High-flying Sampdoria can make a real statement with a good result against top 3 contenders Napoli at their Marassi and prove they have what it takes to battle for European positions.

Meanwhile, the Azzurri hope to further increase their advantage over other Champions League hopefuls, but winning in Genoa will be no easy task.

There has been new air of confidence at Marassi following the arrivals of coach Sinisa Mihajlovic and new chairman Massimo Ferrero, with the fans very excited about the future of the club.

Sampdoria have been putting in some quite impressive displays in Italian Serie A and having lost just one match so far, the team sit in four place, one point behind their next opponents.

The Bluecercciati haven’t done too well against Italy’s top sides, losing to Inter away and sharing spoils with Roma and Milan at home, although they did beat Fiorentina at Marassi.

And with Napoli seriously raising their form of late, it is hardly surprising home win pays as much a 3.75 (11/4) at BetVictor.

Sinisa Mihajlovic will have Roberto Soriano, Emiliano Viviano and Djamel Mesbah back to the side, although Sergio Romero is expected to continue in goal.

Seeing as how back up midfielder Alessandro De Vitis is the only unavailable player at the moment, the hosts will be at full strength on Monday evening.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-1-2): Romero – De Silvestri, Silvestre, Romagnoli, Regini – Soriano, Palombo, Obiang – Eder – Okaka, Gabbiadini.

Napoli have done well to achieve two straight top 3 finishes in Italian Serie A and they are again the main candidates for the final Champions League berth.

Given the heavy investment in the playing squad, the club chiefs were hoping Rafa Benitez’s charges would mount a serious title challenge, but the Azzurri were unable to keep up with Juventus and Roma.

The team did show some improvement of late, winning four of last seven matches in all competitions, but a 3-3 home draw with Cagliari did not go down well with the fans.

Napoli led 2-0 and 3-2, but could not emerge victorious at Stadio San Paolo and they are now 2.25 (5/4) to make things right at Marassi.

Rafael Benitez is hoping Dries Mertens will be fit to play after suffering a concussion while on international duty, and he looks set to start on the left wing.

There are no other fresh worries for the Spanish coach, but Michu, Lorenzo Insigne and Juan Camilo Zuniga are out injured.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Rafael – Maggio, Koulibaly, Albiol, Ghoulam – Lopez, Inler – Callejon, Hamsik, Mertens – Higuain.