Hojlund looks to fill Napoli void as pressure mounts on Serie A rivals
Napoli will aim to extend their flawless start to the Serie A season when they host promoted Pisa on Monday, with Danish forward Rasmus Hojlund poised to lead the line once again after making an immediate impact in his debut.
Hojlund, who joined Napoli during the close season following a turbulent spell at Manchester United, scored in the champions' 3-1 victory at Fiorentina on Saturday, seamlessly stepping into Antonio Conte's system in place of the injured Romelu Lukaku.
Since Lukaku is expected to be sidelined until December, Hojlund should have ample opportunity to cement his place in the squad.
With Napoli sitting atop the table with three wins from three matches, Monday’s fixture against Pisa appears straightforward.
The visitors have managed just one point this season, and the only uncertainty lies in whether Conte will rotate his squad to preserve fitness of his players.
Elsewhere in Serie A, Inter Milan will look to bounce back from consecutive league defeats when they face Sassuolo at home on Sunday.
Cristian Chivu's side opened their campaign with a promising win against Torino but have since faltered, losing to Udinese and Juventus. A 2-0 midweek Champions League win against Ajax Amsterdam in Amsterdam has lifted spirits, but pressure mounts as Inter seek to regain form domestically.
Key striker Lautaro Martinez remains a doubt for Sunday’s match after missing the Ajax encounter with a back issue. His absence would be a blow for Chivu’s men, who sit 11th in the league standings.
City rivals AC Milan face a challenging trip to fourth-placed Udinese on Saturday. Milan, currently fifth, trail Udinese by one point and are grappling with several injuries.
Manager Massimiliano Allegri is monitoring fitness concerns for