The hosts, meanwhile, head into the encounter seven points clear of the relegation zone after putting together an unbeaten run of four matches.

Despite conceding the fastest Serie A (SA) goal of the season so far, Sassuolo recovered after their 25 second nightmare to stretch their unbeaten run to four matches (W2, D2) thanks to a 2-2 draw against Udinese.

While that unbeaten run stands as their joint-longest this term, extending it here will be a tough ask against runaway league leaders Napoli although talismanic captain Domenico Berardi may at least be available despite injury last time out.

The Neroverdi have already proved they’re capable of carrying the underdog tag well having beaten high-flying Atalanta 1-0 here in their last home match, whilst also beating defending champions AC Milan 5-2 at the San Siro during their impressive run. Yet it appears a tall order for Sassuolo to spring another surprise given they’ve won just one of the last 15 competitive H2Hs (D6, L8), which includes two heavy defeats by a combined 10-1 scoreline across the previous two such meetings!

Players to watch: With Armand Laurienté banned, Sassuolo’s Matheus Henrique may again step up to the mark as he scored both his SA career goals across the last three matches. Napoli’s Elmas has already scored six league goals this term, which is the same as he has put together in his three previous league campaigns combined!

Hot stat: Just one of Sassuolo’s five SA home matches against current top-six sides saw more than two goals scored.

Sassuolo Serie A form:

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Napoli Serie A form:

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Napoli form (all competitions):

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With a Champions League last-16 tie against Eintracht Frankfurt to look forward to next week, the only blemish on Spalletti’s copybook during his debut season to date has been their penalty-shootout exit to Cremonese in the Coppa Italia last month, which came as a huge surprise considering that it represented first versus bottom in terms of Italy’s league table.

That disparity in quality was in full evidence on Sunday evening as Napoli secured a comfortable 3-0 win at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

However, ending 34 years of hurt would undoubtedly have Neapolitans dancing on the streets of Naples, while on current form it is impossible to rule them out of competing deep into the Champions League’s latter stages – and potentially becoming Italy’s first winner in that competition since Jose Mourinho’s Inter in 2010.