Napoli host Empoli on Sunday afternoon at the Stadio San Paolo, where they will try to break a 16-year hoodoo against the visiting team.
The Serie A leaders head into the round 22 fixture as firm favourites off the back of five successive league victories, in which they have averaged over three goals per game.
However, the Partenopei face a club who they have failed to beat in over 16 years, with their last victory coming back in December 1999 thanks to a Stefan Schwoch winner.
The Azzurri currently lie in seventh position following two successive draws to AC Milan and Chievo.
Only two points away from fifth-placed Roma, the Tuscans have plenty of motivation to return to the winner’s circle, despite facing the league leaders.
Given the Neapolitans have failed to beat them in their last eight meetings, Marco Giampaolo will hope to continue his side’s impressive head to head record against their opponents.
The clubs played out a 2-2 draw in this season’s earlier encounter with goals from Riccardo Saponara, Manuel Pucciarelli, Lorenzo Insigne and Allan while last season’s corresponding fixture ended with the same 2-2 scoreline.
If recent history is anything to go by, we should expect a high-scoring match given the two sides have exchanged a total of 18 goals in their last four meetings.
With goals being highly anticipated, all eyes will be on Gonzalo Higuain who will look to add to his incredible season tally of 21 goals from 21 games.
However, Empoli front-man, Massimo Maccarone, will also rate himself a chance of finding the back of the net having scored six in his last six matches.
Maurizio Sarri is likely to field an identical starting 11 to the team that defeated Sampdoria 4-2 last week.
There will be no debut for his new midfield signing from Atalanta, Alberto Grassi, who sustained an injury in his very first training session with his new team.
Meanwhile, Giampaolo welcomes back Leandro Paredes to the starting lineup, having served his one-match suspension while Andrea Costa remains on the injury list.
Despite being strongly linked with a move to Naples, Federico Barba is tipped to take the field against the team he may soon be transferring to.
A result for Napoli would ensure they hold the Serie A’s top spot while Empoli could finish the week in equal fifth if they can break the home team’s current league streak.
Form Guide: Napoli (W-W-W-L-W) Empoli (W-W-L-W-D-D)
Expected Starting XIs:
Napoli: Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Higuain, Insigne
Empoli: Skorupski; Laurini, Barba, Tonelli, Mario Rui; Zielinski, Buchel, Paredes; Saponara; Pucciarelli, Maccarone
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com