UDINE, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Giacomo Raspadori of Napoli during the Serie A match between Udinese and Napoli at Stadio Friuli on December 14, 2024 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Napoli are forced to revamp their tactics with Giacomo Raspadori and Romelu Lukaku for the trip to Taty Castellanos and Matteo Guendouzi’s Lazio, who already beat them twice this season.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 17.00 GMT.
The Partenopei missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table, instead seeing it sliced down to just one point after back-to-back draws against Roma and Udinese.
David Neres sustained a serious injury and will be out for several weeks, joining Leonardo Spinazzola and Mathias Olivera on the treatment table.
However, Alessandro Buongiorno finally returns for his first appearance of 2025 after a back injury in training.
With the changes in Napoli personnel, Antonio Conte switches to a 3-5-2 formation with Raspadori and Lukaku upfront, moving Matteo Politano and Giovanni Di Lorenzo to wing-back.
Lazio stick to the usual 4-2-3-1 shape, though they too have a lot of injury problems with Elseid Hysaj, Patric and Matias Vecino out of action, plus Boulaye Dia nursing an ankle issue.
Pedro steps in with Gustav Isaksen and Mattia Zaccagni to support Castellanos.
The Aquile won the Europa League opening phase and are fourth in Serie A, coming off two consecutive victories including the 5-1 demolition of Monza.
These teams met twice in the space of three days in December and Lazio won them both, beating Napoli 3-1 in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 and then 1-0 away in Serie A.
Lazio: Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Pedro, Zaccagni; Castellanos
Napoli: Meret; Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Juan Jesus; Di Lorenzo, Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay, Mazzocchi; Lukaku, Raspadori
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