Faltering Serie A title contenders Napoli will aim to end their winless streak on Sunday, when they visit improving Como at Stadio Sinigaglia.
Yet to taste success this month, the Partenopei are locked in a battle with Inter Milan to claim the Scudetto, while their ambitious hosts are on track to secure top-flight survival.
Match preview
© Imago
After conceding a late leveller versus Roma in their first February fixture, Napoli returned to Stadio Olimpico last weekend, when they succumbed to the same fate against Lazio.
Having already lost twice to their hosts this season, Antonio Conte's side recovered from an early setback - as Gustav Isaksen blasted home the opener - and were heading for victory, thanks to Giacomo Raspadori's superb strike and a comical own goal by Adam Marusic.
However, they then allowed Lazio to score an 87th-minute equaliser, keeping their advantage at the top of Serie A down to two points - they now trail by one.
Including a draw with Udinese either side of those Roman results, Napoli are now winless in three matches - though their title dreams were later aided by old foes Juventus, who beat Inter in the Derby d'Italia.
Before a high-stakes clash between Italy's top two next week, the Partenopei must travel to Como, where they will try to extend the league's longest streak of away goals - 10 games in a row - en route to claiming maximum points.
Having lost only one of 23 Serie A meetings with the Lombardy club to date - and none since November 1952 - the three-time Italian champions will certainly have history on their side.
© Imago
Following their 3-1 defeat in October's reverse fixture - when they went a goal down within one minute of kickoff - Como have lost their last four top-flight contests against Napoli, conceding an average of 2.5 goals per game.
After two decades in the lower leagues, the Lariani returned to Serie A full of ambition last summer, and after taking some time to adapt, they are now inching away from danger towards mid-table.
Improved by a flurry of mid-season signings, Cesc Fabregas and co are still far from confirming safety, but last week's win in Florence will surely boost confidence in the camp.
After picking up one point from their first eight games against top-six teams - conceding 18 goals and scoring just five - Como conquered Fiorentina. Recent arrival Assane Diao struck first, before star man Nico Paz sealed the deal with yet another fine finish, wrapping up a rare away win at Stadio Franchi.
Rookie coach Cesc Fabregas - who played under Conte at Chelsea for two seasons, from 2016 to 2018 - now takes on his mentor again, and this time Como may prove a tougher nut for Napoli to crack.
Team News
© Imago
Following the return to fitness of Alessandro Buongiorno, allied with a lack of available full-backs, Antonio Conte switched to his preferred 3-5-2 formation against Lazio, and Napoli should set up that way again this weekend.
Mathias Olivera is still sidelined - along with Brazilian winger David Neres, who had impressively stepped up to replace departed star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - but Leonardo Spinazzola has returned to full training and could be involved.
Joining Frank Anguissa and Stanislav Lobotka in the engine room, Scott McTominay registered his first Serie A strike in the reverse fixture - just 26 seconds after kickoff - and no midfielder has scored more away goals (four) in Italy's top tier this season.
Romelu Lukaku and Giacomo Raspadori - the latter of whom has benefitted most from Conte's tactical tweak - are set to start up front.
Meanwhile, Como's main threat comes from Real Madrid loanee Nico Paz, who has scored six goals and provided three assists in Serie A this season.
Cesc Fabregas is still without Sergi Roberto, Alessandro Gabrielloni, Ignace Van der Brempt and Mergim Vojvoda due to injury, but Alberto Moreno hopes to make his comeback following a muscular problem.
Como possible starting lineup:
Butez; Smolcic, Kempf, Dossena, Valle; Caqueret, Perrone, Da Cunha; Strefezza, Paz, Diao
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Raspadori, Lukaku
We say: Como 1-2 Napoli
Napoli could come close to drawing four league games in a row for the first time since 2013, but another late twist may go in their favour this week.
While Como pose plenty of threat, they are still vulnerable at the back - and their opponents' will to win is sky-high under Antonio Conte.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
