Coppa Italia Preview: Napoli out for revenge against Inter Milan
Partenopei flying high
Under the charismatic leadership of Walter Mazzarri, Napoli are a resurgent force in this year’s Serie A, and their Coppa Italia run has been no different. Sitting second in the league standings, the Azzurri have made it to quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia
with consummate ease. At the start of the season, no one would have expected Partenopei to perform so admirably. As http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Napoli-c40003.
The game against the reigning Italian and European champions will provide Mazzarri with an opportunity to avenge the defeat inflicted on them last week. Leonardo’s Inter defeated Napoli 3–1 at Stadio San Siro. Nerazzurri will be going into this game on the
back of a morale-crushing defeat, and Mazzarri hopes to make the most of this opportunity:
“We have a very important game ahead of us tomorrow and we are playing a team of a high level, we cannot allow ourselves to become distracted. They [Inter] come off the back of a loss and so they will be very motivated and it's not often they mess up two
games in a row. We need to be perfect to get through the round."
Inter dealt a blow
Following his appointment as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan Coach, Leonardo had done admirably until last week, when Alexis Sanchez’s Udinese brought them back to earth with a 3–1 routing. The defeat was the Nerazzurri’s first in six games; Inter had won the five preceding
games.
The Brazilian tactician will be hoping his team can return to winning ways before the league commences. Inter can ill afford to drop any more points if they wish to stay in hunt of league leaders AC Milan. The game, while being of immense proportion due
to the profiles of the respective teams, will be secondary to Nerazzurri Scudetto ambitions. Leonardo will use it as a tool to gain momentum.
Furthermore, the reigning champions have a proud history in the competition and Morratti would want his employees to continue the tradition.
Team News
SSC Napoli
Walter Mazzarri has been extremely lucky with injures this season. None of his key players have been compromised with injuries, and things remain bright once again.
Edinson Cavani and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ezequiel-Lavezzi-c13073 will lead the lines for Partenopei in a 3-4-1-2 formation. Marek Hamsik will play the supporting role just behind the strikers.
Inter Milan
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Walter-Samuel-c36618 remain sidelined for this game. Philipp Coutinho will finally make his return from a length injury lay off.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Goran-Pandev-c15161 and Samuel Eto’o will lead the Nerazzurri charge in Leonardo’s 4-3-1-2 formation.
Prediction
The game will be extremely tight with chances coming at both ends. Nerazzurri will have the psychological edge having defeated the same opposition earlier this month. However, Stadio San Paolo is a fortress where many have been left conquered. The team that
takes its chances will seal a semi-final berth. Home advantage could hold the key in this fixture and the Neapolitans should steal a 2-1 win.
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