Preview: Napoli vs. Cremonese - prediction, team news, lineups

The 'winter champions' lead by nine points at Serie A's halfway stage following a 5-1 destruction of Juventus, while their visitors lost again at the weekend and remain rooted to the foot of the table. The pair now meet in the cup's last 16, with a quarter-final tie against Roma at stake.

Match preview

Extending their lead at the top of the Serie A standings, Napoli simply swept aside second-placed Juventus on a frenzied Friday night at Stadio Maradona, as they took apart a defence which had not conceded a single goal for seven league games in spectacular style.

Current Capocannoniere leader Victor Osimhen scored twice and set up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's 39th-minute strike, as the Partneopei sealed their status as Italy's 'Campioni d'Inverno' (winter champions).

Scudetto-holders Milan then missed the chance to cut their deficit back down to seven points after they were held by Lecce, so the leaders have a significant advantage heading into the second half of the season.

Also through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, having impressed with their incisive attacking play, Luciano Spalletti's side now turn their attention to the Coppa Italia - a competition Napoli last won in 2014, and have done so five times in all.

Due to their continental commitments, they were spared participation in the cup's earlier rounds, but now hope to make a better attempt at lifting the trophy again than last year, when they exited in the last 16 to Fiorentina following a 5-2 home defeat.

While ending Juve's eight-game winning run means dreams of a first Scudetto since 1990 - when Diego Maradona bestrode the stadium which now bears his name - grow ever more real, Spalletti will want his team to become serial winners; making progress in the Coppa Italia a requirement.

Cremonese have already experienced Napoli's relentless approach, having been beaten 4-1 at Stadio Giovanni Zini by the Partenopei in early October, and they must now trek down to Naples perhaps fearing an even worse fate.

Not only are their hosts in flying form and the current standard-bearers for Calcio, by contrast, the Grigiorossi have been enduring a terrible time in Serie A since their promotion back to the top flight after more than two decades away.

Head coach Massimiliano Alvini appears to be on borrowed time following Saturday's capitulation to fellow promoted club Monza, when Cremonese slumped to a 3-0 deficit before the hour mark; only a late rally via goals from forward pair Daniel Ciofani and Cyriel Dessers added some respectability to the scoreline in a 3-2 defeat.

As a result of the Lombardy side's sixth home loss of the season, not only are they still yet to win a single Serie A fixture this term, but they also sit eight points adrift of safety in 20th place.

Set for a grim relegation battle between now and June, Cremonese - who have never before won the Coppa Italia - can at least play without pressure on Tuesday. Most observers expect their cup run to end at its third hurdle, following victories over lower-tier Ternana and Modena in the previous rounds, so there is really nothing left to lose.

Napoli form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

W

W

Cremonese Coppa Italia form:

W

W

Cremonese form (all competitions):

D

D

L

L

L

L

Team News

Following Friday's heroics and with a trip to fellow Campanian club Salernitana scheduled for Saturday, Luciano Spalletti is set to make several changes to his starting XI in midweek.

Eljif Elmas took the place of Piotr Zielinski against Sampdoria and sealed victory with a penalty, then scored as a substitute against Juventus, so should be among those promoted from the bench. Mathias Olivera could replace Mario Rui at left-back, while recent loan signing Bartosz Bereszynski deputises for captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo on the right.

Amir Rrahmani may make way for Juan Jesus in the centre of defence, but Kim Min-jae was withdrawn as a precaution against Samp so might now be rested instead. Up front, Victor Osimhen will most likely step aside for Giovanni Simeone.

Meanwhile, Cremonese can welcome back defensive regular Leonardo Sernicola at the Maradona, after he was sidelined by suspension at the weekend, but Vlad Chiriches is ruled out by injury once again.

Striker Daniel Ciofani - who has scored two of the Grigiorossi's last three Serie A goals following his header against Monza - competes with Cyriel Dessers to start up front.

Jack Hendry, Cristian Buonaiuto and Santiago Ascacibar are all set to be recalled by Massimiliano Alvini, while ex-Roma forward Felix Afena-Gyan hopes for a rare start in support of the lone frontman.

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Sirigu; Bereszynski, Jesus, Rrahmani, Olivera; Demme, Ndombele; Lozano, Raspadori, Elmas; Simeone

Cremonese possible starting lineup:

Carnesecchi; Hendry, Lochoshvili, Ferrari; Sernicola, Ascacibar, Meite, Castagnetti, Valeri; Buonaiuto; Ciofani

We say: Napoli 3-1 Cremonese

Even with a rotated squad, Napoli can pose plenty of problems for a side struggling at the wrong end of Serie A, and they should add a Coppa Italia victory to their growing pile of wins in a remarkable campaign.

Previews by email