Napoli vs Cagliari preview - Benitez: We're on positive track

Napoli coach Rafa Benitez believes his side are on the right track ahead of Cagliari's Serie A visit to the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday.

Napoli have climbed to third placed in the table on the back of an eight-game unbeaten league run and recorded three victories in all competitions before the international break.

"We know that after the break it is always difficult to regain the peak condition," Benitez told Radio Kiss Kiss.

"But I trust my lads highly, they achieved three positive results in a row between the Championship and the Europa League and we should be aware of our qualities to pursue this track.

"Cagliari play good football but we are confident and we want to pursue this positive track.

"I'm sure that on Sunday we will play an exciting and an amazing match.

"The international players have come back from their respective duties and now we have a few days to work together and get ready for Sunday's match."

Cagliari have only lost one of their last five and scored in seven of their last eight games but they are already 11 points adrift of Napoli after 11 games.

The Rossoblu's attacking approach has produced 18 goals in their last five matches and their Czech coach Zdenek Zeman said he sees similarities between himself and Benitez.

"Benitez and I have something in common in regard to our approach to the game," Zeman told Il Mattino.

"Benitez is actually from the 'English school', where you don't make calculations, but rather you push for victory throughout the game.

"That's the right mindset, even if it's difficult to apply in the context of the Italian game.

"They had a bad start, but they're a very good team and they're the team which has played the best football over the last month.

"Can they fight for the title? I think so. Napoli have made great strides in recent years, and I think that at the moment they're close to bridging the gap."

However, Napoli have real injury concerns with defender Juan Camilo Zuniga and forwards Michu and Lorenzo Insigne all ruled out and winger Dries Mertens set to be missing after suffering a nasty clash of heads on Euro 2016 duty for Belgium. Midfielder Jorginho is also suspended.

Cagliari are without suspended club captain Daniele Conti and injured holding midfielder Sebastian Eriksson, who is not expected to return until the new year.