Napoli vs Atalanta preview - Napoli hope for domestic lift-off

Napoli fans will be hoping their Europa League quarter-final qualification will have a positive impact on the team's Serie A campaign, starting with Sunday's home game against Atalanta.

The Azzurri reached the last eight of a European competition for the first time in 26 years after a goalless draw on Thursday at Dynamo Moscow.

Rafa Benitez's side progressed 3-1 on aggregate.

"We deserved to go through," Benitez told his club's official website.

"We showed a lot of character and intensity. I'm very satisfied.

"We worked very hard on the pitch and we showed the right mentality. We want to go far in Europe but we know we have to take it one step at a time.

"We have reached an important step for the club and for the team by getting to the last eight of this competition and we will give our all to continue.

"Now we must focus on Serie A."

Napoli's poor form in the last two months has seen them drop to fourth in the standings and put their qualification for next season's Champions League in jeopardy.

Once in third place and seven points clear of the chasing pack, Napoli are now three points behind Lazio, who hold the last qualifying place.

Napoli have not won in Serie A since February 26 and have collected one point since.

Last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Hellas Verona was Napoli's seventh loss of the campaign.

Napoli will be without defenders Faouzi Ghoulam and Raul Albiol, who are suspended.

Napoli's leading scorer Gonzalo Higuain is expected to start having come on as a second-half substitute last weekend.

Atalanta travel to the Stadio San Paolo still searching for their first victory under former Napoli coach Edy Reja.

Reja replaced Stefano Colantuono, who was sacked last month.

Last weekend's goalless draw against Udinese extended Atalanta's winless run to six games.

The Bergamo outfit are 17th in the standings, four points clear of the drop zone.

The visitors will be without midfielder Carlos Carmona, who must serve a one-match ban on Sunday.