Fiorentina host Napoli in a Serie A fixture of significant importance to both top three clubs as the last game of round 27.
The sides had disappointing exits from the Europa League midweek, making the Serie A their one and only focus for the remainder of the season.
The Partenopei are desperate to return to winning ways following a loss to Juventus and last week’s draw at home to AC Milan, missing an opportunity to reclaim top spot.
Including their two-leg European defeat to Villarreal, the Neapolitans are winless in four games and in a dramatic change of attacking fortunes, have scored just three goals in their last five fixtures.
The Viola come off the back of mixed results following two consecutive Serie A victories over Inter and Atalanta, while enduring a heavy defeat to Tottenham in their Europa League tie.
A win for Napoli keeps them within striking distance of leaders Juventus while Fiorentina will be eager to fight off Roma in the battle for third position.
After Roma’s victory over Empoli on Saturday evening, Paulo Sousa’s men have dropped outside the top three and need a win to reclaim their hold on the final Champions League position.
Their head-to-head record against Napoli, however, doesn’t read well, having lost their last four matches against the Scudetto challengers and winning just once in their last 12 meetings.
In fact the last time the Viola beat Napoli at the Stadio Artemio Franchi was back in January 2009, thanks to goals from Mario Santana and Riccardo Montolivo.
Sousa welcomes back Marcos Alonso to the starting line-up after missing last week’s Serie A fixture against Atalanta due to a one-game suspension. Though the Portuguese coach remains without the suspended Mauro Zarate following his red card against Inter, while fellow winter import Yohan Benalouane continues to be monitored.
Meanwhile Maurizio Sarri continues to boast a full-strength squad with only back-up forward, Omar El Kaddouri, in doubt.
Form Guide: Fiorentina: (D-W-D-W-L) Napoli (W-L-L-D-D)
Expected Starting XIs
Fiorentina: Tatarusanu, Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Astori, Alonso, Badelj, Vecino, Tello, Borja Valero, Bernardeschi, Kalinic.
Napoli: Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Higuain, Insigne.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com