tension mounts ahead of crucial romanapoli clash
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today
Egypt Today, egypt today
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today

Tension mounts ahead of crucial Roma-Napoli clash

Egypt Today, egypt today

Egypt Today, egypt today Tension mounts ahead of crucial Roma-Napoli clash

Roma's midfielder Alessandro Florenzi
Milan - Arab Today

Rome will be on high alert on Saturday as Roma host Napoli for the first time since a supporter was killed last year in clashes between the teams' rival fans.
The game has been scheduled for 1030 GMT (1230 local time) due to fears over fan violence.
Last May, Napoli fan Ciro Esposito was shot and killed by a hardline Roma 'ultra' supporter on the fringes of the Italian Cup final.
City officials have banned visiting Napoli fans from the game and ticket sales among the Roma supporters are not expected to soar either.
But the match itself is crucial to both sides' Champions League qualification hopes.
With Juventus boasting a 14-point lead over second-placed Roma, the Bianconeri look to already have a fourth consecutive scudetto sewn up.
But the race to join them in the Champions League next season is far from over, and faltering Roma are the target for several hopefuls, including Napoli.
A remarkable return of eight draws from a recent nine-game run effectively ended Roma's title hopes and left Rudi Garcia's men holding just a one-point lead over city rivals Lazio with 10 games remaining.
Sampdoria sit in fourth, four points further adrift, with Napoli in fifth a further point off the pace.
Roma finally got back to winning ways away to Cesena prior to the international break, but will be without injured striker Gervinho.
Roma forward Adem Ljajic says beating Napoli is important to keep Lazio at bay.
"Saturday's game counts a lot for both sides, but we want to go out and play our game and try to win," Ljajic said.
"Lazio are a top side and are having a great run at the moment, but for now we're in second and we'll do everything to stay there."
While victory has eluded Roma of late, Napoli have not exactly been blazing a trail, dropping five points behind Lazio after winning only one of their last six league games.
An eventual slip-up by Roma could see high-flying Lazio, who are away at Cagliari, move up to second place, adding spice to the existing bitter rivalry between the capital clubs.
"Finishing second (behind Juve but above Roma) would be like winning the title for us," Lazio captain Stefano Mauri told Sky Sport. "In the city, people are really starting to feel the rivalry and our fans are desperate for us to go ahead of Roma."
Fiorentina host Sampdoria in a clash that, while considered crucial for their respective European hopes, was already expected to serve up a cracking game between two attacking sides.
Vincenzo Montella's men have lost only once in their last 11 league games but welcome Sinisa Mihajlovic's team with doubts over the availability of winger Manuel Pasqual and defender Stefan Savic.
Sampdoria are looking for their fifth win on the trot and should be confident following a well-deserved home win over Inter Milan two weeks ago that left Mihajlovic purring.
"It was the best football we've played all season," said the Serbian.
AC Milan's face a tough trip to Palermo as they chase a Europa League place, while city rivals Inter, a further point off the pace in 10th spot, host basement side Parma.
Juventus, who have lost only once this season, are in action late Saturday when they host a tenacious Empoli side that is unbeaten in eight games.
Fixtures
Saturday
Roma v Napoli (1030 GMT), Atalanta v Torino, Cagliari v Lazio, Genoa v Udinese, Verona v Cesena, Inter Milan v Parma, Palermo v AC Milan, Sassuolo v Chievo (all 1300), Fiorentina v Sampdoria (1630), Juventus v Empoli (1900)
Source: AFP

egypttoday
egypttoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

tension mounts ahead of crucial romanapoli clash tension mounts ahead of crucial romanapoli clash



GMT 14:35 2012 Thursday ,19 January

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer

GMT 12:27 2017 Thursday ,07 December

Lyft puts driverless cars to work in Boston

GMT 06:23 2019 Tuesday ,20 August

You find yourself facing new professional

GMT 12:54 2018 Thursday ,06 December

Schalke aim to dampen Dortmund's title charge in derby

GMT 09:56 2018 Sunday ,16 September

Rahi Calls For Speeding Up Cabinet Formation

GMT 07:00 2017 Wednesday ,03 May

FBI translator married Daesh fighter she spied on

GMT 21:54 2017 Thursday ,22 June

Etihad planes rated world's cleanest

GMT 12:21 2015 Wednesday ,28 October

UAE provides unlimited support to Yemen

GMT 12:24 2016 Saturday ,25 June

US Navy keeps electromagnetic cannon in its sights

GMT 19:14 2011 Tuesday ,14 June

International Film Festival 2011

GMT 10:17 2017 Wednesday ,29 November

Ajman University celebrates National Day
 
 Egypt Today Facebook,egypt today facebook  Egypt Today Twitter,egypt today twitter Egypt Today Rss,egypt today rss  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
egypttoday, Egypttoday, Egypttoday