Serie A Title Chase Is Proving Ever Compelling

Lazio vs Napoli

Hello 2026 and welcome to the most exciting title race in Europe.

For Serie A has three and, possibly even as far as five sides going hammer and tongues for glory.

As we say farewell to Serie A 2025 highlights and bring in the new year, only four points separate the top five teams and, while I think Juventus (in fifth spot) will fall off the pace a bit – and I’m not convinced AC Milan (currently second) will maintain their momentum either – I do feel that Roma (who actually earned more league points than any other Italian club in the calendar year) could stay the course longer.

That leaves last season’s top two who I fully expect to lead the charge.

Italian champions Napoli currently trail last season’s runners-up Inter Milan by two points so there is not too much room for manoeuvre as they head to Lazio (eighth but always a tricky place to visit) this Sunday lunchtime.

Talking Points

Can Napoli replicate their Super Cup success in Serie A? — Napoli celebrate on the podium after winning the Italian Super Cup 2025

Lazio haven’t had too much to shout about since their 2019 Coppa Italia success – they also won the subsequent Italian Super Coppa.

It was a frustrating festive weekend for the club from the Italian capital as they conceded a last-gasp goal at Udinese, the equaliser in a 1-1 draw which has caused a stir in Italian football.

They will now hope to start the new year on a high for manager Maurizio Sarri who underwent a successful operation on his heart on Monday after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.

As for Napoli, they followed up their recent Italian Super Cup triumph by winning 2-0 at Cremonese thanks to a brace from the on-loan Man Utd striker Rasmus Hojlund.

Napoli are in third place in an incredibly tight Serie A title race and there also remains a possibility that Serie A is awarded an additional spot in next season’s Champions League.

Players from both teams have been in the news in recent days.

Napoli have suffered a setback in their attempts to reintegrate Romelu Lukaku into the squad, with the Belgian striker still not ready to return to action after a lengthy and frustrating injury layoff since pre-season.

Meanwhile, Lazio will presumably want to tie defender Adam Marusic to a new contract.

Talks over a renewal have yet to reach a breakthrough and, with his current deal expiring in June, the Montenegrin centre back will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with other clubs during January should he wish – a scenario or distraction Lazio could do without as they seek to climb the table.

History

The corresponding fixture was an exciting contest last season in which Napoli fell behind to an early Gustav Isaksen strike only to respond quickly through Giacomo Raspadori.

An own goal just after the hour put them in the lead but Boulaye Dia scored an 87^th minute equaliser for the home side in a 2-2 draw in the Stadio Olimpico.

When Lazio repeated the feat in May against Inter Milan in the San Siro, it proved to be crucial and Napoli pipped Inter to the title five days later.

Lazio actually proved a real thorn in Napoli’s side last term as Isaksen scored the only goal of the game as they won in Naples last December too.

It’s seven games ago since Napoli defeated Lazio – September 2022 in Serie A when Kim Min-Jae and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (now at Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain respectively) were on target after Mattia Zaccagni had given Lazio an early lead.

That was an early sign that Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli were going to be a genuine title contender.

They never looked back as they conquered all before them domestically with Spalletti at the helm, eventually finishing 16 points clear at the summit with Lazio in the runners-up spot.

Overall, Napoli have 60 successes to Lazio’s 48 wins with a further 49 draws.

Their inaugural meeting was a goalless draw in Rome in the league in March 1967.