Napoli - Empoli preview - Hamsik issues rallying cry

Napoli captain Marek Hamsik has called on his team-mates to sharpen their focus on winning Sunday's home match against Empoli.

The Neapolitan outfit have collected two points from their last two league games and are third in the standings, 11 points adrift of Serie A leaders Juventus.

Rafael Benitez's side drew 1-1 at Sampdoria on Monday and the outcome benefited fourth-placed Genoa, who are level on 23 points with Napoli heading into this weekend's fixtures.

"We wanted to win at Sampdoria," Hamsik told Gazzetta dello Sport. "But it proved a difficult game and in the end we managed to bring home a point.

"However, we are not satisfied with our recent performances.

"We have lost ground on Roma and Juventus.

"Now we must do the best we can in our last games of the year in order to reduce that gap."

In-form Empoli travel to Naples on the back of an impressive midweek 2-0 triumph over Genoa in the Coppa Italia.

The Tuscan outfit ended Genoa's eight-match unbeaten run to set up a meeting with Roma in the last 16 of the Coppa.

Empoli will be looking to keep up their good run of form, which has seen them take seven points from a possible nine in their last three league games.

Maurizio Sarri's side have therefore climbed to 13th in the standings, four points clear of the drop zone.

"My players are handing in good performances and I cannot ask for more," Sarri said. "We are going through a positive run of form.

"Our aim is to defend our Serie A status and we are on track."

Empoli have won just once on the road this season while Napoli's only defeat at the Stadio San Paolo was a 1-0 reverse to Chievo on September 14.

The hosts are without defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who must serve a one-match ban.