Derby Del Sole Preview: Can Roma Win Their First Match Against a Scudetto Contender?

Roma’s match tomorrow against their Southern compatriots Napoli is a serious testing ground for the Giallorossi. While Gian Piero Gasperini’s men have managed to stay top of the table through nearly a third of the season, their success has come in a decidedly un-Roma way: by winning the matches they need to against the smaller sides of Italy. They’ve lost their matches against both Milan clubs so far this season, and while the Derby Della Capitale is always a meaningful match, it’s clear that Roma is a tier above their cross-town rivals Lazio this season. It’s a refreshing change of pace for Roma to win the matches they should win, allowing the matches against the fellow giants of Serie A to carry slightly less weight; still, if Roma wants to truly contend for Champions League football this season (and dare we say it, a Scudetto), they’re going to have to start winning some of the matches against the heavyweights too.

The Giallorossi’s success this season has been built off of world-class defense: they’ve conceded just six goals in 12 matches, which is the best defensive record in Serie A and tied with Arsenal for the best in Europe. Their discipline and structure have been a foundation for consistency, thanks to world-class performances from the likes of Mile Svilar, Gianluca Mancini, and Evan Ndicka. Their hard work in the back has translated to a high possession rate and a pattern of sustained pressure leading to a reliable number of shots and on-target attempts, even if the offense isn’t all the way there just yet.

Match Details

Date: November 30th

Kickoff: 20:45 CET/2:45 EST

Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Roma

Referee: Davide Massa

On the other side, Napoli remains one of the most dangerous threats in the league. While it’s admittedly been an odd year for offense in Serie A, Antonio Conte’s men have tallied 19 goals in 12 games, making them top three in Serie A for goals scored so far this season. Their ability to generate and convert chances through quick transitions and midfield control means that, despite their defensive lapses (11 so far, and a history of conceding penalties), they are very much capable of unsettling even well-drilled defenses.

A win tomorrow lets the Giallorossi officially announce their return to the peak of Italian football. A draw or a loss might not tank their hopes of Champions League glory in 2026, but it will certainly take a good amount of the shine off of what has been a tremendous start to the season.

What To Watch For

Baldanzi’s False Nine Moment

The injury concerns that are currently swirling around the Giallorossi might just be opening a door for Tommaso Baldanzi, and if he plays his cards right, the 22-year-old might finally get the moment he’s been waiting for. With Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui both listed as doubtful, the midfield will likely see Koné paired with Bryan Cristante. At the same time, captain Lorenzo Pellegrini drops deeper to help contain Stanislav Lobotka, Napoli’s creative hub. With those changes happening in midfield and with Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala nursing injuries and poor form, Gasperini appears ready to roll the dice on a lighter, more fluid front, with Baldanzi at the head of the attack in a false nine role.

After all the hullabaloo associated with his much-vaunted transfer from Empoli back in January 2024, this might be Baldanzi’s real moment to shine. Many noted that his recent performance against Cremonese showcased genuine promise: that recent start allowed him to prove his intelligence, create link-up play, find passing lanes, and nearly score a goal. It was a great reminder for fans and coach alike that Baldanzi’s skill set can slot in as a false nine easily—and that with a faltering offense, perhaps the Italian is Roma’s best available option up front.

Clearly the hope for tomorrow is that if Baldanzi starts, he can unlock something special in the Derby Del Sole. While Dybala and Ferguson carry bigger reputations today, neither has delivered consistent impact this season; Baldanzi, on the other hand, could be a genuine long-term asset for club and country if nurtured correctly. If Gasperini trusts him and gives him space to roam and create, this could be the night Baldanzi begins to stake a real claim as a weapon for Roma’s ambitious quest at the top. Let’s see whether he seizes it.

Will the Svilar Show Stand Up to Yet Another Strong Offense?

When the lights flicker on at the Olimpico tomorrow evening, Roma’s hopes will undoubtedly depend on Mile Svilar—as per usual. The Serbian shot-stopper has not-so-quietly become the backbone of AS Roma’s renaissance, helping the club amass 14 clean sheets across all competitions in 2025 alone, which is more than any other top European club. Those successes weren’t just during the tail end of the 2024-2025 season either; so far, Svilar has kept six clean sheets out of 12 matches, with a save percentage around 86.5%. That’s the work of a world class goalkeeper, and at age 26, the Belgian/Serbian shot stopper clearly has quite a lot of gas left in the tank to keep performing at this level for maybe even a decade longer.

Svilar’s consistency has kept Roma competitive even when their forwards weren’t at their sharpest (and let’s be honest, they haven’t been sharp at all to start the season.) It’s not fanciful to wonder: if even just a couple of those extra saves had gone a different way, perhaps the narrow losses to the Milan clubs could’ve been draws instead, giving the Giallorossi an even larger lead over the rest of the Italian table.

With a fierce, clinical attack like Napoli coming to town, a clean sheet from Svilar would help solidify Roma’s goals for the season even more than a win will. Romanisti know that their hopes for CL football (and more) depend on Svilar, in a way this club hasn’t felt since the Francesco Totti era. There’s not much more that anyone can ask of Svilar—Totti knows he’s given his all for this club, and we just have to hope that he will stick around for several more years to come. But if he stands tall against Napoli, the Giallorossi faithful will have even more license to dream of success than they have in years. No pressure.