Roma v Napoli: Three opposition players to watch

The game on Monday is a pivotal battle for the second spot in Serie A, with both teams aware the result could have a significant bearing on who gains automatic qualification to next year’s Champions League.

It is also a clash of the two top-scoring sides in Serie A - with Napoli in high spirits having scored six in their last outing.

Here are three key players for Maurizio Sarri’s side that Roma will need to watch out for:

Gonzalo Higuain

'Pipita' is dominating the race for the Capocannoniere – the top scorer in the division - with 30 goals in 31 matches. Capable of scoring any which way, he has now converted 19 goals with his right foot this term (three of them penalties), eight with his left, and two from his head. In addition to his rampant goalscoring, Higuain has created two assists for teammates and makes numerous other opportunities for himself each game – he currently averages more than five shots per 90 minutes.

Serie A’s top striker will be returning against the Giallorossi after a three-match ban and, following the enforced rest, will be hungry and energised to restart his goalscoring exploits as soon as possible.

Roma’s defence will have their work cut out as they try to keep control of the greatest attacking threat in the league.

Marek Hamsik

The Slovakian has been relishing his new role under first-season coach Sarri. Playing further back in midfield than he typically has throughout his nine seasons with the Partenopei, Hamsik has still scored seven times across Serie A and the Europa League – while also making eight assists.

38 of his 40 appearances have come from the regista position, averaging 4.6 long balls per match. His long-range passing has been complimented by an 87% pass success rate, having made 2,318 total passes – of which 61% were forward passes. 79 total chances created and 2.4 key passes per game give further evidence of Hamsik’s fantastic season, as Napoli have the fifth highest rate of possession in all of Europe (59.4%).

Roma are no stranger to the crafty midfielder, of course, and the Giallorossi will be looking to disrupt his attempts to dictate the match come Monday.

Lorenzo Insigne

Napoli’s hometown hero, the 24-year-old winger has been a go-to player for Sarri for much of the campaign. Both a scorer and a provider – with 12 goals and ten assists to his name so far - Insigne has been one of the league’s top all-round attackers this season.

Averaging 3.6 shots a game, Insigne can turn a match on its head in a moment – with his explosive speed and tendency to drive towards goal, the left winger only needs one opportunity to make the opposition pay.

Insigne is in the running for a place in Italy’s 23-man squad for the summer’s European Championships, and he will be giving his all in the final weeks of the domestic season to impress coach Antonio Conte.

However, with a competitive pool of Azzurri forwards trying to make their case for inclusion, Insigne will know he cannot afford to let up. Having not got on the scoresheet in the rout of Bologna, Insigne will surely see such a huge game as a perfect stage to show Conte he can be a difference-maker for him in France.