Napoli host Roma with three selection calls unresolved

Napoli face Roma at the Maradona on Saturday 24 October (18:00 CET, 17:00 UK, 12:00 ET) in the eighth round of Serie A, and head coach Allegri has not settled his team. The expected shape is a 4-3-3 with three contested places.

Goalkeeper and defence

Milinkovic-Savic is ahead of Meret in goal. Against Roma's pressure, a keeper who can break the first line with a direct long ball may be useful.

Badiashile looks set to reclaim a place at centre-back. He started against Bodø/Glimt and should start again. Rrahmani is the big question: he has played almost every minute, is coming off a feverish illness and may play through it. Rafa Marín is the alternative.

On the left, it is Olivera or Spinazzola. Spinazzola has 467 league minutes, among the highest totals in the squad, and needs managing. Di Lorenzo stays at right-back.

Midfield doubt

De Bruyne and McTominay are the base of the midfield. Allegri is tempted to start Anguissa in place of Lobotka, who could be left on the bench. Anguissa has few minutes in his legs. His contract runs out in June 2027 and renewal talks are stalled, so this is also a longer-term issue. Vergara returns to the squad, at least on the bench, after a month of setbacks.

Højlund looks for a goal

Up front, Højlund leads the line, with Politano on the right and Lang on the left. Giovane, a starter in the last three games, is pushing for a place.

Højlund has not scored in the league for 5 games, since 5 September against Inter: 228 minutes. Roma are the opponent he has played the most Serie A minutes against without scoring: 223. Neres, Alisson Santos, Buongiorno and Favasuli are all out injured, so options on the flanks are thin.

Roma

Roma arrive third on 17 points, 7 ahead of Napoli. Gasperini has absences to deal with, including Pellegrini, who has a muscle problem and will be out for a long time. Gollini plays in goal in place of Svilar. Mancini and Ndicka should return in defence alongside Hermoso, and Cristante has recovered and should start in midfield. Malen leads the attack, with Soulé back from the start.

Two numbers concern Napoli. They are unbeaten in their last 8 home league games against Roma (4 wins, 4 draws). But they have already lost 3 times in the first 7 rounds, which has not happened since 2009/10.

Put plainly, 10 points, tenth place and 9 behind the leader is a long way from the aim of finishing fourth. The club has tied Allegri to this match, and a line-up with three open calls hours before kick-off shows how narrow the margin is. Bodø/Glimt gave some breathing space, but anyone who saw Venezia knows Tuesday's 4-3 wiped out nothing. At 18:00 CET at the Maradona, we find out whether this team can stand up to a serious opponent.