Napoli need to get back on track, but face a huge potential pitfall in the form of Empoli.
It kicks off at the Stadio San Paolo at 11.30 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Rafa Benitez’s men extended their unbeaten run at the weekend thanks to Duvan Zapata’s last-gasp equaliser against Sampdoria.
That result also kept them in joint third place with Genoa, so as the Grifone face Milan this afternoon, the Partenopei have a perfect opportunity to go clear.
Napoli need to get back on track, but face a huge potential pitfall in the form of Empoli.
It kicks off at the Stadio San Paolo at 11.30 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Rafa Benitez’s men extended their unbeaten run at the weekend thanks to Duvan Zapata’s last-gasp equaliser against Sampdoria.
That result also kept them in joint third place with Genoa, so as the Grifone face Milan this afternoon, the Partenopei have a perfect opportunity to go clear.
However, they’ve already shown that attack-minded minnows can cause huge problems in Naples, as this season there have been 3-3 draws against Palermo and Cagliari.
Kalidou Koulibaly is suspended, joining Giandomenico Mesto, Michu, Lorenzo Insigne and Juan Camilo Zuniga on the absentee list.
There were also some concerns over Gonzalo Higuain after sustaining a muscular problem during a training session, so he is rested in favour of Duvan Zapata.
Paulo Henrique steps in to the defence alongside Raul Albiol.
Empoli were promoted from Serie B over the summer and have seemingly hit their stride of late, notching up seven points from the last three rounds.
Maurizio Sarri’s men were in action during the week in the Coppa Italia, beating Genoa 2-0 to progress in the competition with a second-string side.
Tiberio Guarente, Laurini and Perticone miss this trip, while veterans Massimo Maccarone and Francesco Tavano are chosen to spearhead the attack.
Milan-owned Simone Verdi pulls the strings as trequartista, but it’s a very special game for goalkeeper Luigi Sepe, who is on loan from his hometown club Napoli.
There were concerns over Daniele Rugani over the last few days and again in the warm-up, so it remains to be seen if he will start.
Empoli won their last visit to the Stadio San Paolo, getting a 3-1 result in 2007-08 with three red cards that day. It remains their only victory between Serie A and B, along with a draw and six losses.
Napoli: Rafael; Maggio, Albiol, Henrique, Ghoulam; David Lopez, Jorginho; Callejon, Hamsik, Mertens; Duvan Zapata
Empoli: Sepe; Hysaj, Rugani, Tonelli, Mario Rui; Croce, Valdifiori, Vecino; Verdi; Maccarone Tavano