Napoli and Roma Set for Derby del Sole Clash in Naples
Napoli host Roma in the latest Derby del Sole, with Massimiliano Allegri under pressure after a poor league run. Napoli beat Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League in midweek, while Roma have made a strong Serie A start under Gian Piero Gasperini and won in Europe. Napoli have generally avoided defeat in recent home meetings with Roma, although draws have been common.
The sides meet for the 159th time in Serie A at Napoli’s Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Napoli’s league form is poor: a 1-0 home loss to Venezia was their third defeat in seven, leaving them nine points behind Inter. A 4-3 Champions League win over Bodo/Glimt followed earlier losses to Arsenal and Villarreal.
Roma arrive with 17 points from seven, their strongest Serie A start since 2014/15. They beat Genoa, then Slovan Bratislava 4-0 for a first European win this season. Napoli are unbeaten in eight home league meetings with Roma (four wins, four draws), though Roma’s last away league win in this fixture came in March 2018.
The result could shape the mood around Naples and Rome, where supporters’ routines and local matchday trade may hinge on the outcome. A Napoli win might ease pressure on Allegri and lift fan confidence, while a Roma victory could strengthen belief in Gasperini’s project. Broadcasters, hospitality businesses, and traveling fans may also feel the fixture’s commercial and emotional pull.