Lazio vs Napoli preview - Lazio handed Anderson blow

Lazio have been dealt a blow ahead of Sunday's home match against Napoli with in-form midfielder Felipe Anderson ruled out for at least three weeks.

The Brazilian attacking midfielder sprained his left knee in training this week and will be sidelined until February.

Felipe Anderson has been in sizzling form of late, scoring five goals and setting up five more as many matches to help Lazio climb to third in Serie A and hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

To complicate matters for Lazio coach Stefano Pioli, Stefan De Vrij is also unavailable with the Dutch defender struggling with plantar fasciitis while goalkeeper Federico Marchetti must serve a one-match ban this weekend.

"Fortunately, I have a squad with so much quality," Pioli told the Italian media. "We are going through a good spell and this month is an important one for our campaign."

Pioli rested his regular players in Wednesday's 3-1 triumph at Torino that saw the Romans progress to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia where they will meet AC Milan in the next round.

"I knew that my players would do well at Torino," Pioli said. "Everyone is important in this team and all my players want to have a starring role.

"Now we must keep our feet firmly on the ground because there is no room for relaxation."

Lazio are riding a six-match unbeaten run and have won six and lost just two of their eight Serie A home games.

Napoli travel to the Italian capital knowing that a win in Rome would see them leapfrog Lazio into third.

The Naples outfit is fourth in the standings, just one point adrift of the Biancoceleste.

Rafa Benitez's men, who were not involved in Coppa Italia action this week, hope to bounce back from last Sunday's 3-1 home defeat to Juventus, their fourth defeat of the campaign.

The visitors will be without defender Miguel Angel Britos, who is suspended.

Etrit Berisha will replace suspended Marchetti between the Lazio posts.