Napoli welcome Genoa to the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday evening looking to record their third successive Serie A victory.
Maurizio Sarri’s side have recovered impeccably from their February setback with aplomb, downing Chievo at home before swatting relegation threatened Palermo aside last time out.
The Partenopei relinquished top spot to Juventus when the sides met last month but will be keen to capitalise on any slip-ups from the champions after their midweek European exertions.
Genoa, meanwhile, put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone with a nail-biting 3-2 victory over Torino at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris last weekend.
The Grifone leapfrogged the away side in the process and are now eight points clear of Frosinone in 18th place.
The victory was Genoa’s third in their last four outings and coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be encouraged by the two-goal display of Alessio Cerci and, more importantly, the fruitful goalscoring form of midfielder Luca Rigoni.
The 31-year-old, scarcely renowned for his goalscoring prowess, has netted twice in as many weeks for the Rossoblu.
Genoa have endured a miserable time against Napoli since their return to the top-flight in 2010, registering only a solitary victory and they were on the receiving end of a harrowing 6-1 drubbing in Naples in the 2011-12 season.
They did, however, halt a five-game winning stretch for the Partenopei in the reverse fixture in November.
Sarri will have a full-strength squad at his disposal and is expected to field his strongest side with no European commitments to contend with.
Defender Ezequiel Munoz makes up the absentee list for Genoa and Gasperini will be buoyed by the potential return of talisman Leonardo Pavoletti.
Blerim Dzemaili is expected to start against his former employers while Alessio Cerci should retain his place.
Form Guide: Napoli (D-D-D-W-W) Genoa (L-W-L-W-W)
Expected Starting XIs
Napoli: Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Higuain, Insigne.
Genoa: Perin; Izzo, Burdisso, De Maio; Ansaldi, Rigoni, Dzemaili, Rincon; Laxalt, Pandev, Cerci.
Infographic courtesy of Sporticos.com
