AC Milan takes on Napoli in Serie A
Second place AC Milan travel to Naples to take on fourth place Napoli in the Serie A's biggest game of the weekend, as both teams will be looking to make a push to the top of the standings on Monday night in hopes of catching league leaders Lazio.
Recent form
Since losing 2-0 to Cesena on September 12, AC Milan are undefeated in Serie A and are winners of three straight including a 3-1 victory over Chievo last weekend.
Two goals in a minute were enough to outdo them during midweek as they fell 2-0 to Real Madrid in the Spanish capital in Champions League action. The loss to Madrid leaves Milan second in the group on four points, tied with Ajax, but ahead by virtue of a
having a better goal differential.
Napoli have done well in Serie A so far this season losing only one match – a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Chievo. However, they have yet to face any of Serie A's top five teams so Milan will be considered Napoli's toughest Serie A test to date.
Napoli, once again, had to settle for a draw in Europa League play as neither they, nor Liverpool, could muster a goal in midweek. The draw leaves Napoli tied with Utrecht on three points sitting two points behind the group leaders, Liverpool.
Players to watch
Although he was subbed out in the 78th minute against Madrid, Brazilian Alexandre Pato was impressive in Milan's most recent victory against Chievo netting two goals. Midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf handle most of the midfield duties and
usually control the pace of the game. With the industrious Gattuso patrolling the areas between the boxes and winning battles for loose balls, Seedorf provides support for the strikers up front. Although Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho played against Madrid
in midweek, and is said to be fully recovered from a muscular strain in his right leg, recent speculation has it that he will make way in the lineup for fellow Brazilian Robinho.
Napoli are very much a two-horse team. They rely heavily on the scoring touch of Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani and Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik. The two players have combined for nine of Napoli's 13 league goals this season and two of their three
goals in the Europa League.
What to expect
There was nothing between these teams last season as the two teams drew 1-1 in Milan, and 2-2 in Naples. Once upon a time Milan might have regarded this fixture as an easy win, but Napoli, short of being in the kind of form they knew in the late eighties
when they were led by Diego Maradona, have improved over recent seasons and once again with the very best in Serie A.
Milan director Ariedo Braida was even quoted recently on
Radio CRC as saying, "Napoli and Milan is a game of two important sides. Napoli have made the step up in quality and it's a big step.
"They are a competitive squad and I hope to see a great game on Monday."
Naples is never an easy place for visiting teams to play in – especially teams from the north. Expect Milan to get a hostile reception, but a hard fought point as well. Milan and Napoli will draw 1-1.
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