Fabio Liverani hopes Genoa can give Napoli another surprise this afternoon. “It will take the perfect performance.”
The Serie A Week 6 opener kicks off at Marassi at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Fabio Liverani hopes Genoa can give Napoli another surprise this afternoon. “It will take the perfect performance.”
The Serie A Week 6 opener kicks off at Marassi at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“Napoli are seen as the principle antagonist to Juventus this season, as it is a team constructed to win and go forward in the Champions League,” said Coach Liverani.
“However, all this shouldn’t affect our performance. If anything, it should give us further motivation to show what we can do.”
Napoli had a 100 per cent record in all competition under Rafa Benitez until Wednesday night, when a shock 1-1 home draw with Sassuolo knocked them off the top of the table.
“I expect a wonderful spectacle in the stands, as the clubs are twinned, so many Napoli fans will arrive for the game.
“We are wearing the jersey of the oldest club in Italy, so that means every time we step on to the field it has to be the game of a lifetime.
“With all due respect to Napoli, we are playing in front of our home fans and we too have important players. We must prompt the fans to support us with enthusiasm and know full well it will take the perfect performance.
“A victory would put us in seventh place and people would call us heroes again. This is why I call for balance when Genoa are judged. I am the first to not be satisfied at times, but this team has the capabilities to prove itself and this is an important opportunity.”
Juraj Kucka returns after missing the 1-0 defeat to Udinese, but Andrea Bertolacci pulls out with a muscular problem. Luca Antonelli and Thomas Manfredini are still unavailable.
Genoa squad for Napoli: Antonini, Biondini, Bizzarri, Calaiò, Centurion, Cofie, De Maio, Donnarumma, Fetfatzidis, Gamberini, Gilardino, Konate, Kucka, Lodi, Matuzalem, Perin, Portanova, Sampirisi, Santana, Sokoli, Stoian, Sturaro, Vrsaljko