Having finally ended their five-match wait for a win, Napoli will attempt to seize top spot in Serie A when they visit Venezia on Sunday.

The Partenopei play ahead of title rivals Inter Milan and Atalanta BC, who meet later in the evening, so can move clear at the summit with victory at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo.

Match preview

Only one point behind leaders Inter with 10 rounds remaining, Napoli are still in contention for a second Scudetto in three years, despite enduring a frustrating February that saw them lose first place in the standings.

Last week, goals in either half saw the Campanian club beat Fiorentina 2-1 at Stadio Maradona, as new strike pairing Romelu Lukaku and Giacomo Raspadori again got their names on the scoresheet.

Napoli's first success since January followed a convincing 1-1 draw against Inter, also bringing to an end the only five-game winless streak suffered by an Antonio Conte-coached team in either the Premier League or Serie A.

Following the departure of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and a subsequent injury to David Neres, Conte recently switched from the Partenopei's familiar 4-3-3 back to his preferred 3-5-2, partnering Lukaku and Raspadori up front.

There have clearly been teething troubles, as a once rock-solid side have both conceded and scored in all of their last eight league games - letting Fiorentina find the net made for another nervy finish last weekend.

Nonetheless, they are not distracted by Europe and the Coppa Italia, as Inter will be, while Atalanta have a devilishly difficult run-in - and Conte is unlikely to let his squad lose focus.

Raspadori scored the only goal when Napoli hosted Venezia in both clubs' final fixture of 2024, and Sunday's hosts have now lost all of the last three meetings without scoring.

They are in dire need of points on this occasion, with time running out to save the Serie A status earned by winning the second-tier playoffs last season.

Eusebio Di Francesco's men have failed to taste success since beating Cagliari 2-1 in December, leaving them second-bottom of the table and five points from safety.

While the Venice side have shown spirit to record three straight draws from a tough run of matches - against Lazio, Atalanta and away to Como - they remain in distinct danger of an immediate return to Serie B.

Last time out, Christian Gytkjaer stepped up to convert a stoppage-time spot kick at Stadio Sinigaglia, salvaging what could turn out to be a precious point from the Lagunari's trip to Como.

However, they must now face one of the toughest tests in Calcio, before hosting top-four contenders Bologna in their first game back after the international break.

Venezia possible starting lineup:

Radu; Schingtienne, Izdes, Cande; Zerbin, Duncan, Nicolussi Caviglia, Perez, Ellertsson; Oristanio; Maric

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, Gilmour, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Raspadori, Lukaku