Napolivs.Venezia

As this season's midpoint approaches, the revived Partenopei are vying for the Scudetto, while their visitors are battling to preserve top-flight status.

Match preview

In their final outing before Christmas, first-half headers from Amir Rrahmani and Frank Anguissa proved enough to continue Napoli's fine run on the road, stretching their Serie A unbeaten streak to eight straight away games.

Although Genoa bit back during the second half at Marassi, pulling a goal back before testing Alex Meret and then striking the crossbar, Antonio Conte's men held on to claim victory and stay within two points of relentless league leaders Atalanta BC.

Former Juventus and Inter Milan coach Conte recorded his 150th managerial success in the Italian top flight, taking the fewest matches to reach such a milestone - 220, far ahead of Helenio Herrera and Maurizio Sarri (both 261).

Such pedigree in the dugout and an unexpectedly strong first half of the season surely makes Napoli strong title contenders, though they will be keen to arrest a recent decline on home soil.

Following defeats to Atalanta and Lazio, the Campanian club have lost two of their last three Serie A fixtures at Stadio Maradona, having won each of the first five this season.

Nevertheless, they have already equalled their total of home wins throughout the whole of last term, and history suggests that tally should be surpassed on Sunday: dating back to 1942, Napoli are unbeaten in eight top-flight games against Venezia, keeping a clean sheet in all of the last five.

In fact, Venezia have yet to win a single Serie A match in Naples, and they have won only one of the clubs' last 14 league meetings in either of Italy's top two divisions.

On this occasion, the Lagunari make the long trip south in need of points to boost their hopes of surviving the drop back down to Serie B, having emerged from the second tier as playoff winners last season.

After successive 2-2 draws to start December, a recent resurgence continued in their final fixture before Christmas, as Eusebio Di Francesco's side secured a precious home victory over relegation rivals Cagliari.

Following a previous streak of four successive defeats, Venezia are now unbeaten in three, taking them closer to leaving the drop zone - and they can now escape if results go their way this weekend.

However, stretching back to the Arancioneroverdi's last stay at the elite level, they are on a 16-match winless streak away from home in Serie A, and Conte's Napoli are unlikely to prove welcoming hosts.

Napoli Serie A form:

D

W

W

L

W

W

Napoli form (all competitions):

W

W

L

L

W

W

Venezia Serie A form:

L

L

L

D

D

W

Team News

Napoli will be without Alessandro Buongiorno again this weekend, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia can return to the starting XI after a knee sprain saw him restricted to a cameo role in Genoa.

David Neres or Matteo Politano may therefore make way from a front line led by Romelu Lukaku, who has been involved in eight goals in his last seven Serie A matches against promoted clubs.

Once more, the hosts' engine room will be run by the familiar trio of Frank Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka and Scott McTominay.

Meanwhile, Venezia's injury list remains unchanged, as Michael Svoboda (ACL) joins Alfred Duncan (calf), Richie Sagrado and Antonio Raimondo (both thigh) on the sidelines.

Eusebio Di Francesco is set to keep changes to a minimum after recording a rare win last week, so Gaetano Oristanio and Gianluca Busio should start in support of lone striker Joel Pohjanpalo.

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Neres, Lukaku, Kvaratskhelia

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Stankovic; Altare, Idzes, Sverko; Zampano, Andersen, Nicolussi Caviglia, Ellertsson; Oristanio, Busio; Pohjanpalo

We say: Napoli 3-0 Venezia

Although Venezia are showing signs of life, Napoli will be determined to keep pace with their title rivals by beating promoted opponents.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

Previews by email