How Napoli could line up against AC Milan

When the two Serie A giants reconvene, Luciano Spalletti's league leaders will be without two integral players as a result of events in the second half last Wednesday - two yellow cards for midfield mainstay Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa saw the Cameroon international dismissed and Kim Min-jae was also booked for dissent.

Therefore, both men must miss out through suspension, with Juan Jesus - who was part of a rotated lineup at the weekend - coming in for Kim at centre-back, and either Eljif Elmas or Tanguy Ndombele deputising for Anguissa.

Crucially, though, the Partenopei welcome back star striker Victor Osimhen, who returned from injury as a second-half substitute in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Hellas Verona.

Now fully recovered from a thigh problem, Spalletti has confirmed the latter will start in midweek; Giovanni Simeone is still sidelined and Giacomo Raspadori has seen his form dip since scoring four goals in the group stage.

After being rested against Verona, wing wizard Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will also return to the hosts' front three, while Stanislav Lobotka and Mario Rui resume their roles in midfield and at left-back respectively.

Lobotka's presence offers a measure of control in central areas, as he has completed 352 passes under pressure in the Champions League this season, which is 95 more than any other Napoli player - captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo has recorded 257. Indeed, the Slovakian's pass completion rate stands at 90.3% so far in this term's competition.

Napoli possible starting lineup: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Rui; Ndombele, Lobotka, Zielinski; Lozano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia