Roma host Napoli in Serie A this afternoon as the two Italian heavyweights clash for the first time this season.
Roma will be hoping to leapfrog Atalanta into third place as they look to maintain their bright start to the current campaign. On Wednesday night they thrashed Udinese 4-0, while last weekend they saw off AC Milan at home.
Napoli will meanwhile be without manager Carlo Ancelotti on the touchline, after he was shown a red card in the club’s 2-2 draw with Atalanta. A win would see Napoli leapfrog Roma and move into fourth – follow live coverage below.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Roma vs Napoli.
It's fourth vs. sixth in Serie A, with neither side quite as consistent as they'd like to be of late, both winning three and drawing two of the last five. Just one point separates them in the table.
Roma bring Yildirim Mert Cetin in for the suspended Fazio at centre-back; Spinazzola replaces Santon on the right. With Lorenzo Pellegrini still out injured, Nicolo Zaniolo and Justin Kluivert provide the guile and pace in the attacking midfield line.
Napoli have two changes in defence as well, with Manolas and Mario Rui returning. Mertens is in for Chucky Lozano to partner Milik in attack.
The full lineups in text:
Roma: Lopez; Spinazzola, Smalling, Cetin, Kolarov; Mancini, Veretout; Zaniolo, Pastore, Kluivert; Dzeko.
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly, Rui; Callejon, Fabian Ruiz, Zielinski, Insigne; Mertens, Milik.
Surprise success story of the season so far? Chris Smalling might well be in the running for that particular award. Big test today, though, against an in-form Milik who has four goals in four starts.
As has been confirmed ahead of the game, no Carlo Ancelotti today. He sent in a hand-written appeal, but his red card ban stands.
If either of these two sides manages to pick up the three points today, they'll be up into third place. Atalanta don't play until tomorrow.
Roma 0-0 Napoli
3' - Roma on the front foot from the start, but Napoli defend a series of crosses and corners from Kolarov. Zaniolo already looking to cut infield and make things happen.
Roma 0-0 Napoli
7' - Mertens strikes one from range, but it's easy for Pau Lopez. Roma have only conceded twice in their last five league games.
Roma 0-0 Napoli
10' - We're officially into the winter half of the season, by the way - the yellow ball is on show. Kliuvert has just sent it flashing past Meret's right-hand post; fierce strike, but a few yards wide.
Roma 0-0 Napoli
12' - Mancini flicks a lovely ball into the area, but Pastore blazes over under pressure from Manolas. Pastore is certainly making the most of the injuries in the Roma squad; he played just under 600 league minutes last season and, if he plays the full 90 today, will already be on 377 for 19/20.
Roma 0-0 Napoli
16' - Napoli launching sporadic counters, but Roma are certainly on top. Kolarov gets away with one after playing everyone onside.
Roma 1-0 Napoli
22' - Great strike from Kolarov as he hits one from the edge of the box which is arrowing toward the bottom corner - but Meret makes a good diving save to tip it behind for a corner.
PENALTY SAVED! Kolarov goes low to the keeper's right, but Meret makes a brilliant one-handed save. Going to put that down as a tremendous use of VAR, on this occasion!
Still Roma 1-0 Napoli.
Roma 1-0 Napoli
Roma 1-0 Napoli
Match preview
When is it?
The match is today: Saturday 2 November.
What time does it kick-off?
The match gets underway at 2pm GMT.
Where can I watch it?
A live stream will be shown on Bet365 for UK viewers.
Viewers in the United States can watch the match on ESPN Deportes.
