While Napoli halted Bologna's six-match winning streak at Dall'Ara Stadium on Monday, the Partenopei could not take advantage of Inter dropping points at Parma, leaving the second-placed side three points behind the defending champions.

Although the Emilia-Romagna outfit are no slouches on their turf, the outcome continued the inconsistent form shown by the 2023 champions since the start of February.

Conte's team ended January with a 2-1 triumph over Juventus, marking their seventh consecutive victory, but have clinched just two wins in the following nine matches.

Both successes have come in their most recent matches at the Maradona — 2-1 wins over Fiorentina and AC Milan — and they strive to secure a third straight win in front of their supporters for the third time this season.

With Inter playing first this weekend — Simone Inzaghi's men host 15th-placed Cagliari — Napoli could enter Monday's match either six points adrift or with an opportunity to close the gap again, and fans at the Maradona will welcome the chance to return to winning ways on home turf after dropping points in Emilia-Romagna.

Nevertheless, the title contenders' failure to keep a clean sheet in five matches at the Maradona — Conte's men have recorded three 2-1 wins over Juventus, Fiorentina and Milan and have played out two 1-1 draws with Udinese and Inter — should give Empoli some confidence going into Monday.

Further adding to the away side's optimism are their victories in recent visits to the Maradona, notching 1-0 wins in 2021-22 and last season, interspersed with the Partenopei's 2-0 success in the 2022-23 campaign.

Thus, Roberto D'Aversa will hope for another strong showing from Azzurri Empolesi in Naples, with a third win in four possibly taking the Tuscany outfit out of the bottom three.

Empoli, in 18th, trail Lecce by two points with seven games remaining and could leapfrog the Salentini after this round if Marco Giampaolo's team are beaten by Juventus this weekend.

While that outcome in Turin is a possibility, Empoli must do their part if the Old Lady beat the Apulians by throwing a spanner in the works of Napoli's title bid.

However, an eight-match winless run away from home (with five defeats) undermines their chances of getting the better of the title-contending hosts.

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Scuffet; Mazzocchi, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Gilmour, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Neres

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Vasquez; Goglichidze, Marianucci, Viti; Gyasi, Grassi, Henderson, Pezella; Esposito, Cacace; Colombo