the fact is that almost all insiders see Napoli as the big favourite.
Sarri, after the turnover (however successful) in the Europa League, will once again rely on the very titular players with the usual 4-3-3: Reina in goal, Hyasaj, Albiol, Koulibaly and Ghoulam in defense, Allan, Jorginho and Hamsik in midfield, Callejon, Higuain and Insigne in attack. Garcia finds Salah and Gervinho (only on the bench) and will go in search of the crisis-busting success with Szczesny between the posts, Florenzi, Rudiger, Manolas and Digne in defence, Pjanic, De Rossi and Nainggolan in the midfield, Iago Falque, Dzeko and Salah in attack.
