Edin Dzeko troubles won't stop Roma, warns Napoli boss

Milan - Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri has played down the impact of Edin Dzeko's current goalscoring drought and believes Roma will pose a threat in the sides' "Derby del Sole" on Sunday.

Napoli topped the league for the first time in 25 years a fortnight ago and is among four teams in Italy's top flight looking to loosen Juventus' four-year grip on the title.

One of those is Roma, who despite defeat to Atalanta and a draw at Torino in its past two league outings remains the biggest threat to Juventus, claimed Sarri.

"They are Juventus' number one rivals, and it's not because they had a couple of league setbacks recently that that all changes," Sarri told media on Saturday.

"They've had injuries that haven't helped, but that's it."

Roma has finished runner-up in Serie A the past two seasons but has now been joined by Napoli, Inter Milan and Fiorentina in the quest to end Juve's four-year reign.

Despite Sarri's glowing recommendation, Roma travels to Naples with a growing injury list and with confidence arguably at its lowest this season following a spate of recent setbacks.

After dropping to fourth place at five points behind leaders Inter, Roma was booed off the pitch in midweek after a remarkably poor performance at home to BATE Borisov saw it squeeze into the last 16 of the Champions League.

The scoreless draw was the third successive game in which Dzeko had failed to score and on Sunday he will come face to face with Gonzalo Higuain, who is blazing a trail towards the league's 'Capocannoniere' (top scorer) award with a league-leading 14 goals so far.

Dzeko has hit only three in the league and already been overtaken by teammates Miralem Pjanic (7), Gervinho (6) and Mohamed Salah (6).

But coach Rudi Garcia has given the misfiring striker his backing.

"We can't just focus on his goalscoring. We have to concentrate on getting back to playing as a team, and the goals will come," he said.

Sarri echoed Garcia's thoughts, saying: "It's not just about the two strikers, there are a lot of key players on the pitch who are just as important."

Garcia has included Gervinho in his travelling party although doubts remain on the Ivorian forward.

After returning from a two-week injury absence in time for Roma's match at Torino, Gervinho hobbled off after just 26 minutes.

He was then due to start against BATE, only to be scratched from the starting line-up and replaced by Juan Iturbe after feeling a twinge during the warm-up.

Although Roma ties Fiorentina for hitting a league-leading 30 goals so far, it has also conceded 18 in 15 games: the most of all the current title contenders.

That tally could grow on Sunday, when Napoli - who beat Legia Warsaw 5-2 in its last Europa League group game on Thursday - fully intends on giving it its all in what Sarri says is the "game of the year".

"For the supporters and people of the city, it's the game of the year, so we'll be giving it everything."