Napoli will host Roma in the latest edition of the Derby del Sol on Sunday, January 29.
The two clubs are the most popular and famous football teams in the southern half of Italy. Although Lazio will lay claim to being one of the two most popular clubs, many fans in Italy’s south gravitate to Roma or Napoli.
The first Derby del Sol was played in 1928, as Roma won the fixture 4-1. Since then, there have been 171 total derby matches between the famous clubs.
Roma lead the head-to-head series in all-time wins with 63 in all competitions. Fifty-two of those wins came in Serie A play.
Napoli vs Roma: Head-to-Head
Sunday’s Derby del Sol will be the second meeting of the season between the clubs. Napoli defeated Roma earlier this season in the capital by a score of 1-0. Victor Osimhen scored in the 80th minute for the win.
Napoli are unbeaten in six straight derbies versus Roma, with four wins and two draws. Roma’s last win in Naples was in March 2018, which is a lifetime ago in football.
The clubs have met 151 times in Serie A, as Roma edged the head-to-head matches with 52 wins. On 52 occasions, the games finished in a draw, while Napoli won 47 times in Serie A versus Roma.
Luciano Spalletti vs Jose Mourinho
Luciano Spalletti doesn’t get the recognition Jose Mourinho does as a coach. Yet, the Napoli man has been one of the top coaches across the peninsula for well over two decades.
Spalletti coached Roma from 2005 to 2009 but issues with Francesco Totti and others saw the coach run out of Rome. He rebuilt himself with Zenit St Petersburg before returning to Italy with Roma once more and then Inter Milan. There is no love lost between Spalletti and Roma.
The Italian doesn’t have a good record against Roma. Spalletii has faced the Giallorossi 22 times, winning five, drawing eight, and losing nine. He hasn’t fared well against Mourinho either. In seven games, Spalletti has one win, three draws, and three defeats.
Mourinho coached against Napoli just seven times in his career, posting a record of 2W-3D-2L. In seven career games versus Spalletti, Mourinho has three wins, three draws, and one defeat.
Top goal scorers in Napoli vs Roma fixtures
Dries Mertens (SSCN) - 9 goals
Dino Da Costa (ASR) - 8 goals
Edinson Cavani (SSCN) - 7 goals
Francesco Totti (ASR) - 7 goals
Napoli are on a great run of form, with 14 wins from their last 15 games in Serie A. The Serie A Scudetto is Napoli’s to lose. A win over Roma and AC Milan dropping points once more would put Napoli an even bigger step closer to winning the title.
Roma are battling for Champions League qualification. Mourinho’s side are winning games, but can the Giallorossi win against the top teams in Serie A?
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