Level on points in the Serie A standings, Napoli and Fiorentina return from European duty to battle it out for victory at Stadio Maradona on Sunday.
In the final fixture before Italy's top flight is paused and international football intervenes, the champions aim to bounce back from an eventful Champions League loss, while their visitors arrive in Naples on a six-match unbeaten streak.
Match preview
© Reuters
Welcoming former coach Carlo Ancelotti back to Campania, Napoli hosted Real Madrid on Tuesday night, when they took the lead through Leo Ostigard's header but then conceded twice before half time.
The Italian champions hauled themselves level shortly after the break, as Piotr Zielinski equalised from the penalty spot following a long VAR review. However, Real's Federico Valverde later hammered in a thunderous strike that went into the net via goalkeeper Alex Meret, consigning Napoli to a 3-2 defeat.
Nonetheless, after beating Udinese 4-1 and Lecce 4-0 in their previous two league fixtures - with star striker Victor Osimhen scoring in both - the Partenopei have now racked up no fewer than 10 goals in their last three outings and seem to have shaken off a sluggish start to their title defence.
Fourteen points from seven Serie A matches represents an acceptable haul at this stage, particularly as Rudi Garcia settles into life in the Stadio Maradona dugout after succeeding Scudetto-winning coach Luciano Spalletti during the summer.
Only behind the league-leading Milan clubs approaching the latest international break, Napoli now take on a club they have had the better of in recent years - particularly during the first half of the season.
Curiously, they are unbeaten in 15 league meetings with Fiorentina played before the winter break, winning on 10 occasions since October 2007, when Christian Vieri's goal split the sides.
© Reuters
Having won just one of their last six Serie A matches against Napoli ahead of their trip down south, Fiorentina may not be favourites to prevail on that basis, but recent form suggests they can cause the champions some problems.
Vincenzo Italiano's side have also accrued 14 points so far, and since a four-goal loss to Inter in early September they have gone undefeated in all competitions - winning three times and recording three draws.
Following hot on the heels of a 3-0 result against bottom side Cagliari on Monday, when Nicolas Gonzalez and M'Bala Nzola scored either side of an own goal, the Viola returned to Europa Conference League action at Stadio Franchi in midweek.
Having let victory slip through their fingers against Genk in their Group F opener, Fiorentina found themselves two down to Ferencvaros after an hour but showed spirit to snatch a point through goals from Antonin Barak and Jonathan Ikone - the latter volleying home deep into stoppage time following a Gonzalez assist.
By contrast with their travails on Thursday night, the Tuscan club have got off to several fast starts in Serie A this season, and under attack-minded coach Italiano they have scored more goals during the first half (11) than any other side.
Fiorentina have also found the net four times in the first 15 minutes of play, so Napoli cannot afford to suffer from a Champions League hangover this weekend.
Team News
© Reuters
In Napoli's final game before a two-week hiatus, Rudi Garcia is expected to name a similar side to that which started against Real Madrid.
Juan Jesus remains sidelined by injury, so his fellow Brazilian Natan should again partner midweek goalscorer Leo Ostigard at the heart of the hosts' back four, although Amir Rrahmani may overcome a thigh problem in time to make Sunday's squad.
Competing with Giacomo Raspadori to join Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in an attacking trident, Italy winger Matteo Politano already has three goals in the league this term - as many as throughout 27 Serie A appearances last season - and has also registered four against Fiorentina over the years.
The Viola, meanwhile, will continue with Pietro Terracciano in goal, after he was originally named on the bench for Thursday's Europa League fixture but was then pressed into action when Oliver Christensen pulled up injured during the warm-up.
Long-term absentees Dodo and Gaetano Castrovilli remain out of action, while Yerry Mina is due back at the end of the month; captain Cristiano Biraghi may also miss out due to an ankle injury, so Fabiano Parisi could come in at left-back.
In Dodo's ongoing absence, highly-rated Michael Kayode should continue at right-back, while midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura would take the armband if Biraghi is unavailable. Bonaventura has scored five goals against Napoli in Serie A, but none for Fiorentina.
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Natan, Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terracciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta, Parisi; Arthur, Duncan; Gonzalez, Bonaventura, Brekalo; Nzola
We say: Napoli 2-2 Fiorentina
With both teams scoring freely at the moment, goals are surely guaranteed at Stadio Maradona on Sunday evening. Napoli can certainly expect to capitalise on Fiorentina's defensive vulnerabilities, but they may not be able to keep the back door fastened shut.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
