Sky-blue snipers loading up for goal-den clash

Kalidou Koulibaly.

The spark for Napoli’s revival was the sale of Gonzalo Higuain to Juventus in July 2016.

An injury to Pole Arkadiusz Milik, coupled with Manolo Gabbiadini’s failure to settle at the club and subsequent sale to Southampton, resulted in Belgian winger Dries Mertens having to reinvent himself as a striker.

It proved a stunning success as Mertens finished last season with 38 goals in all competitions and he has continued this term with seven in eight league games.

Mertens is supported by Jose Callejon (four goals) and the impish Lorenzo Insigne (three), with Brazilian Allan adding thrust from midfield.

“He’s a scholar. He makes you understand how football is and isn’t unpredictable. In short, Sarri football is math,” said Koulibaly.

Guardiola has described Napoli, which last won Serie A in 1990 when Diego Maradona was at the club, as “one of the most beautiful teams in Europe”, with AC Milan managerial legend Arrigo Sacchi praising “the emotion, the show”.

“Sarri is a great conductor, who’s given his team a precise identity and a love of playing,” said Sacchi.

“It’s not a club with an immense history, but Sarri is doing an extraordinary job of managing.

“Their play lights up, guides, it shows personality and gives character to those who don’t have any.

“It makes them grow.”