3x3: Cengiz, Napoli-Lazio and the Premier League

This week we are joined by the commentary cast from beIN network, as Richard Whittle, Tancredi Palmeri and Andres Cordero are put on the spot with three topical football questions…

The Roma Question: What will Cengiz Ünder's first goal do for his confidence?

Rich / @RichWman: “First of all it was a brilliant goal. Cutting in quickly from the right and the keeper didn't have time to move. We all knew he was one of the most promising players around and he just needed time to settle in, study the style of play, and become comfortable with the culture and language.

"When you are that good you will naturally be confident so I expect him to really push on now and make it difficult for Di Francesco to leave him on the bench. He can only get better. Knowing when to turn on the solo stuff and when to keep it simple.”

Tancredi / @tancredipalmeri: “I think it can do a lot. He started well, almost too well for what was expected. He needed time to adjust with Italian tactics. It’s also about the way he prepared for the match and how he came on, scoring the only goal in the game. It was obviously necessary for the team, but in the end he just needed time.”

Andres / @DreCordero: “The quality and importance of Cengiz’s goal at Verona should do him a world of good. Scoring seconds into a match that Roma won by the minimum can boost not just his confidence in himself, but that of his teammates in him. Goals are at a premium for Roma this campaign. They’ve scored 15 fewer than at this stage last season. Cengiz may have had to wait for his first, but it was a spectacular effort that turned out to be worth three points.”

The Serie A Question: Who will win between Napoli and Lazio on Saturday?

@RichWman: “Napoli know they have to win just about every match to keep Juventus at bay so I expect them to win. Lazio will be targeting the Coppa Italia and Europa League, so I would say that Roma and Inter have deeper squads to finish above them. A really positive rest of February will set Roma up well to really nail down third place.”

@tancredipalmeri: “Normally I’d say Napoli, as this match is usually not even considered to be a contest. Yet with Lazio losing at Genoa, they (Lazio) are going to be on high alert now. They don’t have that advantage of saying “OK, maybe we can take this one easy.” I have to say, Lazio really are the perfect team to hurt Napoli – they play the counter-attack on the next level, not just waiting to take the ball, but attacking to dispossess the other team. They’re the perfect team to make Napoli drop points.”

@DreCordero: “A spectacular match and near impossible to pick. Lazio have arguably been better away from the Stadio Olimpico than at home this season. But Napoli have looked close to unbeatable at the San Paolo. Sarri’s men could be facing a little extra pressure, depending on Friday’s Fiorentina-Juve result, but the hosts should persevere in Naples.”

The General Football Question: Out of Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Liverpool, which clubs will claim the last two Champions League places in the English Premier League?

@RichWman: “Liverpool and Spurs look the best equipped to finish in the top four but it's going to be close. Chelsea should come good again and Arsenal have made excellent signings so they should start picking up a string of wins. I would love to see Roma-Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Here's hoping ... Daje.”

@tancredipalmeri: “It’s complicated because Chelsea have the best squad, but they’re at their lowest moment of confidence. If Chelsea don’t beat Barcelona, that would be an advantage. Arsenal has quite a gap to the others and don’t have same options as Chelsea and Tottenham, as well as possibly a long journey in the Europa League. Liverpool could easily make the quarter-finals and will have a longer journey.

"Between those three I’d say Tottenham because Kane is in unbelievable form, but they’ll probably go out against Juve, so they’ll have time to focus just on the EPL. Between Liverpool and Chelsea, I believe Chelsea will lack but they’ll play better overall – so I’d say Chelsea and Tottenham."

@DreCordero: “Arsenal do not currently look like a top four side, and the arrival of Aubameyang is not likely to change that, given their issues are on the defensive side. Chelsea look like they’re on the downslide of Conte’s tenure at Stamford Bridge. So, I see Liverpool and Spurs joining the Manchester sides in the top four at season’s end.”