Napoli aim to get back on track, but give Duvan Zapata his debut in a difficult trip to Marassi against Alberto Gilardino’s Genoa.
Serie A Week 6 opens at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Napoli aim to get back on track, but give Duvan Zapata his debut in a difficult trip to Marassi against Alberto Gilardino’s Genoa.
Serie A Week 6 opens at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
The Partenopei had a perfect record under Rafa Benitez in all competition until Wednesday night, when they were held to a surprise 1-1 home draw by bottom of the table Sassuolo” data-scaytid=”8″>Sassuolo.
Benitez defended his use of squad rotation and is reshuffling his pack once again for this trip to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Gonzalo Higuain and Marek Hamsik are rested in favour of Goran Pandev and Serie A debutant Duvan Zapata.
Christian Maggio is out for a month following knee surgery.
Genoa won the local derby with Sampdoria by 3-0, but have stuttered elsewhere in the campaign under inexperienced Coach Fabio Liverani.
Andrea Bertolacci has joined Luca Antonelli and Thomas Manfredini on the treatment table, while Francesco Lodi is not in the starting XI, but Gilardino leads the attack with Emanuele Calaiò.
Last season Napoli won this fixture 4-2 and they have lost just one of their last six meetings with Genoa.
There’s no chance of bitterness or crowd trouble, as the two clubs and their fans are twinned.
Genoa: Perin; Gamberini, Portanova, De Maio; Vrsaljko, Matuzalem, Biondini, Kucka, Antonini; Gilardino, Calaiò
Napoli: Reina; Mesto, Britos, Albiol, Zuniga; Inler, Behrami; Insigne, Pandev, Callejon; Duvan