Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain challenges Cristian Zapata.Napoli are brimming with confidence heading into tomorrow’s game against bottom side Sassuolo after beating Milan at the weekend.
Sunday’s 2-1 victory at the San Siro – Napoli’s first success at Milan since 1986 – was the Azzurri’s fifth consecutive win in all competitions and lifted Rafa Benitez’s side top of Serie A, level on 12 points with Roma.
“We have done great team work and this is our strength,” Benitez said. “We also have quality players that can make the difference.
“We are very happy to have won five games in a row but we can still improve.
“There are still certain things that we need to perfect in order to continue to win more games. But the right character is there and we must continue on this path.”
Napoli will be favourites to come out triumphant against promoted Sassuolo, who were destroyed 7-0 by Inter last time out.
Sassuolo are the only team in Italy’s top flight who have yet to collect a point.
Roma, like Napoli, also have a 100 per cent record and travel to Genoa to face winless Sampdoria inspired by their 2-0 derby win over Lazio.
The result handed club coach Rudi Garcia success in his first Rome derby.
Inter and Fiorentina will battle it out at the San Siro with both teams heading into the encounter unbeaten this season.
The Nerazzurri and the Viola are level on 10 points.
Italian champions Juventus have yet to lose this season and will be hoping Fernando Llorente can pick up where he left off on Sunday when they take on Chievo in Verona.
The Spanish striker, who joined Juve this summer from Athletic Bilbao, scored the winner against Verona, his first goal in Italy.
Things are not looking good for Milan ahead of their trip to Bologna.
The Rossoneri have won just one of their opening four league games and taken just four points out of a possible 12.
To complicate matters for Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, who is without seven players through injury, Italian striker Mario Balotelli starts a three-match ban in tomorrow’s game after his dismissal against Napoli.
Lazio will be looking to bounce back from their painful derby defeat to Roma when they host Catania.
Sunday’s reverse was the Biancoceleste’s second Serie A loss.
Udinese seek home comfort when they welcome Genoa to the Friuli stadium tonight.
Francesco Guidolin’s men have lost all of their games on the road so far but remain unbeaten at home.
Torino take on Verona in Turin buoyed by Sunday’s 2-1 triumph at Bologna – their first away win this season.
Livorno will look to extend their three-match unbeaten sequence when they host Cagliari.
Programme
Today
Udinese vs Genoa - 20.45
Tomorrow – 20.45
Bologna vs Milan
Chievo vs Juventus
Lazio vs Catania
Livorno vs Cagliari
Napoli vs Sassuolo
Parma vs Atalanta
Sampdoria vs Roma
Torino vs Verona.
Thursday
Inter vs Fiorentina - 20.45