The Partenopei coach is confident his side can see off Livorno on Sunday without their top scorer, who is suspended for the trip to Tuscany
Bet
5$
10$
20$
50$
100$ =
LIV
Draw
NAP
Rafa Benitez is convinced his Napoli side can beat Livorno on Sunday without star striker Gonzalo Higuain.
The Argentina international, who has scored 13 goals in 24 Serie A appearances since making the move from Real Madrid in the summer, is suspended for the trip to Tuscany.
Benitez though believes the 26-year-old’s understudies are more than ready to step up in his absence.
“Losing Gonzalo is important but… Goran Pandev, Jose Callejon or Duvan Zapata can all do well,” he said.
“I have faith in them all. We’ve got to focus on more than just the result against Livorno."
The former Liverpool and Valencia coach also said that he was yet to find the perfect blend between defence and attack.
“Looking back to the Coppa Italia semi-final against Roma, we had balance. We attacked and defended very well.
"We can’t expect our strikers to put in the same effort in defending as those with less quality. My problem is finding solidity between defence and attack.”
Napoli come into the weekend sitting third in Serie A, six points clear of fourth-placed Fiorentina.
Sign up today with Ladbrokes and get a $20 welcome bonus!
Open all references in tabs: [1 - 6]