Ranieri’s Roma face Napoli test in Serie A return
Claudio Ranieri begins his tenure as Roma head coach on Sunday with a daunting trip to league leaders Napoli. The veteran manager, a lifelong Roma fan, was appointed last week after Ivan Juric’s sacking and inherits a team in crisis, sitting 12th in Serie A, just four points above the relegation zone.
Ranieri acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, “There is no time for mistakes.” His task is to revive Roma’s season, with the club already 12 points adrift of the Champions League spots—a priority for owners Dan Friedkin and his family.
The capital club faces a brutal schedule, with a Europa League clash at Tottenham and a match against high-flying Atalanta following Sunday’s fixture. Injuries complicate matters, as Paulo Dybala is doubtful, and Mats Hummels is sidelined with the flu.
Antonio Conte’s Napoli, boosted by summer signings including former Roma striker Romelu Lukaku, lead Serie A by a point. Conte is expected to welcome back Stanislav Lobotka, though Scott McTominay’s fitness remains uncertain after a foot injury.
Elsewhere, Juventus face AC Milan at San Siro on Saturday, where Timothy Weah, son of Milan legend George Weah, could feature prominently.
Weekend fixtures (times GMT):
- Saturday: Verona v Inter Milan (14:00), AC Milan v Juventus (17:00), Parma v Atalanta (19:45)
- Sunday: Genoa v Cagliari (11:30), Napoli v Roma (17:00), Lazio v Bologna (19:45)
(Source: AFP)
