Napoli's pursuit of a first Serie A title since 1989-90 will continue when they welcome Sampdoria to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts will be desperate to prevent both Inter and AC Milan from pulling away at the top of the Serie A table.

Match preview

Having led away to Juventus in midweek, Napoli were left disappointed after a second-half Old Lady comeback denied the visitors a memorable victory.

It would have been the Azzurri's first win away to Juventus since a 2-0 victory in the Coppa Italia during 2011-12 campaign.

Instead, Luciano Spalletti's side were forced to settle for a point, meaning they now start the weekend a concerning six points behind leaders Inter, who boast a game in hand.

Having led the way at the top of Serie A up until the beginning of December, a run of disappointing results in the build up to Christmas saw Napoli slip down the table.

None more so than the 1-0 defeat at home to Spezia in the final match before the winter break, coupled with Thursday's Juventus result, means that Napoli boast just one win in their last six Serie A outings.

Looking to extend that run to one win from seven will be Sampdoria, who begin the new year with the threat of relegation looming over their head.

It is 10 years since Sampdoria last competed in Serie B, and while they may currently sit a comfortable-enough seven points above the drop zone, a shaky run of form to finish the year has left them fearing the worst.

Winners of just one of their last five Serie A outings, shipping goals has often been an issue for Sampdoria at times this season, with no side above them in the table having conceded more.

That record could worsen come the end of the weekend as Napoli have often enjoyed the upper-hand over Sampdoria in recent years, winning the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

That triumph stretched Napoli's winning run to six matches against Sunday's opponents, while their last defeat at the hands of Sampdoria came in September 2018.

Team News

After their stellar start to the campaign, Napoli were hit by an almighty injury crisis, which does go some way to explaining their on-the-pitch troubles.

Kalidou Koulibaly has not featured for Napoli since picking up an injury against Sassuolo in early December, while Victor Osimhen has been absent since mid-November – two killer blows for Napoli's Scudetto challenge.

Already down to the bare bones, Spalletti has had to deal with a coronavirus outbreak in the Napoli camp, with seven first-team players currently fighting infection.

Goalkeeper Alex Meret and Mario Rui are among the most notable of those absent, whilst Kevin Malcuit, Valerio Boffelli and Hirving Lozano are also facing time out due to COVID-19.

Elsewhere, Andre Zambo Anguissa will miss the majority of January for Napoli, with the midfielder currently on international duty with Cameroon.

Sampdoria are not without their own absentees either as Tommaso Augello and Wladimiro Falcone are set to be ruled out with Coronavirus.

Injuries to Valerio Verre and Mikkel Damsgaard will prevent the pair from featuring, while Gambia international Omar Colley is missing due to participation in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Rather frustratingly for boss Roberto D'Aversa, a red card picked up by star-man Antonio Candreva during the midweek defeat to Cagliari means that he will be forced into serving a suspension.

Napoli possible starting lineup:
Ospina; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan, Ghoulam; Demme, Lobotka; Politano, Zielinski, Insigne; Mertens

Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Audero; Ferrari, Yoshida, Chabot, Murru; Thorsby, Ekdal, Bereszynski, Yepes; Caputo, Gabbiadini

We say: Napoli 2-0 Sampdoria

After a blistering start to the campaign, Napoli have tailed off in trademark fashion, with a title challenge slipping out of their grasp.

If they wish to lift the Scudetto come the end of the season, it is victories against mid-table outfits like Sampdoria that they need to win, with Napoli likely to get the job done on Sunday.

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