Serie A: Ranieri’s Return Can’t Save Roma

Napoli vs AS Roma

League leaders Napoli are back in Serie A action on Sunday when they entertain Roma at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The visitors will rock up in Naples with an old friend at their helm, as Claudio Ranieri has just been tempted back to Rome to lead I Giallorossi for the third time in a 37-year managerial career.

Roma fans are hoping for a saviour to lift them out of their early season gloom following the sacking of Ivan Juric after just 12 league games in charge which has left the club in 12^th place in the table. A poor set of Serie A 2024 results with just three wins from 12 matches prompted the Roma board to act, and they have brought in 73-year-old Ranieri.

As well as managing I Giallorossi from 2009 to 2011 and in 2019, Ranieri started his playing career way back in 1973 with Roma, and he has also managed Napoli between 1991 and 1993.

He may steady the ship in the capital, but Roma needs more than that. It is a club used to challenging for European places, finishing sixth last term, and they are in the Europa League too.

But a poor start on the continent has left Roma in 20^th place and, to make matters worse for Giallorossi fans, Lazio are sitting on top of that table!

Ranieri’s aim is to rescue Roma’s campaign, but I fear he won’t have much luck on Sunday, and then his next two fixtures are away to Tottenham Hotpsur in the Europa League and at home to second-placed Atalanta back in Italy. Roma fans need to be patient.

In contrast, Antonio Conte’s Napoli have made a storming start to their Serie A campaign, and they went into the international break with a 1-1 draw away to reigning champions Inter Milan, while Roma lost 3-2 at home to Bologna.

And I suspect I Partenopei will have a nasty welcome prepared for Roma and their returned manager.

Talking Points

New look Napoli’s Scudetto dream

They were the surprise package when they won the 2023 Serie A title, but Conte has given Partenopei fans the belief they can pull off another shock Scudetto win after a sensational start to the 2024/25 campaign.

The departures of Victor Osimhen and Piotr Zielinski, two huge players from the 2023 triumph, caused rumblings of discontent in Naples, but the arrival of Conte and some clever investment soon changed the mood.

After losing their league opener 3-0 to Hellas Verona, Napoli have lost just one more league game from the next 11, and they sit one point ahead of Atalanta at the summit.

Scott McTominay has played a key role for Serie A side Napoli during their 2024-25 campaign — Scott McTominay celebrates with his Napoli teammates after scoring his first goal against Inter Milan in Serie A

It’s tight at the top and the latest Serie A 2024 betting odds make Conte’s Napoli the second favourites to win the Scudetto at odds of 4.00, with I Nerazzurri still the outright favourites at 1.83 and also just a point behind.

Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is back to his best and top scoring with five goals and two assists, while Romelu Lukaku, reunited with Conte, has four goals and three assists.

But the signing of the summer could well turn out to be midfield ace Scott McTominay who arrived in a £30 million move from Manchester United, and his all-action performances have made him a fan-favourite already.

Ranieri relies on Pellegrini

A number of players in Rome have come under fire this season, and fans have even called for captain Lorenzo Pellegrini to be rested. But reports coming out of the club suggest Ranieri will look to his skipper for inspiration and leadership.

With 214 games in seven seasons, the attacking midfielder is Roma through and through and, at 28 years of age, the Azzurri star is in his prime, and now is the time he needs to stand up.

Ranieri needs leaders on the pitch, and he may bring in experienced centre-back Mats Hummels to help shore up his defence. But the continued absence of Paulo Dybala with a muscle injury leaves him a little short up front.

Summer recruit Artem Dovbyk has four goals, and Stephan El Shaarawy bagged a brace in the loss to Bologna last time out, and they will link up again on Sunday.

History

I Giallorossi have had the better of the head-to-head meetings over the last three decades with 21 wins to 16, and there have been 13 draws. Last season, this fixture ended in a 2-2 stalemate.

Napoli have won four of the last six games, drawing one, and losing one, while Roma have won two, drawn one, and lost three.

Roma have failed to win on their last six visits to Naples, nor have they won on the road this season with four draws and two defeats away from home.