Inter Milan – SSC Napoli: Key Battles (Part 1)
Serie A returns to action tomorrow following the winter break. While 20 teams will be in action on Wednesday, Napoli’s trip to San Siro will be most important of the lot. In spite of Nerazzurri struggling to make an impact this season, the two teams have
a wealth of world class players at their disposal. Sneijder, Eto’o, Cavani, Hamsik are all imaginative players, capable of producing that individual moment of brilliance required to win games at the very top level.
Leonardo will look to start his latest adventure on a winning note while Partenopei will go level on points with league leaders AC Milan should they manage a victory.
Bettor.com now identifies the key battles that will take place on the pitch, intriguing battles that can turn the match on its head:
Marek Hamsik – http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Esteban-Cambiasso-c12912
Hamsik and Cambiasso are two of the most intelligent players in Peninsula; the type of players who rely more on their brains rather than their physical attributes. This battle would be a fascinating affair.
Hamsik’s job at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Napoli-c40003 is to play just behind the striker. The fact that Edinson Cavani has scored 10 goals in the first half of the season with his new team illustrates how good a player Hamsik is to play with. Hamsik usually plays in the hole behind lone
striker Cavani, but he is not a trequartista, Hamsik is far more active than that. The Slovakian prodigy can be often seen coming deep to collect the ball before building up lethal counter attacks.
While Hamsik is responsible for most of the playmaking at Naples, Cambiasso’s job is exactly the opposite; to break up play. The Argentine, sitting deep in front of his back four, has immense understanding of the game. His positional sense is second to none
and he will have his hands full dealing against a young and energetic Hamsik in the middle of the park.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Edinson-Cavani-c11955 – Lucio
The Uruguayan forward made his loan switch from US Palermo earlier in the season. The agreed-upon future transfer fee was reported to be in the region of 17 million pounds. Many scoffed at such valuation but judging from his performances so far this season;
he is worth every penny of it. Cavani is every inch a traditional forward. Pace, aerial ability, finishing, penalty box movement and sublime ball holding ability, he is indeed every manager’s dream.
The Uruguayan will have to climb the Brazilian wall that is Lucio in order to take any points off the reigning Italian champions. Lucio was a colossus at the back for Nerazzurri last season but this season has been a disaster. Even though Lucio has been
one of the star performers of his team at times, he definitely misses the influence of his South American friend, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Walter-Samuel-c36618. It remains to be seen how the Selecao captain links up with a young Ranocchia.
Should Lucio manage to ‘manhandle’ Cavani like he did with Drogba last season, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan will most definitely bag first points of the New Year.
Continued in Part 2...
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