Rafael Benitez’s Napoli will host Genoa on Monday night as the Neapolitans look to consolidate third place and defeat the Grifone for the second time this season.
Napoli won the first fixture 2-1 with a fourth minute second half stoppage-time goal from Jonathon De Guzman. Genoa will be out to spoil the night, however, as the team attempt to correct their current slide.
While Napoli have improved in recent weeks, Genoa are winless in their last five games.
Those five games have yielded a porous defence that has allowed 11 goals; including six in their last two games.
Not only have Genoa struggled to defend in recent weeks, but the team had failed to score goals until last week’s 3-3 come from behind draw with Sassuolo. The draw with the Neroverdi saw goals from an improving Iago Falque and the return to form of the often-injured Ioannis Fetfatzidis.
Like last week, Genoa will play against Napoli with a false No. 9 as the club are still without the injured Alessandro Matri and have yet to come to an official agreement with Roma’s Marco Borriello.
However, the club could have new loan signing M’Baye Niang in panchina. The forward has agreed to join Genoa due to his lack of opportunities with AC Milan. Niang is already training with the team and his new teammates.
Napoli’s win against Lazio last weekend shot the club into third place. Benitez’s side were seen as lucky to escape the Stadio Olimpico with all three points as Gonzalo Higuain notched his tenth goal of the season. Napoli played on the counter throughout the game and conceded much of the possession to Lazio, something they won’t do at home to Genoa.
Napoli may be without several key players as Juan Zuniga and Michu will be evaluated closer to kickoff as both return from injury. While Zuniga and Michu will be decided on closer to the game, midfielder Walter Gargano will miss out due to suspension and Faouzi Ghoulam is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria.
Genoa have been beset by injury and suspension in recent weeks, however, the team will have star winger Diego Perotti back from his four match ban. Perotti should immediately go back into the side as the Grifone have desperately needed his pace and creativity in wide areas.
The Argentine should make up one-third of Genoa’s attacking trident alongside Fetfatzidis and Falque as Gian Piero Gasperini will try and stretch Napoli’s defence with pace.
Genoa’s team continues to look thinner by the week as the club have agreed to let Stefano Sturaro return to Juventus. Meanwhile, earlier this month the club allowed Leandro Greco to move to Hellas Verona.
Form Guide: Napoli (D-L-W-W-L-W) Genoa (W-L-L-D-L-D)
Expected Starting XIs
Napoli: Rafael, Maggio Koulibaly, Albiol, Strinic, Inler, Lopez, Callejon, Hamsik, Mertens, Higuain
Genoa: Perin, Roncaglia, Burdisso, De Maio, Antonelli, Kucka, Rincon, Bertolacci, Fetfatzidis, Perotti, Falque
