Lazio vs Napoli predictions and betting tips – Champions head to Olimpico

Napoli are third in Serie A going into the weekend, but they will not give up their title without a fight. Antonio Conte’s side could retake top spot if results go their way on Saturday and Sunday.

Lazio are not involved in the title race, and they are in danger of falling too far behind the top four as well. Who will triumph in Rome?

• Napoli to win – 13/10 with bet365
• Draw at half-time – 24/25 with 247Bet
• Rasmus Hojlund to score anytime – 13/5 with Paddy Power

Lazio vs Napoli odds

Find the latest Lazio vs Napoli betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Lazio vs Napoli predictions

As we enter 2026, no fewer than five Serie A teams are involved in Europe’s most exciting title conversation.

Inter lead the way on 36 points, followed by their local rivals Milan on 35. Napoli, the defending champions, are one further back on 34, with Roma on 32 and Juventus on 31. It is, in other words, impossible to call the race for the scudetto.

Antonio Conte, you feel, will not be too displeased with the position his team finds itself in at the beginning of the new year.

Napoli have not quite hit the levels of last season. Yet it is worth noting that after 16 matches in 2024/25, the Partenopei only had one more point to their name than they do now. Napoli were second at this point last term, before coming on strong in the second half of the campaign.

That is the objective this time around, too. There have been ups and downs over the last few months, with Conte still giving off the air of a man not completely settled at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

There have been familiar problems for the 56-year-old in Europe, too. After six of eight matchdays, Napoli are 23rd in the Champions League standings. Drop just two places, and they would be outside the play-offs.

Would Conte really mind that? A manager as fiercely competitive as the Italian automatically wants to win every game he is involved in. 

Yet his continental record at several clubs is distinctly mediocre, and it is surely no coincidence that he tends to perform best in the league when the team he is coaching has no other distractions. With one game a week to focus on, Conte is arguably the best manager in world football. 

That is a question for another day. Napoli have five Serie A matches in a hectic two-week period before their next European outing. That spell includes tricky trips to Lazio and Inter.

Inter’s next opponents have had a frustrating time of it of late. Lazio have won only one of their last five league games, with dropped points against Cremonese and Udinese before Christmas particularly disappointing. 

Maurizio Sarri will not want his side to fall any further behind the top four than their present nine-point deficit, but it already looks like the Europa League would be a more realistic target for Lazio this term.

Lazio vs Napoli betting tips

Lazio and Napoli begin the new calendar year with a game against each other in Serie A.

Napoli eye victory

Napoli lifted another trophy late last year, as victories over Milan and Bologna (both 2-0) saw them win the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia.

If you include a penalty shoot-out success against Cagliari in the Coppa Italia, Napoli have won seven of their last eight games against Italian opposition.

As we touched on above, Lazio have been much less convincing of late. 

Their record in big games leaves a lot to be desired, too. Sarri’s side have already lost to Roma, Inter and Milan this season, while they have only beaten one team currently in the top half.

Napoli have the bit between their teeth, and they will find a way to win in Sunday’s early kick-off.

Back Napoli to win at 13/10 with bet365

Expect even first half

Only Bologna have gone in level at the break more often than Lazio, 10 of whose games have had parity after 45 minutes.

Given his team’s recent record, Sarri would be reasonably happy to go in at the interval with nothing between the two sides.

Napoli will not rush things either. The champions will trust their quality to come good over the course of the 90 minutes.

Lazio are a flawed side, but their games tend to be tight. Sarri’s charges have not lost by more than a two-goal margin this season. Lazio can hang with Napoli in the opening period.

Choose a draw at half-time at 24/25 with 247Bet

In-form Hojlund to pounce

Like so many Manchester United players (including one of his current team-mates), Rasmus Hojlund has gone up a level after leaving Old Trafford.

The Denmark international, who is on loan at Napoli from United, has scored nine goals in 20 appearances for Conte’s team.

Six of those strikes have come in Serie A, which means only Lautaro Martinez and Christian Pulisic have been more prolific in Italy’s top flight.

Hojlund was in fantastic form before Christmas, notching braces against Juventus and Cremonese. He is our pick in the anytime scorer market against Lazio this weekend.

Go for Rasmus Hojlund to score any time at 13/5 with Paddy Power

Lazio vs Napoli predicted lineups

• Lazio expected lineup: Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Cataldi, Basic; Cancellieri, Noslin, Zaccagni.
• Napoli expected lineup: Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus; Politano, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Neres, Hojlund, Elmas.

Where to watch Lazio vs Napoli

• Location: Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy.
• Date and time: Sunday 4th January, 11.30am.
• How to watch: TNT Sports 2.

More Serie A predictions

We have plenty more Serie A predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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