Napoli savour Serie A lead ahead of Roma clash

FRONT-RUNNERS Napoli hope for permanence atop the Serie A as they visit fifth-placed Roma tomorrow in a classic fixture of the Italian league.

The Neapolitans have a maximum tally of 21 points from seven games as they are two clear of champions Juventus, who had a couple of players bruised in the recent break for World Cup qualifiers.

“It will be a tough test,” Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said. “But I do not consider the Roma game crucial (for the season).

“The problem is that this game comes after international duty and must be prepared with care. Players always return tired, distracted, drained.”

As Napoli can count on a full line-up, Roma striker Stephan El Shaarawy was injured with the Italian squad, though midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini should be back from an earlier injury.

Juve miss Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic and Italian veteran defender Andrea Barzagli after international action as they welcome fourth-placed Lazio, who in August beat them 3-2 in the Super Cup, also tomorrow.

Federico Bernardeschi had his 12th cap playing a half hour in Italy’s 1-1 draw to Macedonia and looks for playing time in his first season in Turin, where he arrived from Fiorentina.

Lazio, on 16 points, sit three behind Juve and Inter Milan, who close the Sunday programme with a city derby against troubled AC Milan (12).

Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, who retired from the Slovenia squad in 2016, is fully focussed on the derby after seeing his country miss qualification to the World Cup.

“A lot of my teammates have picked up positive results with their respective national sides,” Handanovic said.

“This will give us an extra boost, although the important thing is that they return well rested and in good shape.

“I would always like to play matches of this calibre. As for who will make the difference in the derby, I hope that the entire team can do the business.”

The derby tie at the Giuseppe Meazza is a chance for recovery for the Rossoneri, who slipped to seventh after losing to Sampdoria and Roma.

Sunday action begins early with Fiorentina vs Udinese followed by Bologna vs Spal, Cagliari vs Genoa, Crotone vs Torino, Sampdoria vs Atalanta and Sassuolo vs Chievo. Promoted sides Verona and Benevento meet Monday. – dpa