Set end to long-lasting winless run with 2-1 away win over Sassuolo at the last assault. Host Inter without Mertens, Ghoulam, Maksimovic, Malcuit and Koulibaly. Luperto with the group. Fabian should be fine.
After a disastrous first half, Napoli managed to dominate Sassuolo for the whole second half and eventually grabbed win at the very last assault.
Allan turned into team leader after scoring. Hysaj, Elmas and Mertens all came on in the second half and radically changed the match for Napoli. Mario Rui made too many huge mistakes defensively.
Scored 33% of their goals between the 16th and 30th minutes of the second halves. Concede only 9% of the goals in the first and last 15 minutes of the first halves.
At last set an end to a 2-month winless run. Just 1 clean sheet out of the last 9. Have not scored more than 2 since week 4. Host Inter, having won 3, drawn 2 and lost 3 at home, with 10 goals scored and 8 conceded overall.
Malcuit and Koulibaly will still be out such as Ghoulam. Tonelli returns. Luperto is back with the group. Karnezis recovered from illness. Fabian has shaken off a 'flu. Maksimovic has muscular issues. Mertens is also absent.
Maksimovic will be back from ban. Mario Rui and Elmas are one yellow card away from suspension.
Luperto should be preferred to Hysaj at centre-back and Fabian to Gaetano or Elmas in the midfield. Lozano could represent an alternative to Callejon in the attack.
Napoli hosted Inter 73 times: they won 37 and drew 19, losing 17. Overall, they scored 95 goals and conceded 70. They won 3 out of the last 4.
Dries went to his trusted professor for this small edema he has at the adductor level, will do some manipulation and will return on Wednesday. Kalidou also tried to be available, but we cannot risk it, we must be sure when it comes to returning from injuries.
I have clearly said that we are not healed after the victory against Sassuolo. And I repeat that it takes patience and time for las quadra to return to its full convictions and potential. What I expect, starting tomorrow, is the maximum commitment, the ability not to lose your head and always remain in the match. Starting today to look at the gap we have from Inter and from the top of the standings would be unproductive. We only need to care about tomorrow's race and then look forward always working with this intensity.