Manolo Gabbiadini makes perhaps his final start in a Napoli jersey as they host Spezia in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 tonight.
It kicks off at the Stadio San Paolo at 20.00 GMT.
The Round of 16 is a one-off game, so whoever wins on the night will go through to the quarter-final. If it’s not decided after 90 minutes, there will be extra time and even penalties.
The winner of this fixture goes on to face Fiorentina or Chievo on January 24.
Manolo Gabbiadini makes perhaps his final start in a Napoli jersey as they host Spezia in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 tonight.
It kicks off at the Stadio San Paolo at 20.00 GMT.
The Round of 16 is a one-off game, so whoever wins on the night will go through to the quarter-final. If it’s not decided after 90 minutes, there will be extra time and even penalties.
The winner of this fixture goes on to face Fiorentina or Chievo on January 24.
Maurizio Sarri – whose birthday it is today – gives Gabbiadini his swansong with a start in the centre of the trident attack.
The forward has scored in each of his last two Serie A games, but is on the verge of a move abroad to England or Germany.
He is flanked by Lorenzo Insigne and Emanuele Giaccherini.
New signing Leonardo Pavoletti is on the bench and expected to make his first Napoli appearance in the second half.
Dries Mertens is suspended, as is Sarri, who must sit in the stands.
Spezia play their football in Serie B, but have pedigree in the Coppa Italia, knocking Roma out last season.
They made the trip without Nene, David Okereke, Daniele Sciaudone, Franco Signorelli and Krisztian Tamas (who has flu), but Jon Errasti is back on the bench.
Among the familiar names are former Empoli striker Alessandro Piu and Claudio Terzi, the defender who played for Napoli in the 2004-05 Serie C1 campaign.
Napoli: Rafael; Maggio, Albiol, Maksimovic, Strinic; Zielinski, Diawara, Rog; Giaccherini, Gabbiadini, Insigne
Napoli bench: Reina, Sepe, Hysaj, Allan, Callejon, Jorginho, Hamsik, Pavoletti, Tonelli, Lasicki, Milanese
Spezia: Chichizola; N Valentini, Terzi, Ceccaroni; De Col, Maggiore, Deiola, Migliore; Piccolo; Baez, Piu