Napoli make changes as they host giant-killers Bologna, bringing in Dries Mertens and still without suspended Gonzalo Higuain.

It kicks off at the Stadio San Paolo at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), follow the build-up and action while giving your views on the LIVEBLOG.

The Partenopei have lost two of the last three games and find themselves in crisis, as not only are Juventus nine points clear at the top, but Roma are also closing in on second place.

Napoli make changes as they host giant-killers Bologna, bringing in Dries Mertens and still without suspended Gonzalo Higuain.

It kicks off at the Stadio San Paolo at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), follow the build-up and action while giving your views on the LIVEBLOG.

The Partenopei have lost two of the last three games and find themselves in crisis, as not only are Juventus nine points clear at the top, but Roma are also closing in on second place.

It makes a big difference, as only the top two in Serie A go directly into the Champions League, whereas third needs a preliminary round.

Higuain continues his three-match ban, reduced from four on appeal, and will be available again in Monday afternoon’s showdown with Roma.

In the meantime, Manolo Gabbiadini seeks another opportunity to prove himself and is joined by Mertens, who makes only his fifth Serie A start of the season.

Lorenzo Insigne is rested and Jose Callejon risked despite being one yellow card away from suspension against Roma.

Faouzi Ghoulam returns at left-back after Ivan Strinic played against Inter in Saturday’s 2-0 San Siro defeat.

Bologna aren’t in good shape either, failing to win any of the last eight games, but do raise their spirits considerably against the big guns.

They beat Napoli 3-2 back in November, just days after Maurizio Sarri’s men had gone top of the table for the first time.

The Rossoblu are also the only side to have avoided defeat to Juventus in the last 23 Serie A rounds.

Mattia Destro, Luca Rizzo and Archimede Morleo are injured, but Juan Camilo Zuniga returns to face his parent club, having left on loan in January.

The real shock is Robert Acquafresca in the centre-forward role instead of Sergio Floccari, making his first start since the opening weekend.

Napoli: Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Gabbiadini, Mertens

Napoli bench: Gabriel, Rafael, Strinic, Valdifiori, Maggio, Regini, Chiriches, David Lopez, Insigne, Grassi, El Kaddouri, Chalobah

Bologna: Mirante; Mbaye, Oikonomou, Rossettini, Constant; Taider, Diawara, Brighi; Zuniga, Acquafresca, Giaccherini

Bologna bench: Da Costa, Stojanovic, Krafth, Pulgar, Crisetig, Brienza, Ferrari, Masina, Mounier, Gastaldello, Donsah, Floccari

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *