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.



Roma 2-0 Napoli

 

69′ – We’ve had a couple of minutes without play here after some unsavoury noises from the stands. Referee halts the game, Dzeko calls for calm and support for the home team instead.

 

SUBS


Roma 2-0 Napoli

 

64′ – Second Napoli change  sees Llorente on for Mertens. Two big, powerful strikers on for the away side now.


Roma 2-0 Napoli

 

60′ – Almost a third! Kluivert lets fly from range and strikes the crossbar – thunderous effort!

SUBS


Roma 2-0 Napoli

 

57′ – Napoli’s first change sees Lozano come on for Callejon

GOAL!


GOAL! Roma 2-0 Napoli

 

No VAR neeed this time and nothing Meret can do to stop it either, despite getting a fingertip to the ball. Veretout strikes it high and hard to the keeper’s right and it’s 2-0 to Roma!


Roma 1-0 Napoli

 

54′ – Penalty to Roma! Pastore crosses, Rui’s arm is up and blocks the ball – stonewall penalty, the home side’s second of the game!


Roma 1-0 Napoli

 

53′ – Zaniolo wins a corner but stands on Rui as he goes past him. Some discomfort for the full-back but he should be fine.

 


Roma 1-0 Napoli

 

49′ – Just as in the first half, Roma have tried to start on the front foot – but the threat from the away side is there on the break. No major chances as yet, but Kluivert scuffs one wide after Milik tried to race onto a through ball at the other end.


Second half time! Can Napoli get themselves back into the game or will Roma hang on for the win and third place?

HALF TIME


Half time: Roma 1-0 Napoli

 

Great strike from Zaniolo, but Kolarov’s penalty was saved and since then it has been all Napoli. Zielinski and Milik have both struck the woodwork.


Roma 1-0 Napoli

 

44′ – Smalling’s header is poor in his own box, Callejon knocks it off for Mertens…but the Belgian forward blazes over. Roma really need half time.


Roma 1-0 Napoli

 

41′ – They almost don’t! Rui crosses from the left, Milik gets free in the middle and heads it back across goal, strikes the crossbar, Insigne hits the rebound low and strikes the post! So close to an equaliser.


Roma 1-0 Napoli

 

40′ – Kolarov whips over a good cross, but Zaniolo can’t get over the ball as it bounces and skies his effort. Roma will probably be reasonably happy with their first half, assuming they head into the break with their lead intact.


Roma 1-0 Napoli

 

36′ – Napoli continue to pepper the Roma goal with efforts, but mostly from range or when there are defenders back to block. Insigne has the latest attempt, but it’s not really a threat for Pau Lopez. Mertens is easily beating Cetin, at present, down the left channel.


Roma 1-0 Napoli

 

32′ – Milik turns after a chest-down from Mertens and drives in a low shot, but it’s on his right foot so doesn’t quite get the whip on it he wants. Just wide of Lopez’s post.


Roma 1-0 Napoli

 

28′ – Great clearance by Smalling, hooking the ball away a yard before the goalline as Di Lorenzo’s header looped toward goal. Insigne then races in behind the Roma defence and strikes goalward, but it’s wide. Better from the away side.


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.

VAR


Roma 1-0 Napoli

 

24′ – Penalty to Roma! Didn’t seem to be anything going on, but the ref is called across to check the screen – and yes, Callejon has handballed in the box as he intercepts a bouncing ball!


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.

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.