Sampdoria coach Claudio Ranieri says new signings Maya Yoshida and Antonino La Gumina were needed, and that Napoli have found "new life under Rino Gattuso".
The Genoese side play the Partenopei in the Monday night game, with kick off at 19:45 GMT. You can read the match preview here.
Ranieri says his side have to be wary of his old side.
Sampdoria coach Claudio Ranieri says new signings Maya Yoshida and Antonino La Gumina were needed, and that Napoli have found "new life under Rino Gattuso".
The Genoese side play the Partenopei in the Monday night game, with kick off at 19:45 GMT. You can read the match preview here.
Ranieri says his side have to be wary of his old side.
“I expect a strong opponent on Monday. They have found new life with Gattuso. I expect a match that will go until the last minute,” said Ranieri in his press conference.
Samp signed Southampton defender Yoshida and La Gumina in the final week of the transfer window, so what can Ranieri expect from them?
“La Gumina is a player we lacked, skilled on the counterattack. He is a player that the club has followed for several years, however he went to Empoli where he was unable to express himself. I hope he can return to the level he had in Palermo.
“Yoshida is a Japanese player, a great protagonist. I was missing another right-sided centre half.
“I was sorry to lose Vasco Regini, an exemplary professional who replied when I called upon him.”
Ranieri coached Napoli from 1991 to 1993, but will leave emotional ties at the door for this game.
“Never trust this Napoli or any other team. We must always give 100%, they are a team that wants to come here and take all three points, but we must be ready to confront them.”
Fabio Quagliarella is a son of Naples, and Ranieri says the striker will regain his form.
“Quagliarella can make the difference, I am convinced that in the second half of the season he will return to his normal levels.”
Samp are now coming into a tricky set of fixtures, with Napoli, Torino, Fiorentina and Inter all awaiting Ranieri.
“I am used to thinking on a game-by-game basis. Now there is Napoli, I have great respect for them but we will try to play our game with the help of our fans.
“For us it will be difficult but also for them.”